Alex Deardorff

Background & Professional Experience

Alex Deardorff attended undergrad at Denison University, where she played Varsity Lacrosse for 4 years and was captain her senior year.

After earning her undergraduate degree, Alex pursued her law studies at the University of Cincinnati College of Law. While there, she was selected as a fellow with The Ohio Innocence Project, where she contributed to investigations and filed appeals for those wrongfully convicted. In her third year, Alex interned at the Hamilton County Public Defender’s Office, representing clients charged with misdemeanors under her limited license. At graduation, she was honored with the Outstanding Clinical Student Award for the Class of 2015.

In 2018, Alex participated in The National Criminal Defense Lawyers College in Macon, Georgia, a prestigious two-week trial school taught by the top criminal defense attorneys in the nation. During the program, she litigated real cases in front of the faculty.

After law school, Alex began her career as a Municipal Attorney at the Public Defender’s Office, before moving to the Felony Division. She joined the Law Offices of Steven R. Adams in November 2019.

Outside of her legal work, Alex enjoys running and spending time with her family.

Notable Achievements

2022:

• Alex represented a man falsely accused of domestic violence, facing six months in jail and the potential loss of custody of his children. After a three-day trial involving alibi evidence, phone records, Arabic interpreters, and video evidence, the jury return ed a not guilty verdict, allowing her client to reunite with his children.

• Alex, co-counsel Brandon Fox, and her client achieved 21 not guilty verdicts on 21 out of 22 counts in an aggravated murder case. Despite one count of attempted murder resulting in a guilty verdict, the case remains under litigation, and her client is eligible for time served.

• Alex completed the Ohio Death Penalty Seminar to meet the training requirements for representing individuals charged with capital offenses in Ohio, further expanding her expertise in criminal defense.

2021:

• Alex defended a client charged with aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, and having a weapon under a disability in Hamilton County. After two weeks of trial, the jury returned verdicts of not guilty on all charges.

• In a Domestic Relations case, Alex represented a client accused of domestic violence by a petitioner seeking a civil protection order. After a full hearing with six witnesses and numerous exhibits, the Magistrate dismissed the protection order, clearing Alex’s client’s name.

2020:

• Alex was hired to represent a client charged in Brown County Common Pleas Court with a 9-count indictment, including charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, burglary, grand theft auto, and receiving stolen property. Facing over 20 years in prison, Alex's diligent investigation led to the dismissal of 8 of the 9 counts. After a trial on December 21, 2021, Alex and her client secured a not guilty verdict on the remaining charge, proving his innocence.

Recent Wins

• February 20, 2025: Alex secured a not guilty verdict for her client in Warren County Common Pleas Court on a charge of gross sexual imposition, preventing a potential five-year prison sentence.

• October 2, 2024: Alex and her client obtained not guilty verdicts on two counts of felonious assault with gun specifications and one count of having a weapon under disability in a three-day trial in Hamilton County. Her client, who had served a year of incarceration awaiting trial, was acquitted and is now free.

• September 28, 2024: After a three-day jury trial in Hamilton County, Alex achieved a not guilty verdict for her client on a charge of rape. Her client had been wrongfully accused, faced house arrest for over a year, and risked 11 years in prison. The verdict was a tremendous relief, and her client was able to return to his family.

Awards 

Alex Deardorff has earned numerous professional accolades throughout her career, underscoring her exceptional legal expertise and dedication to her clients. A few of her notable awards and recognitions include:

• Super Lawyers Rising Stars
  Alex has been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers, a designation awarded to top lawyers under the age of 40 who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement in their practice areas. 
  
  
• National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys (NACDA) Top 10 Under 40 in Ohio
  Alex was recognized by the NACDA for her outstanding achievements in criminal defense, ranking among the top 10 attorneys under 40 in the state of Ohio.
  
  
• Top 3 Criminal Defense Lawyers in Cincinnati (2021)
  Alex was honored as one of the top three criminal defense lawyers in Cincinnati by Three Best Rated, a distinction earned through a rigorous 50-point inspection process evaluating customer reviews, ratings, trust, and overall excellence.