Howard A. Snader
Certified Criminal Law Specialist through the State Bar of Arizona
Senior Criminal Defense Attorney - Admitted in Arizona
Practice Limited to Self-Defense Cases
Howard Snader has been practicing criminal defense law since 1990, following a brief tenure as a felony prosecutor beginning in 1988. After witnessing how the criminal justice system often failed to treat defendants equally, Howard transitioned to defense work to protect the freedoms we all share.
In 1995, The Arizona State Bar recognized Howard as a Certified Specialist in Criminal Law. For more than 35 years, Howard has defended thousands of clients accused of felonies and misdemeanors.
Howard has successfully defended clients using self-defense claims in attempted murder and aggravated assault cases throughout his career. In one example, after his client had spent eight months in jail, Howard convinced the jury that the stabbing was justified. Following an almost three-week trial, the jury not only acquitted his client but also questioned the prosecutor as to why the State had even charged the case.
An accomplished author and educator, Howard has published two books, co-authored a third, and written numerous articles on legal topics for both attorneys and the general public. He has taught seminars to law enforcement officers, attorneys, and the general public on criminal and constitutional law.
As Howard wrote for Attorney at Law Magazine in 2013:
“I defend the Constitution that announces to everyone, ‘innocent until proven guilty.’ I do my best to make sure my client is prosecuted for the crimes committed, not the crimes suspected. I am a defender of the Constitution, and the defender of anyone accused of a crime.” He further stated, “The media and society make it easy to say, ‘throw the book at them’ and walk away. Politicians get elected by being ‘tough on crime.’ I defend ‘those people’ because ‘those people’ have no one left to stand up for them. The government is a mighty force that can and will gang up on any one individual at any given time. I will stand up on my soapbox and defend the Constitution. It’s what I do, and who I am.”
Howard joined Attorneys For Freedom to continue his focus on providing vigorous defense, with special emphasis on self-defense cases and protecting constitutional rights. His practice blends relentless courtroom advocacy, creative problem-solving, and disciplined case management.
Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Howard’s parents taught him to always strive for improvement and to stand up to those in power while protecting those in need. Howard has three children, one grandson, and is raising three dogs with his wife of 24 years. After 15 years, he retired from officiating high school basketball and baseball, and after 29 years, injuries forced him to retire from football officiating. When he is not practicing law, Howard enjoys hiking, traveling with his wife to find unique restaurants in new cities, and dabbling in magic.
Lastly, since August 2021, he has published a daily motivational email to a growing list of subscribers. Titling himself a “Positivity Architect,” Howard believes this has been a wonderful way to hopefully make someone’s day just a little bit better.
