Matthew Knauss

Kirkland Criminal Defense Attorney

Meet Matthew Knauss founding attorney of the Knauss Law Firm.

My practice is focused – solely - on defending clients accused of a crime.

I started on the ‘other side’ – the prosecution. While in law school I interned with the Bothell City Attorney’s Office. After I graduated and passed the Bar, I continued there as lead counsel in multiple jury and bench trials before becoming an Associate Prosecuting Attorney for a firm that represented a number of cities in Snowhomish County. There, it was my responsibility to prepare and bring DUI cases. A large part of that preparation was dedicated to anticipating and having ready answers for the numerous legal challenges that would be raised by top DUI defense attorneys.

In time I moved on and joined the Moberly & Roberts law firm which held contracts to handle criminal prosecutions for several municipalities. I served as the lead prosecutor for the cities of Kirkland, Medina and Clyde Hill,

Over those years, I handled thousands of criminal matters and tried numerous criminal prosecutions – a high percentage of them were DUIs.

I learned a lot about criminal law and how the system really works, what it takes to convict and what it takes to walk away from a serious legal matter relatively unscathed and free to get your life back.

The most important thing i learned, however, and the reason I ‘switched’ to defense work is this:

Justice is not blind.

This is the dirty little secret of the court system. The accused are not really presumed innocent; they're usually treated as guilty from their very first court appearance. Truth is, I've been that unfeeling and robotic prosecutor. I gave in when my boss said I should file cases that I didn't think we could prove. I know all about prosecutors who threaten to add charges and judges who give people longer sentences just for going to trial; I've seen how the sausage is made.

I've been a part of that system on both sides, and I've seen firsthand how the massive power of the government can be used to pressure people into pleading guilty. I choose to be on the side that makes sure that the state follows the rules.

After two decades in the trenches, here's what I know: Without protection from a skilled and aggressive attorney, regular folks don't stand a chance against overzealous police, prosecutors, and even judges. Too often, politics get in the way of the right thing, and well-meaning but overworked prosecutors fall into the trap of bullying people into pleading guilty.

"So, then, the reason I became, and will always remain, a criminal defense attorney is very simple - it makes me feel good to protect people from government bullies who care more about stats than the effect they have on people's lives." It feels so much better to chalk up a win that means the world to my client rather than chalking up another soulless win for the government. It means my client won't lose their job, won't be labeled a criminal, and most of all it means they go home to their kids.