Reported Cases -  Years of Experience

1. The State of Georgia v. James Walraven, Whitfield County Superior Court, Following reversal of the original death sentence, this Dekalb County, Georgia case was re-tried in Whitfield County before the Hon. Charles Pannell, with District Attorney Robert Wilson, and resulted in a jury verdict of life. On appeal from the life sentence the Georgia Supreme Court adopted the per se exclusionary rule for hypnotized witnesses, Walraven v. State, 255 Ga. 276, 336 S.E. 2d 798 (1985).
2. The State of Georgia v. Terry Lee Goodwin, reversal of the death sentence by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, Goodwin v. Balkcom, 684 F.2d 794 (11^th Cir. 1982).
3. The State of Georgia v. Wayne Coleman, Dekalb County Superior Court. Following the reversal of the original death sentences in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, Coleman v. Kemp, 778 F.2d 1487 (1985), this Seminole County case was successfully defended in Dekalb County, Georgia. These cases were declared by the Governor to be the most notorious cases in Georgia history involving the murder of six members of the Alday family.
4. The State of Georgia v. Ammond Dunnigan, successfully defended in Fulton County Superior Court, for the leader of the DOOM gang.
5. The State of Georgia v. Ammond Dunnigan, successfully defended in Dekalb County Superior Court, for the leader of the DOOM gang.
6. The State of Georgia v. John Echols, successfully defended in Dekalb County Superior Court.
7. The State of Georgia v. Demario Thomas, successfully defended in Dekalb County Superior Court.
8. The State of Georgia v. Timothy Dawson, Fulton County Superior Court, Case No. Y-11554. Judge Wendy L. Shoob declared death by electrocution cruel and unusual punishment in this case in which Mr. West was lead counsel. The Georgia Supreme Court agreed with Judge Shoob and ruled that the use of the electric chair constituted cruel and unusual punishment, Dawson v. State, 274 Ga. 327, 554 S.E. 2d 137(2001), thus becoming the first appellate court in the nation to do so.
9. The State of Georgia v. Phillip Anthony Harwood, Fulton County Superior Court, Case No. Y-05414. Mr. Harwood was charged with the 1987 hit-for-hire murder of Atlanta socialite Lita Sullivan. In a negotiated plea, the State reduced the charges to voluntary manslaughter and a 20 year sentence in exchange for Harwood’s testimony against Lita’s estranged husband, millionaire fugitive James Sullivan. The plea was negotiated by District Attorney Paul Howard.
10. The State of Georgia v. Bautista Ramirez, successfully defended in Superior Court of Dekalb County, Case No. 00CR3159. Bautista Ramirez is an undocumented Mexican who shot Hugo Arango, an on-duty Doraville, Georgia police officer. The State alleged that the murder was an execution style killing. Mr. Ramirez claimed self defense.
11. The State of Georgia v. Robert Collier, successfully defended in Catoosa County Superior Court. Another police officer murder case.
12. The State of Georgia v. De’Kelvin Martin, Fulton County Superior Court, Case No. 03SC08175. On interim appeal the Georgia Supreme Court affirmed the denial of the state’s motion to recuse the trial judge. 278 Ga. 418 (2004).
13. The State of Georgia v. Devine King Thomas, successfully defended in FultonCountySuperior Court, Case No. 04SC12433. Mr. Thomas was accused of killing his girlfriend with a knife and nearly cutting off her head.
14. The State of Georgia v. Daniel Brian Appleby, successfully defended in Douglas County Superior Court, Case No. 03CR0918. Mr. Appleby was accused of killing his girlfriend’s 2 year old son.
15. The State of Georgia v. Jonathan Rucker, successfully defended in Douglas County Superior Court, Case No. 04CR613. Mr. Rucker shot two friends for disrespecting him. This was the first case in sixteen trials where a death sentence was not returned in Douglas County when sought by the state.
16. The State of Georgia v. Kenneth Reese, successfully defended in Fulton County Superior Court, Case No. 03SC0478. Mr. Reese was charged with killing an on-duty Fulton County Police Officer.
17. The State of Georgia v. Frederick Lee Gude, Fulton County Superior Court, Case No. 04SC15408. Mr. Gude is charged with killing his girlfriend with an ice pick. The case is pending trial before Fulton County Superior Court Judge Marvin S. Arrington.
18. The State of Georgia v. Brigido Soto, successfully defended in Hall County Superior Court, Case No. 02CR712. Rather than a court appointment, the Mexican Capital Legal Assistance Program (MCLAP) retained Mr. West because they feared that Mr. Soto was one of those Mexican nationals most likely to receive the death sentence. Mr. Soto was accused of shooting two men in a drug deal gone badly.
19. The State of Georgia v. Jamie Weis, Pike County Superior Court, Case No. 06R097. Mr. Weis is accused of killing an elderly neighbor in a foiled burglary. Trial is pending before Pike County Superior Court Judge Johnnie Caldwell.
20. Milliken v. Stewart, 276 Ga. 712 (2003). Conviction vacated in habeas corpus proceedings.
21. State v. Martin, 278 Ga. 418 (2004). Sucessful challenge to state's effort to remove judge who had expressed sympathy for client.
22. Bounds v. State, 264 Ga. App. 584 (2003). Reversal of conviction where client forced to represent himself without a lawyer.
23. Dawson v. State, 274 Ga. 327 (2001) Georgia Supreme Court rules that the Electric Chair is cruel and unusual punishment.
24. Goodwin v. Balkcom, 684 F.2d 794 (11th Cir. 1982).Reversal of murder conviction in federal habeas corpus.
25. Farmer v. Lawson, 510 F.Supp. 91 (N.D. Ga. 1981). Illegal search case.
26. Weaver v. Jarvis, 611 F. Supp. 40 (N.D. Ga. 1985). Law suit for denial of medical care for prisoner.
27. Roberts v. Greenway, 233 Ga. 473 (1975) Established standards for entry of guilty pleas.
28. Duncan v. Ricketts, 232 Ga. 89 (1974). Established that even the Parole Board had to follow Due Process.
29. Justice v. Board of Pardons and Paroles, 234 Ga. 749 (1975). Parole Board can be sued.
30. Hardwick v. Ault, 447 F. Supp. 116 (M.D. Ga. 1978)Punitive prison segregation unit shut down.
31. Mullins v. Hopper, 242 Ga. 123 (1978)Guilty plea convictions voided for ineffective assistance of counsel.
32. United States v. Leonard, 609 F. 2d 1163, (5th Cir. GA 1980).
33. Brooks v. State, 144 Ga. App. 97 (1977) Affirmed right to resist unlawful arrest, illegal search.
34. Byrd v. Hopper, 402 F. Supp. 787 (N.D. Ga. 1975) Federal habeas corpus victory
35. Powell v. Hopper, 234 Ga. 68 (1975) conviction voided in habeas corpus
36. Holloway v. Hopper, 233 Ga. 615 (1975) conviction voided in habeas corpus
37. Daniels v. Zant, 494 F. Supp. 720 (M.D. Ga. 1980) Established right to access to courts
38. Fowler v. State, 132 Ga. App. 812 (1974) Conviction reversed on direct appeal.
39. Barber v. Mississippi, 743 So. 2d 1054 (Miss. App. 1999) Conviction reversed on direct appeal.
40. State of Georgia v. Starks, Gwinnett County jury acquits client charged with rape, aggravted assault, armed robbery and kidnapping. (2016)