Craig Platt

Craig Platt is a criminal defense attorney who practices law in Washington State, particularly in the Puget Sound region.

Background
Craig Platt received his Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School in 1981. Since being admitted to practice, Platt has worked on thousands of cases and has held a variety of positions. Following his graduation from Stanford Law School, Platt immediately began practicing civil law while working for large law firms in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Seattle. Eventually, Platt accepted an offer to serve as the chief prosecutor for the Attorney General’s Office in Saipan where he represented the government in major cases including several involving the Japanese mafia otherwise known as the Yakuza.

Throughout his career Platt has aimed to serve his community and the legal profession. In 1990, Platt formed the first legal practice in Washington State’s Island County dedicated to public defense and continued to work as a public defender for 15 years thereafter. Furthermore, Platt has previously utilized his expertise to enhance local public education by teaching law and managing moot court programs for middle and high schools. Additionally, Platt has served as the president of the Washington Defender Association.

High Profile Cases
Aside from prosecuting members of the Yakuza, Platt has undertaken several high-profile criminal defense cases including Washington State v. Margaret Wolff. Wolff, a resident of Oak Harbor, Washington, was accused of murdering her son-in-law in the early 1990s, but was acquitted after Platt successfully convinced a jury of Wolff’s innocence. Platt has also handled several other prominent murder cases including Washington State v. James Sanders and Washington State v. James Alexander. Additionally, Platt has worked on high-profile vehicular homicide cases and has even tailored creative arguments challenging the accuracy of crime laboratories.

In 2011, Platt undertook to represent former Ms. Washington, Peggy Sue Thomas, who was charged with first degree murder.

Current Practice
Since 2006 Platt has been engaged in private practice of law as the senior partner at his new firm Platt & Buescher. Platt is revered as an aggressive and passionate criminal defense specialist, but also has extensive experience in other areas of law including civil litigation. Additionally, Avvo currently gives Platt a perfect 10.0 out of 10.0 rating. Platt’s law firm, Platt & Buescher, has two locations including an office in Seattle, Washington and another in Coupeville, Washington.