Swomley & Tennen, LLP
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JOHN G. SWOMLEY
John G. Swomley has been in private practice since leaving the Brooklyn Criminal Defense Division of the New York Legal Aid Society in 1992. He moved to Boston and founded Swomley & Associates that same year. In 2004, he hired Eric Tennen as an associate; in 2011, he welcomed Eric Tennen as a partner. Attorney Swomley is an experienced trial attorney concentrating in complex criminal defense and civil litigation. He has represented thousands of persons charged criminally and hundreds of persons in civil matters.

Attorney Swomley has earned a reputation as a fierce, zealous litigator. He is well-respected as one of the best trial attorneys in Massachusetts. In 2000, he was awarded the Paul Liacos Mental Health Advocacy Award by the Committee for Public Counsel Services for zealous advocacy on behalf of indigent defendants. In 2019, he was awarded the MACDL Clarence Gideon Award, presented annually to recognize champions of the noblest prinicple that all persons shall stand equal before the law. Since 2005, Attorney Swomley has repeatedly been recognized as a “Super Lawyer” as published in Boston Magazine. 

​He is a member of the murder panel, a group of lawyers qualified by the Committee for Public Counsel Services to represent indigent defendants in murder prosecutions throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He is also a member of the Criminal Justice Act panel of attorneys authorized to represent indigent defendants in U.S. District Court.
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Attorney Swomley is on the Board of Directors for Suffolk Lawyers for Justice. He is also a member of numerous criminal justice organizations: Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, American Civil Liberties Union (Massachusetts), National Police Accountability Project, Criminal Justice Policy Coalition, Juvenile Life Without Parole (JLWOP) working group.

Attorney Swomley graduated from Haverford College in 1983 and from Boston University School of Law in 1987.
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From 1998-2001, Attorney Swomley taught criminal trial advocacy in the Suffolk Defenders program. He trained student attorneys in trial skills and supervised them as the represented indigent defendants in District Court.

Bar Admissions

  • New York State Bar (1988)
  • Massachusetts State Bar (1990)
  • U.S. District Court, Massachusetts (1992)
  • U.S. District Courts, Western N.Y. (2001)
  • U.S. District Courts, Southern and Eastern N.Y. (1991)
  • U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals (2000)
  • United States Supreme Court (2003)

Lectures

Attorney Swomley has lectured about various topics in various venues:
  • Massachusetts Association for Treatment of Sex Abusers 
  • Innocence Project National Conference
  • Various Massachusetts Universities and Law Schools
  • Trained attorneys in New York, New Hampshire, and Federally (Regarding Sexually Dangerous Person Proceedings)

Swomley & Tennen, LLP

​We represent our clients zealously and on their terms and we are committed to all of our clients, regardless of the case. Our attorneys are experienced advocates in and outside of court. We can help.

Location

50 Congress Street, Suite 600
Boston, MA 02109
617-227-9443 (o)
617-227-8059 (f)
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Social Media

  • Home
  • ATTORNEYS
    • John Swomley
  • Practice Areas
    • Criminal Defense
    • Civil Litigation
    • Sex Offenses
    • Administrative Hearings
    • Appeals
    • Federal Prosecutions
    • Family Law
  • Notable Cases
  • Policy
    • Sex Offenders
    • Criminal Justice
  • In the News
  • Contact