MTACDL - Lawyers of the Year

Dan Donovan Reflects on his Accomplishment

Daniel Donovan (U.C. Berkeley, B.S. ‘71; Hastings College of the Law, J.D. ‘76) of Great Falls has been defending the citizen, as well as non-citizen, accused of crime in the state and federal courts as public defender, court-appointed counsel and retained counsel for 34 years. He successfully briefed and argued a case before the United States Supreme Court, Old Chief v. United States, 519 U.S. 172 (1997). Donovan was awarded the Charles F. (Timer) Moses Award by the Montana State Bar in 1997 and was named 2009 Criminal Defense Lawyer of the Year by MTACDL. A high school (Berkeley High ‘67) classmate recently told him that "[i]t sounds as though you've led a wonderful life...full of purpose, adventure, family & fun." Donovan, not yet retired, still accepts new clients.

MTACDL salutes Dan for his accomplishments.