Sean Patricio Cecil

Sean grew up in the mountains of Northern California, in the area known as the "Emerald Triangle" during the 80's, at the height of Ronald Reagan's "Campaign Against Marijuana Production." His aversion to the so-called War on Drugs was developed early, with memories of black military helicopters hovering over his home so low that the house shook. This despite the fact that his step-father was the local superior court judge (who was known as a highly effective marijuana defense lawyer prior to his appointment to the bench). From a young age, it was clear to Mr. Cecil that the government's heavy-handed tactics were both unjust and ineffectual.

After graduating from Chico State in Northern California, Sean attended law school at Lewis & Clark in Portland, Oregon. He represented the school at the national Indian Law moot court competition at UCLA in 2005. After law school, he moved to Seattle, and worked as a public defender for three years before opening his own firm in a suite of fantastic lawyers on the 13th Floor of the storied Hogue Building in downtown Seattle. Sean has tried at least ten cases before juries, and has successfully argued numerous motions in state courts.

After 9 years practicing law in Seattle, in 2014 Sean and family moved to Raleigh, NC to be closer to his children's grandparents. He found a home with the like-minded attorneys at Edelstein Payne, gaining valuable experience in litigating civil rights and personal injury cases while building a North Carolina criminal practice. In 2021 Attorney Cecil was admitted to the CJA Panel for the Eastern District of North Carolina federal court. Mr. Cecil opened a solo practice in 2023 and focuses on defense of federal criminal allegations. Sean also still accepts and litigates personal injury and civil rights matters.

Sean currently splits his practice betwen criminal, personal injury, and civil rights cases. He is admitted to practice in all North Carolina and Washington state courts, as well as the Western District of Washington and the Eastern District of North Carolina federal courts and the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. Sean remains dedicated to defending marijuana and other drug charges, and is also available to represent individuals accused of most other crimes, from simple traffic matters to aggravated assaults.