A criminal charge can upend everything — your job, your family, your freedom. In those first overwhelming hours after an arrest, you need to know that someone capable is in your corner. At Marin & Murphy Law Firm, our attorneys have spent their careers defending Rhode Islanders against the full spectrum of criminal accusations, from first-offense DUI charges to murder indictments. We’ve secured acquittals when co-defendants were serving life sentences, set Rhode Island Supreme Court precedent that reshaped how police conduct DUI investigations, and defended thousands of cases across every courtroom in the state.
Led by Partner Stefanie A. Murphy — editor of Rhode Island’s definitive DUI trial guide and a veteran of more than 2,500 DUI cases — our team combines decades of trial experience with the kind of personal attention that large firms rarely provide. Whether you’re facing a misdemeanor or a serious felony, you’ll work directly with experienced trial attorneys who know how prosecutors build cases, how to dismantle weak evidence, and how to fight for the best possible resolution.
At Marin & Murphy, we work on our personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means we do not receive a fee unless you secure a financial recovery. We do not have any hidden or upfront fees either. If you think you may have a case, or maybe are not sure, please give us a call, and we would be happy to talk about it with you.
Attorney Matthew T. Marin founded Marin & Murphy Law Firm in 2008 with a clear mission: aggressive criminal defense grounded in constitutional advocacy. Before launching the firm, he served at the Rhode Island Department of Attorney General, where he prosecuted breathalyzer refusal cases at the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal and represented the State in probation and bail violation proceedings. That prosecution experience informs every defense strategy he develops — he understands how the State assembles its case because he once sat on the other side of the aisle.
Landmark Constitutional Litigation: State v. Zimmerman (2015)
Attorney Marin successfully challenged the adequacy of Rhode Island’s DUI Rights for Motorists form in a series of District Court cases, arguing that the form was misleading and failed to properly inform drivers of their rights under amended DUI statutes. Multiple judges suppressed breath test results based on the deficiencies Marin identified. This sustained litigation ultimately compelled the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office to revise the form statewide — a change that affected hundreds of DUI cases and altered how chemical test warnings are administered across Rhode Island. Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly described Marin as the attorney who was “leading the charge” on this issue.
Rhode Island Supreme Court Victory: State v. Corcoran (2022)
Attorney Marin won suppression of incriminating statements at the Washington County Superior Court level in a DUI investigation, and the case was subsequently affirmed by the Rhode Island Supreme Court. The ruling established that roadside questioning after a collision and failed sobriety tests constitutes custodial interrogation requiring Miranda warnings — a precedent that now strengthens protections for defendants in impaired driving cases statewide.
Awards & Recognition
Attorney Marin earned Super Lawyers Rising Star recognition from 2014–2018, followed by consecutive Super Lawyers selections from 2019–2024, totaling 11 straight years of peer recognition. He is a member of the National Trial Lawyers Top 100, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), and the National College for DUI Defense (NCDD). Like Attorney Murphy, he has served as a formal instructor at the Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy and has presented at continuing legal education programs on topics including probable cause standards after marijuana decriminalization and expert witness testimony.
Attorney Stefanie A. Murphy has spent more than 20 years inside Rhode Island’s courtrooms defending clients against felony and federal charges. Her practice is concentrated in trial-level criminal defense — she handles cases from the initial investigation through resolution, regularly representing clients in jury trials, complex felony proceedings, and appeals in Rhode Island Superior Court and U.S. District Court.
Editor of Rhode Island’s DUI Trial Guide
Attorney Murphy serves as Editor of A Practical Guide to Trying DUI Cases in Rhode Island(MCLE, 2nd Edition 2024), a 362-page legal practice manual published by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education. This is the reference guide that prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges across Rhode Island rely on for DUI trial preparation. As Editor, Murphy curated contributions from prosecutors in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal judges, law enforcement officials, and leading DUI defense practitioners. She also authored multiple chapters, including comprehensive coverage of pretrial motions practice and statutory authority governing Rhode Island drunk driving law.
When you hire Attorney Murphy, you’re hiring the attorney whose work trains both sides of the courtroom.
Murder Acquittal: State v. Winslow (2023)
In one of Rhode Island’s few reported not-guilty verdicts in a homicide case, Attorney Murphy secured a full acquittal for her client in a 2023 murder trial prosecuted by the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office. Co-defendants in the same incident were already serving life sentences. The case involved complex issues of witness credibility, forensic evidence, and self-defense law, and was covered extensively by the Providence Journal.
Wrongful Conviction Advocacy: The Norberto Andrade DNA Case
Attorney Murphy serves as court-appointed counsel for Norberto Andrade in his post-conviction relief petition. Andrade spent decades imprisoned for a 1985 rape conviction, maintaining his innocence throughout. DNA testing now excludes him as the perpetrator. Murphy has been navigating complex litigation involving eyewitness misidentification, advances in forensic science, and constitutional protections for the wrongfully convicted — work featured in multiple Providence Journal reports.
DUI Defense Record
Over her career, Attorney Murphy has defended more than 2,500 DUI cases throughout Rhode Island, securing hundreds of breath test suppression victories through constitutional challenges and procedural deficiencies. She has won dozens of refusal cases at the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal and has extensive experience challenging breath, blood, and urine test results, as well as litigating Fourth Amendment search and seizure issues arising from Rhode Island State Police arrests on I-95 and I-295.
Police Academy Instructor
Attorney Murphy has provided formal instruction to Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy recruits on DUI and DWI enforcement, covering impaired driving investigations, evidentiary standards, and constitutional considerations. This training background gives her a distinct tactical advantage — she knows exactly how officers are taught to build DUI cases and where the gaps in their training create opportunities for the defense.
Professional Recognition & Media
Attorney Murphy has been featured in over 10 Providence Journal articles covering high-profile criminal cases, wrongful conviction advocacy, and criminal justice policy, including expert commentary on marijuana DUI enforcement following legalization. She has been quoted in Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly on developments in criminal procedure and DUI constitutional law. Her professional memberships include the Rhode Island Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (RIACDL), National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), the National College for DUI Defense (NCDD), and she serves as the Rhode Island affiliate for the ACLU. She has been recognized by Super Lawyers for excellence in criminal defense.
Attorney Morgan Lydia Alger is an associate attorney at Marin & Murphy Law Firm, where she handles criminal defense matters and family court cases throughout Rhode Island. In criminal defense, she represents clients facing DUI and traffic charges, drug offenses, domestic violence allegations, and other criminal matters — working closely with senior attorneys to ensure thorough, strategic advocacy at every stage.
Attorney Alger also represents clients in Rhode Island Family Court, handling divorce proceedings, child custody disputes, DCYF matters, child support issues, restraining orders, and separation agreements. Her ability to navigate both criminal and family court gives our firm a broader capability that benefits clients whose legal issues cross both areas — a situation that arises frequently in domestic violence and restraining order cases.
Before joining the firm, Attorney Alger served as a staff attorney with Rhode Island Legal Services, where she built a strong foundation in courtroom advocacy and client representation. During law school at Roger Williams University School of Law, she completed Rule 9 legal internships with the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office in both the Special Victims Unit and the Narcotics and Violent Crime Unit. She holds a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Roger Williams University and is a graduate of the law school’s Criminal Law Society and Moot Court programs.
Attorney Alger independently manages misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, expungements, and family court matters while collaborating with senior attorneys on complex felony proceedings.
Criminal defense done right requires more than showing up to court. It requires listening — understanding what’s at stake for you personally, professionally, and financially — and then building a strategy designed around those realities.
At Marin & Murphy, every case begins with a thorough review of the evidence, an honest assessment of the strengths and weaknesses, and a clear conversation about your options. We don’t overpromise and we don’t sugarcoat. What we do is prepare meticulously, advocate aggressively, and communicate openly so you always know where your case stands.
Our firm offers a team-based defense model. When you hire us, you get the combined perspective of multiple attorneys reviewing your case — senior trial lawyers with decades of courtroom experience alongside associate attorneys investing dedicated time in research and preparation. This means more thorough investigation, more comprehensive motion practice, and stronger trial preparation than any single attorney can deliver alone.
At the same time, you’ll never feel like a case number. You’ll have direct access to the attorneys handling your case, you’ll get your calls and messages returned, and when it’s time to make critical decisions, you’ll have experienced counsel walking you through every option.
The samurphylaw.com website has its roots in the Law Offices of Stefanie A. Murphy, LLC, the independent criminal defense practice Attorney Murphy founded after beginning her career as a prosecutor in Rhode Island District Court. Licensed in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut since 2005, Murphy built her solo practice from the ground up — representing hundreds of clients charged with DUI, chemical test refusal, drug offenses, domestic violence, and serious felonies in courts across Rhode Island. She earned a reputation for limiting her caseload to ensure every client received her direct attention, and her courtroom results quickly established her as one of the state’s most respected criminal defense attorneys.
Separately, Attorney Matthew T. Marin launched The Law Offices of Matthew T. Marin, Esq. Inc. in 2008, focused on aggressive DUI defense and constitutional advocacy. His practice later expanded through a partnership with Attorney Kensley Barrett, forming Marin and Barrett, Inc.
In 2024, the two practices merged in a strategic alliance that combined Murphy’s deep criminal defense trial experience with Marin’s established statewide practice, forming Marin, Barrett & Murphy Law Firm. Following Attorney Barrett’s departure, the firm became Marin & Murphy Law Firm — reflecting the two attorneys who now direct the firm’s criminal defense work.
Today, the firm operates from offices in East Greenwich and Cranston, with additional meeting locations in Providence, South Kingstown, Cumberland, and Newport. The merger brought together two independently successful criminal defense practices under one roof, giving clients access to a deeper bench of trial attorneys while preserving the personalized, client-focused approach that defined both firms from the beginning.
Former firm associate Nicholas J. Parrillo now serves as a Rhode Island District Court Judge — a reflection of the caliber of attorneys this firm has trained and developed. Judge Parrillo argued and prevailed before the Rhode Island Supreme Court in State v. Corcoran while practicing at the firm.
State v. Winslow (2023) — Murder acquittal. Attorney Murphy secured a not-guilty verdict while co-defendants in the same incident were serving life sentences. Prosecuted by the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office and covered by the Providence Journal.
State v. Corcoran (2022) — Rhode Island Supreme Court precedent. Attorney Marin won suppression of statements at the trial level; the Supreme Court affirmed, establishing that post-collision roadside questioning requires Miranda warnings.
State v. Zimmerman (2015) — Statewide policy change. Attorney Marin’s sustained challenges to the DUI rights form forced the Attorney General’s Office to revise the form used in every DUI arrest across Rhode Island.
Norberto Andrade Post-Conviction DNA Case — Attorney Murphy serves as court-appointed counsel seeking release for a man imprisoned for decades based on a conviction now contradicted by DNA evidence.
By the numbers: 2,500+ DUI cases defended. Hundreds of breath test suppression victories. 15–25 not-guilty verdicts across criminal charge types. Thousands of felony cases have been handled in the Superior Court and federal court.
Our attorneys regularly practice in every major criminal court in Rhode Island:
Rhode Island Superior Courts — Providence County, Kent County (Warwick), Washington County (South Kingstown), and Newport County.
Rhode Island District Courts — 6th Division (Providence), 3rd Division (Warwick), 4th Division (Washington County), and 2nd Division (Newport).
Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal — Defending breath test refusals and challenging license suspensions arising from DUI arrests.
U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island — Representing clients facing federal criminal charges.
We have appeared before virtually every judge in Rhode Island’s criminal courts. We know how local prosecutors operate, we understand each court’s procedures, and we’ve built professional credibility throughout Rhode Island’s legal community.
The majority of our criminal defense caseload originates in Kent County, Providence County, and Washington County, with significant experience defending cases arising from Rhode Island State Police arrests along I-95 and I-295.
While criminal defense is the core of our practice, Attorney Morgan Alger also represents clients in Rhode Island Family Court. Our family court services include divorce, child custody, child support, DCYF matters, restraining orders, and separation agreements.
This dual capability is particularly valuable for clients whose cases involve overlapping criminal and family court issues — a common scenario in domestic violence matters, restraining order disputes, and cases where criminal charges affect custody proceedings.
If you’re facing criminal charges in Rhode Island, the decisions you make in the first days after an arrest can shape the outcome of your entire case. Our attorneys are available now to review your situation, explain your options, and begin building your defense.
Call (401) 316-9423 for a free, confidential consultation.
Available 24/7 · Serving all of Rhode Island
