Generational Lawyer, Champion of Liberty
In 1836, Roger’s Great Great Grandfather, Joseph E. Weeden was admitted to the practice of law in New York City, and later became the pioneer attorney in the Village of Randolph.
“Mr. Weeden is considered an excellent lawyer, a strong advocate, and a conscientious adviser. The success that has attended him during his professional career has been due to untiring energy, constant industry, and close application to business. His personal integrity is irreproachable.” The History of Cattaraugus County, New York, 1879.
In his well established practice, Roger has carried on this incredible legacy of advocacy and instilled the same in his son, Attorney Alexander Weeden. Through his Capital case work, Roger has become skilled at accessing funds through the Justice Administrative Commission to assure his defense team has access to its own forensic experts, psychologists, reporters and investigators and are able to match whatever resources the government may attempt to bring in the prosecution of his clients. Roger firmly believes in a quote from the revered attorney, Clarence Darrow, “You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man’s freedom.”
Over the last several decades, Roger has taken on and tried some of the most difficult, complex and serious cases in Central Florida, including over thirty-five homicide cases. Most notably, he has twice represented women falsely accused of murdering their husbands and obtained jury acquittals for both. Roger has obtained acquittals based on self-defense and absolute innocence. In his most recent Capital trial, the jury returned a verdict for Life in less than 45 minutes. Although a lawyer may not use the allure of past successes to suggest promises of similar results, it clearly suggests a certain knowledge, experience and skill level, which Roger has and brings to every case, whether it be a homicide, drug trafficking or simple theft.
Roger’s skills as a criminal defense attorney have been recognized by his peers within the Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, who in 2017 bestowed on him the Joseph W. DuRocher “Foot Soldier of the Constitution” award, recognizing his significant achivements in defense of the wrongfully accused.
As evidenced by his community involvement in social justice matters, Roger is a firm believer that a Champion of Liberty must be an advocate in arenas in and outside the courtroom. In that regard, he is a member of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, he is President of the Local Chapter of the National Lawyer’s Guild, he is an active member of the National Police Accountability Project and has recently been selected by Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty to serve on their Board of Directors.
Roger has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Florida and a Juris Doctor from DePaul University in Chicago. He is a member of the Florida Bar, the Illinois Bar, the Federal District Court and the Federal Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
605 E Robinson St., Suite 250 Orlando, FL 32801 | P: 407-894-9004 | Weeden4Justice.com | rlweeden@aol.com