Alan Tauber

Attorney

Alan J. Tauber has over 30 years experience as a trial and appellate attorney in state and federal criminal courts and has recently led one of the nation’s premier criminal defense offices as Chief of the Defender Association of Philadelphia. Through his experience and his commitment to justice, he has earned a reputation as a zealous and effective advocate and accomplished negotiator.

Mr. Tauber’s criminal practice began with trials at the Defender Association of Philadelphia where appeared day in and day out in the crucible of the Philadelphia court system. After three years, Mr. Tauber was selected to serve in the Defender Association’s renowned appeals unit where he argued before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

In 2000, Mr. Tauber’s term at the Defender Association ended and he took up a private criminal and civil rights practice where he sued on behalf of victims of police abuse and government misconduct. Mr. Tauber has acquired expertise in correcting wrongful convictions commonly caused by police misconduct, inadequate investigation or judicial errors. Mr. Tauber’s combination of trial and appellate experience uniquely qualify him to spot the defects in a wrongful conviction and implement a strategy to seek reversal.

In 2019, Neflix released “The Innocence Files, Chapter 7-Wrong Place; Wrong Time” which told the story of Chester Hollman, III who served 28 years following a wrongful conviction in Philadelphia built upon coerced witness statements and hidden evidence. Mr. Tauber’s advocacy led to Mr. Hollman’s exoneration and Philadelphia paid Mr. Hollman a record $9.8 million to settle his civil rights claim pre-suit.

A year earlier, Mr. Tauber was counsel in a malicious prosecution claim against Philadelphia police who falsely accused his client of shooting at them. Those false allegations caused the his client to spend more than three years in jail and ended in a $10 million jury verdict.

Also in 2019, Mr. Tauber’s career came full circle when he returned to lead the 250 attorney Defender Association of Philadelphia as its First Assistant and, in 2021, as Chief Defender. During his tenure, he helped navigate the office through the unprecedented hardships caused by the pandemic and pursued justice reforms that lowered the county prison population by 20 percent.

While in private practice, Mr. Tauber brought his expertise to bear on federal prosecutions and has taken on increasingly complex matters involving allegations of public corruption, racketeering, and business fraud.

Mr. Tauber is an ardent opponent of the death penalty and mandatory life sentences which continue to be a moral stain on Pennsylvania’s criminal justice system and continues to advocate for an end to these punishments.

Education:

The University of Pennsylvania, Bachelor's of Arts 1986
Rutger Camden Law School, JD 1989
Rutger Camden Law School, Articles Editor 1988 -1989

Bar Admissions:
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
United States Supreme Court
United States Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit
United States District Court, PA
United States District Court, NJ