Attorney Michael D. Gelety was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, where he began his career as a Legal Intern with the Cleveland Municipal Prosecutor’s office. He then progressed to the Lake County, Ohio Prosecutor’s office, where he prosecuted major felonies and conducted the grand jury. In 1976, Mr. Gelety was sworn into the Florida Bar. He relocated to Fort Lauderdale and joined the Broward County State Attorney’s Office, again prosecuting major felonies and eventually becoming part of the Special Prosecution/Career Criminal Unit.
After successfully trying more than 60 felony cases for the state, Mr. Gelety established his current private law practice in 1979, successfully defending people accused of crimes throughout Florida and around the country, trying hundreds of cases. His range of defense experience is unparalleled: He has successfully defended first degree murder cases in front of a jury and has successfully argued death sentence appeals before the Supreme Court. Mr. Gelety has saved clients accused of robbery, burglary, sexual battery, drug trafficking and importation, aggravated stalking and domestic violence by shooting, stabbing, beating, and strangling, as well as minor accusations, particularly DUI and related driving matters and on appeal.
Attorney Gelety combines expertise, compassion, and persistent representation to offer clients the highest level of legal service available. With over 41 years of experience, Mr. Gelety has built a solid reputation among judges, clients, and other attorneys for obtaining outstanding results in even the most complex cases.
Rating
Mr. Gelety holds a LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell AV® Peer Review Rating, which signifies the highest possible standard for legal competency and ethics, further reinforcing the level of professional excellence, experience, and dedication he brings to each of his cases.
Education
Mr. Gelety received his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from Cleveland State University in 1972, and his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1974.
Bar Admissions
Attorney Gelety was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1975 and the Florida Bar in 1976. His admission to the Ohio Bar is currently inactive.
Complex and Extraordinary Case
Michael Gelety has also successfully represented clients in “extraordinary” and “complex” federal and state criminal matters, such as post-conviction litigation (Rule 3.850 Motions and Section 2254 and 2255 Habeas Corpus Petitions), grand jury representations, RICO, money laundering, conspiracy, and more.
Licensing Cases
Attorney Gelety has also prepared, successfully litigated and resolved many types of Administrative and licensing & disciplinary cases, representing clients before licensing and disciplinary boards, such as:
• Attorneys, in grievance and disciplinary matters before the Florida Bar, a designated referee and ultimately, the Florida Supreme Court
• Doctors before the Medical Board, and the appropriate District Court of Appeals
• Real Estate Brokers, Appraisers, and Salespersons, before the Real Estate Commission and the appropriate Court of Appeals
• Adjusters and Appraisers before the Florida Department of Financial Services
From his law office in Fort Lauderdale, Mr. Gelety handles appeals from around the state of Florida, including the tri-county area, Miami-Dade, Broward County, and Palm Beach, and federal cases from around the country. For more information about Mr. Gelety, please feel free to contact our law firm directly.