Sam is a highly experienced litigator whose practice focuses on high-stakes litigation and government investigations. With 20 years in federal service, he draws from a wealth of experience defending clients charged with serious crimes in state and federal courts, representing servicemembers facing court-martial or adverse administrative action, and handling a wide range of appeals.

Immediately prior to joining Flannery | Georgalis, Sam served as an Assistant Federal Defender in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, one of the busiest districts for criminal enforcement in the nation. He handled a broad range of federal criminal cases, including white-collar fraud, drug trafficking, immigration offenses, material support to terrorism, and violent crimes. One of the office’s most experienced trial lawyers, Sam tried 16 cases before a jury.

Before joining the Federal Defender’s Office, Sam served on active duty for eight years in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps. He litigated appeals of court-martial convictions on behalf of the Army, including several high-profile cases such as United States v. Chelsea Manning and United States v. Clint Lorance. He served as lead counsel in multiple oral arguments, filed countless briefs, and led a specialized unit of litigators in the Capital, Interlocutory, and Habeas section.

Sam also served as a trial defense counsel in Wiesbaden, Germany, representing soldiers in courts-martial under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). He was the primary prosecutor for a brigade combat team of the 101st Airborne Division, with whom he deployed to combat operations in Afghanistan. He also served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Kentucky and Middle District of Tennessee, prosecuting federal crimes arising out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Sam earned Airborne and Air Assault wings, a Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, and numerous other awards. He retired from the Army Reserves as a major in 2026.

Education

The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law (J.D., 2009)
Miami University (B.A., English, 2006)

Admissions

District of Columbia
Ohio
United States Supreme Court
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals

Government Service

United States Army (2006-2026)
Federal Defender, Middle District of Florida (2017-2026)

Professional Memberships

Federal Bar Association
The Federalist Society

Publications

Griffin Edwards, Samuel Landes & Stephen Rushin, An Empirical Examination of the Dangerous Patient Exception, 111 Cornell L. Rev. 75 (2026).

An Empirical Examination of the Dangerous Patient Exception