Reforming Criminal Justice: A Christian Proposal

Reforming Criminal Justice: A Christian ProposalReforming Criminal Justice: A Christian ProposalReforming Criminal Justice: A Christian Proposal
  • Home
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • More
    • Home
    • Contact
    • Blog

Reforming Criminal Justice: A Christian Proposal

Reforming Criminal Justice: A Christian ProposalReforming Criminal Justice: A Christian ProposalReforming Criminal Justice: A Christian Proposal
  • Home
  • Contact
  • Blog

Welcome

Reforming Criminal Justice

Reforming Criminal JusticeReforming Criminal JusticeReforming Criminal Justice

Matthew T. Martens

Ask Me

Matthew T. Martens

I'm a Christian. And I'm a lawyer. I've been a Christian for as a long as I can remember. I've been a lawyer for  27 years, serving as a law clerk for the Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court, a federal prosecutor, and a criminal defense attorney.

ABOUT ME

I have been a lawyer for nearly 27 years after graduating first in my class at the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1996. At the outset of my legal career, I spent two years in Washington, DC serving as a law clerk for a federal court of appeals judge and then to Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist at the US Supreme Court.


In the years that followed, I've worked both as a federal prosecutor (9 years) and as a criminal defense attorney (11 years). I've handled virtually every type of criminal case you can think of, including capital murder, securities fraud, drug trafficking, firearms violations, child pornography, mortgage fraud, voter fraud, and public corruption. Over the years, I have tried more than two dozen cases across the country both as a prosecutor and defense attorney. I am currently a partner in the Washington, DC office of one of the world's largest law firms.


During my years in private law practice, I have contributed a significant amount of my time to pro bono work, largely focused on religious liberty cases and criminal cases. I recently argued a criminal case in the Alabama Supreme Court. In 2020, I represented numerous churches in litigation challenging COVID church closure orders.


Along the way, I attended seminary part-time at Dallas Theological Seminary, graduating first in my class with a master's degree in biblical studies in 2010.


In 2021, I signed a contract with Crossway to publish a book on a topic that has long been of interest to me: how Christians should think about criminal justice. Friends had encouraged me over the years to write this book, but the murder of George Floyd served as the catalyst for me to finally put pen to paper. Lord willing, the book will be released in late 2023. The book's title is the title of this website -- Reforming Criminal Justice: A Christian Proposal.


I currently live in northern Virginia with my wife of nearly 29 years and our youngest son. My two older children are in college at Furman University. We are members of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC. 

Speaking Engagements

April 2024

Wheaton College

TBD

Wheaton, IL

Event Details

April 2024

Wheaton College

Kamm Memorial Lecture on Jurisprudence

TBD

Wheaton, IL

November 15, 2023

Evangelical Theological Society Annual Meeting

San Antonio, TX

Event Details

November 15, 2023

Evangelical Theological Society Annual Meeting

Presenter

San Antonio, TX

October 19, 2023

University of Pennsylvania Law School

TBD

Philadelphia, PA

Event Details

October 19, 2023

University of Pennsylvania Law School

Speaker

TBD

Philadelphia, PA

September 13, 2023

California Baptist University

5:30pm

-

6:30pm

Riverside, CA

Event Details

September 13, 2023

California Baptist University

Constitution Day Speech

5:30pm

-

6:30pm

Riverside, CA

August 25, 2023

United We Pray Pastors Conference

6pm

-

8pm

Birmingham, AL

Event Details

August 25, 2023

United We Pray Pastors Conference

Speaker

6pm

-

8pm

Birmingham, AL

More Events

Why "Tough on Crime" is Neither Christian Nor Conservative

https://scholarship.law.nd.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1012&context=ndjlepp_online

Government’s Two-Edged Sword (9Marks)

https://www.9marks.org/article/governments-two-edged-sword/

The (Past, Present, and Future) Law of Religious Liberty

https://www.thelondonlyceum.com/the-past-present-and-future-law-of-religious-liberty/

Government’s Two-Edged Sword

https://providencemag.com/2022/08/governments-two-edged-sword/

Prosecutorial immunity is un-American and immoral

https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2022/05/22/prosecutorial-immunity-is-un-american-and-immoral/?outputType=amp

Christian Hope in Life After Life After Death

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/hope-life-death/

I told fellow believers our liberties would be protected in the pandemic. The court proved me wrong.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/07/28/closing-churches-is-grievous-burden-courts-should-not-impose-it-lightly/

Two Kinds of Sermons That Seem Expositional But Really Aren't

https://www.9marks.org/article/two-kinds-of-sermons-that-seem-expositional-but-really-arent/

How to Rein in the SEC

https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-rein-in-the-sec-1433285747

Easter Hope

https://www.hudnutink.com/post/everything-is-broken-but-it-won-t-be-that-way-forever

Podcast Appearances

The Stoop Sessions

http://www.onehope.gives/thestoopsessions/2023/5/2/matt-martens-reforming-criminal-justice

Uncommontary with Marty Duren - April 12, 2022

https://uncommontarypodcast.com/2022/04/12/matthew-martens-systemic-injustice-the-bible-and-the-us-system-ep96/

All Things with Jen Oshman - January 21, 2022

https://www.jenoshman.com/all-things-podcast/2022/1/18/episode-76-a-christian-perspective-on-our-criminal-justice-system

Pastoring in a Pandemic - May 26, 2020

https://www.9marks.org/message/pastoring-in-a-pandemic-episode-17-what-legal-rights-and-responsibilities-do-churches-have-during-a-pandemic-with-matt-martens/

Drive-in Churches and the Constitution - May 8, 2020

https://fedsoc.org/events/drive-in-churches-and-the-constitution-balancing-the-religious-belief-in-corporate-worship-and-health-concerns-related-to-covid-19

Sermons & Speeches

The Gospel and Social Justice - Feb 26, 2023

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qOK-dfYE1e0

The Rule of Law as Christian Doctrine - Feb 16, 2023

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DVtSrk7xBaM

A Christian Case for Limited Government - Sept 19, 2022

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMaZnyTQ03s&list=PL3d3eHC5GStTCpLeyMqXzuTqdfJhOjkR9&index=1

What Does It Mean to Be Human? - June 27, 2021

https://soundcloud.com/user-300848194/1-peter-11-2-2021-06-27-mathew-martens?utm_source=mobi&utm_campaign=social_sharing&utm_terms=block_background_listening_on_mobi.control

What Is The Meaning of Life? - Dec 2016

https://my.ekklesia360.com/Clients/player/videoplayer.php?sid=13123&url=http%3A%2F%2Fb1033ecbf0be9f1f78e0-9ff91644b80b1213b3e9d43ad0f0e963.r47.cf2.rackcdn.com%2Fuploaded%2F2%2F0e6810902_1512948907_2017-12-10pm.mp3&mediaBID=5346964&template=https%3A%2F%2Fmy.ekklesia360.com%2FClients%2Fplayer%2Fvideoplayer.php&module=sermon&content_id=1333243&type=sound&CMSCODE=EKK&skin=skin_plain.xml&CMS_LINK=https%3A%2F%2Fmy.ekklesia360.com&width=400&height=300&fullscreen&image&overrideImage=false&playlist=false&autostart=true&target=MediaPlayer&fbclid=IwAR1rG3LuQx25GhLuRPAj7K3zDqPDARpB8ahIAeUe3FCwmi2sq7vbYq34njs

In The News

Ex-Wells Fargo Execs, OCC Face Off in Sales Practices Case

https://www.law360.com/articles/1421248/ex-wells-fargo-execs-occ-face-off-in-sales-practices-case

Federal Judge Skeptical of DC's Religious Restrictions for COVID

https://www.courthousenews.com/federal-judge-skeptical-of-dcs-religious-restrictions-for-covid/

WilmerHale’s Matthew Martens on Religious Liberty, More Hours and 'Drowning in Email' During COVID

https://www.law.com/nationallawjournal/2020/04/23/wilmerhales-matthew-martens-on-religious-liberty-more-hours-and-drowning-in-email-during-covid-19/?slreturn=20220215211756

Judge Grant's Injunction Against Louisville Mayor, Allowing Drive-in Church on Easter

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2020/04/14/judgjudge-weighs-drive-though-church-servicese-weighs-drive-though-church-services/2993470001/

Judge Dismisses SEC Case Against Ken Paxton

https://www.texastribune.org/2016/10/07/judge-dismisses-sec-case-against-paxton/

Paxton picks former SEC lawyer to defend him

https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Paxton-picks-former-SEC-lawyer-to-defend-him-7974077.php

Martens, SEC's Top Litigator, Will Head to WilmerHale Law Firm

https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304066404579125752915146332

"Fabulous Fab" Verdict is Vindication for SEC Lawyer

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sec-goldman-tourre/fabulous-fab-verdict-is-vindication-for-sec-lawyer-idUSBRE96G19720130804

SEC to Jurors: Don't follow Tourre to "land of make believe"

https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-xpm-2013-07-30-sns-rt-us-sec-goldman-tourre-20130718-story.html

Trial of ex-Goldman trader about "Wall Street greed": SEC

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-goldmansachs-sec-tourre/trial-of-ex-goldman-trader-about-wall-street-greed-sec-idUSBRE96B00020130715

Arsenal of Legal Firepower Masses Around Tourre Trial

https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/07/15/arsenal-of-legal-firepower-masses-around-tourre-trial/

Photo Gallery

    @martensmatt1

    Copyright © 2023 Reforming Criminal Justice: A Christian Proposal - All Rights Reserved.

    Powered by GoDaddy Website Builder

    This website uses cookies.

    We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

    Accept