Terry Gilbert

Terry Gilbert is one of Ohio's most prominent and experienced civil rights and criminal defense attorneys, based in Cleveland, Ohio, where he has practiced for more than four decades. A partner at Friedman & Gilbert, Gilbert has built a formidable reputation as a fierce advocate for individuals whose constitutional rights have been violated by law enforcement and government actors. He has litigated landmark cases involving police misconduct, wrongful imprisonment, excessive force, and civil rights violations at both the trial and appellate levels, earning a national reputation for taking on the most difficult and high-profile cases.

Gilbert's track record against police and government entities is extensive and well-documented. He has represented victims of police brutality, families of individuals killed by law enforcement, and wrongfully convicted individuals seeking justice after years of incarceration. His work on wrongful conviction cases has been particularly notable, as he has helped exonerate clients who spent years or decades in prison due to misconduct or error by law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies. Gilbert's approach combines thorough investigation, aggressive litigation, and a deep commitment to systemic accountability.

Beyond individual cases, Terry Gilbert has been a persistent voice for civil rights reform in Ohio and nationally. He has been involved in cases that have shaped legal standards around police accountability and has worked alongside civil rights organizations to challenge unconstitutional practices at the institutional level. His decades of experience, combined with his willingness to take on powerful governmental defendants, have made him a go-to attorney for complex and sensitive civil rights matters in the region and beyond.

Gilbert is a member of the National Police Accountability Project and has been recognized by peers and legal organizations for his contributions to civil rights law. He is frequently sought as a commentator and speaker on issues of police reform, wrongful conviction, and constitutional rights, reflecting his standing as one of the leading civil rights litigators in the Midwest.