Derek Cortez

Derek developed his passion for criminal defense during his undergraduate studies while attending the University of Missouri-St. Louis. There he saw the effects of the criminal justice system on individuals and the critical role defense attorneys play in that system. He recognized that there was an urgent need for more competent, zealous and compassionate legal representation of persons charged with criminal offenses within the St. Louis area.While attending law school, Derek served as a member of the Saint Louis University’s Criminal Defense Clinic, and gained experience in the representation of clients in a wide array of criminal matters, including serving as trial attorney in several cases. Derek also served as a student-attorney on the Death Penalty Proportionality Project, representing death row inmates in their post-conviction appeals.Prior to joining Niehoff Peterson & Cortez, LLC he interned with the Arch City Defenders and several other criminal defense attorneys in the St. Louis region. In these positions he gained a wealth of criminal defense experience, further building on the legal skills he acquired while attending law school. Since joining Niehoff Peterson & Cortez, LLC in 2017, Derek has focused his practice in state and municipal courts in Illinois and Missouri, handling felony, misdemeanor, DWI and driving-related cases.