Marcus Mumford

Marcus Mumford was an American criminal defense lawyer. He was known for representing the defendants in the 2016 occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and Ponzi schemer Rick Koerber.

Early life and education Mumford was raised on a dairy farm in Idaho. He graduated from Utah State University and went on to receive a Juris Doctor from Brigham Young University.

Career Early in his career, Mumford clerked for a federal appellate judge before joining the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, where he worked for seven years.

Notable cases

Rick Koerber trial Mumford was retained to represent Rick Koerber, who was indicted on federal charges in 2009 related to a Ponzi scheme he ran. In 2014, federal judge Clark Waddoups dismissed all charges against Koerber, agreeing with Mumford's claim that federal officials had interfered with Koerber's right to a speedy trial. Federal officials refiled charges against him. During his subsequent trial, several Oregon attorneys protested Mumford's arrest, including the federal public defender for the District of Oregon Lisa Hay, who observed Mumford's trial while wearing a "Free Marcus Mumford" lapel pin.

At trial, Mumford's attorney, Michael Levine, argued the marshals engaged in "outrageous" misconduct. Federal prosecutors ultimately dropped the charges against Mumford without providing a reason, a move Levine characterized as "surprising".

Personal life and death Mumford was found dead from a seizure – in his home in April 2020 – by a colleague who had come by to discuss a case. At the time of his death, he was divorced with seven children.