George J. Hazel is a partner in the Washington office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and a member of the firm’s Litigation and White Collar Defense and Investigations Practice Groups.  A former federal trial judge and criminal prosecutor, Mr. Hazel brings a broad range of trial experience, having presided over approximately 50 jury trials in federal court and handled 20 jury trials and 30 bench trials as an attorney in federal and state court.

Before joining Gibson Dunn, Mr. Hazel had an 18-year career in public service, most recently serving for nearly nine years as a U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Maryland.  After his nomination by President Obama, Mr. Hazel was confirmed in 2014 by the Senate in a 95-0 vote.  At the time of his swearing in, he was the youngest-sitting District Court judge at age 39.

During his time on the bench, Mr. Hazel presided over all manner of criminal proceedings, including but not limited to prosecutions for wire and mail fraud, mortgage fraud, bribery, obstruction of justice, racketeering and drug trafficking. Similarly, he presided over and published opinions in a wide variety of civil litigation matters, including but not limited to employment litigation, Qui Tam / False Act Claims, intellectual property and Administrative Procedures Act claims. Mr. Hazel also served as one of three Patent Pilot Judges assigned to handle an increased number of patent litigation matters.

From 2011 until his appointment to the bench, Mr. Hazel served as Chief Deputy State’s Attorney for Baltimore City, Maryland.  He served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Columbia from 2005 to 2008 and in the District of Maryland from 2008 to 2010, where he served as Southern Division coordinator for Project Safe Neighborhoods.  Mr. Hazel began his legal career as an associate in the Washington, D.C. office of a major law firm from 1999 to 2004.

Mr. Hazel received his Bachelor of Arts from Morehouse College, cum laude, in 1996, and his Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1999, where he served on the Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law and Policy.