[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"site-shell":3,"site-search-modal-empty-8":171,"public-chat-settings":173,"news-article-usa-today-laws-finest-distinguished-attorneys-2025-stephen-aarons":213},{"source":4,"siteName":5,"tagline":6,"contactEmail":7,"contactPhone":8,"contactPhoneTollFree":9,"address":10,"mapsQuery":17,"ratingValue":18,"ratingSource":19,"primaryCta":20,"secondaryCta":23,"chatCta":26,"announcement":30,"google":32,"navigationPrimary":34,"navigationLegal":149},"defaults","Stephen D Aarons","Santa Fe Criminal Defense Lawyer","info@aarons.law","(505) 984-1100","(888) 984-1120",{"street":11,"city":12,"state":13,"stateFullName":14,"zip":15,"full":16},"2019 Galisteo St. Ste H1","Santa Fe","NM","New Mexico","87505","2019 Galisteo Street, Suite H1, Santa Fe, NM 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If the situation is urgent, recent, or someone is in custody, call (505) 984-1100.","Tell us what happened in broad terms. Avoid confidential details for now.","Available 24/7",[182,183,184],"Someone was arrested last night. What should we do first?","Can you explain what happens after a DWI arrest in New Mexico?","I need the office to review this chat and follow up directly.",{"enabled":174,"triggers":186,"headline":192,"description":193,"submitLabel":194,"successMessage":195},[187,188,189,190,191],"contact me","call me","follow up","consultation","talk to a lawyer","Request office follow-up","Share a few details and the office can review the chat and follow up directly.","Send Follow-Up Request","Your follow-up request has been sent to the office.",{"enabled":174,"triggers":197,"threshold":143,"geoPreference":174,"clickTracking":174,"askHeadline":206,"askDescription":207,"positiveHeadline":208,"positiveDescription":209,"negativeHeadline":210,"negativeDescription":211,"reviewSites":212},[198,199,200,201,202,203,204,205],"leave a review","write a review","review","feedback","testimonial","google review","yelp","avvo","How would you rate your experience?","Choose a rating so we can route you to the right next step.","Thank you for the kind words!","Would you mind sharing your experience on one of the review platforms below?","We are sorry to hear that.","Tell us what happened and the office can review it directly.",[],{"slug":214,"title":215,"summary":216,"category":217,"publishedAt":218,"readTimeMinutes":131,"featured":31,"seoTitle":219,"seoDescription":220,"keyTakeaways":221,"sections":225,"relatedLinks":226,"categories":232,"bodyHtml":233,"sourceUrl":234,"sourceLabel":235},"usa-today-laws-finest-distinguished-attorneys-2025-stephen-aarons","USA TODAY features Stephen D Aarons in Law’s Finest: Distinguished Attorneys of 2025","USA TODAY contributor content included Stephen D Aarons in its Law’s Finest: Distinguished Attorneys of 2025 feature, highlighting his New Mexico criminal defense work, public service, teaching, and capital-defense background.","In the News","2025-10-06T14:54:47","USA TODAY features Stephen D Aarons in Law’s Finest: Distinguished Attorneys of 2025 | Stephen D Aarons","USA TODAY contributor content included Stephen D Aarons in its Law’s Finest: Distinguished Attorneys of 2025 feature, highlighting his criminal defense career and public service.",[222,223,224],"USA TODAY contributor content included Stephen D Aarons in its 2025 distinguished-attorney roundup.","The Stephen-focused section highlights his New Mexico criminal defense work, military legal service, capital-defense experience, teaching, and mentoring.","This archive item reproduces Stephen D Aarons' section and image with linkback to the full feature.",[],[227,230],{"label":228,"url":229},"Stephen D Aarons biography","/about/stephen",{"label":231,"url":39},"Criminal defense cases",[217],"\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>By Malana VanTyler\u003C/strong>\u003Cbr>Contributor content published by USA TODAY\u003Cbr>Oct. 6, 2025\u003C/p>\n\u003Cfigure>\u003Cimg src=\"https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2025/10/06/USAT/86548237007-image-2.jpg?width=900&format=pjpg&auto=webp\" alt=\"Stephen D Aarons\" loading=\"lazy\">\u003Cfigcaption>Stephen D Aarons. Image from the USA TODAY contributor feature.\u003C/figcaption>\u003C/figure>\n\u003Ch2>Stephen D Aarons\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-d-aarons-53518910/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Stephen D Aarons\u003C/a> has spent a lifetime transforming his childhood inspiration into a career of consequence. At just eleven years old, after reading \u003Cem>To Kill a Mockingbird\u003C/em>, he knew he wanted to stand with those too often silenced. Decades later, that conviction has carried him into courtrooms across New Mexico and positioned him as a trusted voice in the nation’s criminal defense landscape.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Long before starting his Santa Fe practice in 1992, Steve had already distinguished himself through service and leadership: a law degree from Saint Louis University, VISTA volunteer with the Blackfeet Nation, and three years as a Judge Advocate in Augsburg, Germany, eventually retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Steve has always sought arenas where ideas collide and arguments sharpen. During his time at Oxford University, he immersed himself in the traditions of the Oxford Union, a forum renowned for its spirited debates and global perspective—an experience that reflected his readiness to engage at the highest levels. As New Mexico’s Capital Defender, he shouldered the weight of 13 death penalty trials—cases where both law and humanity hung in the balance.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Steve’s work has been recognized in multiple editions of \u003Cem>Marquis Who’s Who in America\u003C/em>, \u003Cem>Who’s Who in American Law\u003C/em>, and \u003Cem>Who’s Who in the World\u003C/em>. But what he values most is teaching. He has mentored hundreds of students and young lawyers, ensuring that advocacy is carried forward with both skill and conscience.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Now entering a new chapter, Steve is turning experience into literature. His forthcoming novel, drawn from the Torreon Cabin death penalty trial that saw quadruple murder charges dismissed, will be released in November 2025—bringing his life’s work full circle, from courtroom to the page.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>Stephen D Aarons section excerpted from \u003Ca href=\"https://www.usatoday.com/story/special/contributor-content/2025/10/06/laws-finest-distinguished-attorneys-of-2025/86548130007/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">USA TODAY’s Law’s Finest: Distinguished Attorneys of 2025\u003C/a>.\u003C/em>\u003C/p>","https://www.usatoday.com/story/special/contributor-content/2025/10/06/laws-finest-distinguished-attorneys-of-2025/86548130007/","Read the original USA TODAY feature"]