Law Office of Edward J. Sternisha, PLLC

05/28/2026

CASE DISMISSED! Client was pulled over for crossing over the painted lines on the freeway and subsequently arrested for operating while impaired. After several pretrial conference meetings with the prosecutor, I was able to negotiate the most appropriate resolution for the case. My client paid a fine for careless driving (a civil infraction) and the criminal case was dismissed.

If you celebrated Memorial Day a little too much and were arrested, call (616) 233-2255 today.

Remember, drunk driving is dangerous.
If you drink, call a cab.
If arrested, Call Ed Instead!
(616) 233-CALL-ED
(616) 233-2255.

04/20/2026

WE DID IT! We have had tremendous support, and our team is going to keep pushing forward until our VICTORY in Ionia and Montcalm counties on election day. Thank you to everyone who made this happen! Vote for Ed Instead.

03/29/2026

MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT:

It is official! I am running for judge of the 8th Circuit Court in Ionia and Montcalm Counties. The 8th Circuit Court has two judges and there will now be a vacancy. As such, I am running for the open, non-incumbent seat. But I need your help!

Over the last 38 years, I have worked off and on in various capacities in the legal system. I have been a public safety officer (Police-Fire-EMS), bail bondsman, private investigator, and more.

In 2012, I opened my own law firm and have been dedicated to fighting for the rights of those accused. But, what makes me unique is that I also went back to police work. I am the only criminal defense attorney who also works as a police officer. It is the best way that I can make sure the law works the way it is supposed to.

There have been days when I have fought in court for a client and got a case dismissed, then went home, changed out of the 3-piece suit and put on a police uniform and worked an overnight 12-hour shift to protect my community.

No one else will bring to the bench what I have to offer. I literally have worked on both sides, doing my best to make the law work. This is what I do everyday.

Throughout the last decade and a half, I have taught law students as an adjunct law professor, written books, presented at legal seminars, and donated hundreds of hours to my community. Now I need your support.

If you are a registered voter in Ionia or Montcalm counties, I need your signature on a Nominating Petition. If you don’t live here, please get ahold of me so you can help me get those signatures. I can’t do it without you, and I don’t have much time.

Please email me directly at [email protected] or text me at (616) 291-0039 if you can help me this week or next.

Thank you for your support. I look forward to serving the community as the next Judge of the 8th Circuit Court.

Vote for Ed Instead!

03/28/2026

RECEIVED A FANTASTIC 5-Star Client review today! So thankful for clients like this...

Posted by Adam | March 27, 2026 | Hired attorney
Highly Recommend!!!!
I retained Ed Sternisha of the Law Office of Ed Sternisha PLLC following a tragic traffic incident in which I was wrongly accused of committing a moving violation resulting in a fatality. Despite my immediate cooperation with law enforcement including providing biological samples and consenting to extensive searches I was ultimately charged. Mr. Sternisha, working alongside co-counsel Aida Spahic, conducted a thorough and meticulous investigation that spanned more than a year. His analytical approach, preparation, and dedication ensured that critical facts and evidence were clearly presented to the jury. During an exhausting two-day trial, Mr. Sternisha demonstrated exceptional professionalism, courtroom skill, and unwavering advocacy. The jury ultimately returned a verdict of Not Guilty, restoring both my reputation and peace of mind. Beyond his legal ability, Mr. Sternisha consistently treated my family and I with dignity, transparency, and compassion during an extremely difficult period in our lives. I recommend him without hesitation to anyone seeking experienced, ethical, and highly capable legal representation.

Grand Rapids, MI attorney Edward Jacob Sternisha - read reviews from former clients

03/05/2026

VERY HAPPY TO RECEIVE a 5-Star Client Review...

Grand Rapids, MI attorney Edward Jacob Sternisha - read reviews from former clients

03/01/2026

NOT GUILTY! Attorney Aida Spahic and I worked together to defend Fire Lieutenant Adam Kokx who was wrongly accused of committing a moving violation causing the death of an elderly bicyclist. When Lt. Kokx was off-duty and driving three of his children one morning to pick up breakfast for his family, he was involved in a crash. He immediately got out of the vehicle to help the cyclist but, unfortunately, he had died instantly.

When first responders arrived, Lt. Kokx told them what happened and cooperated fully with their requests, even providing breath and blood samples which showed he had no alcohol or drugs in his system. Lt. Kokx also consented to a search of his cell phone and his vehicle, including a complete download of the Event Data Recorder (vehicle’s “black box”).

Strangely, when police arrived, they drove through the scene, over evidence, and even parked many of their vehicles directly over the area Lt. Kokx said the crash first occurred. With the area of impact Lt. Kokx identified being covered by police and fire vehicles, investigators instead focused their attention on tire marks elsewhere in the road they thought were involved in the crash. Never once did they check for tire marks where Lt. Kokx told them the impact had taken place, and he was eventually charged with causing the death of the bicyclist.

After a year of investigating on our part and an exhausting two-day jury trial, Attorney Spahic and I were almost as happy as Lt. Kokx to hear the two-word verdict of Not Guilty!

My son Jacob and my great-niece Lilly, who are both interested in studying law when they attend college in the future, spent both days of the trial taking notes and learning. The judge and court staff were very accommodating, and the county sheriff even gave the teenagers a tour of his office and of the jail.

[Photos and names used with permission.]

01/29/2026

THE LAW IS DIFFICULT to understand. The legal system is complex and not easy to navigate. I try not to forget that even though I might deal with it every day, most clients charged with drunk driving do not. It can seem scary, so I try to walk my client's carefully though the system, step by step.

I'm glad to know that clients notice how hard I try to reduce that stress. I'm glad to know it matters. Click below and see the nice Client Review I just received from a client whose case I recently got dismissed.

Remember, if you drink, call a cab.

If arrested, "Call Ed Instead!"
(616) 233-CALL-ED
(616) 233-2255

Grand Rapids, MI attorney Edward Sternisha - read reviews from former clients

01/09/2026

HAPPY NEW YEAR - CASE DISMISSED! Happy Client! It feels great to start the new year off with a case dismissal in the first week. And although I’d like to say it was great investigative work on my part that led to the dismissal, my client should never have been arrested and charged to begin with. I just kept pushing and refused to ignore the facts.

As you know, Michigan has a legal limit of .08 BAC for drunk driving (OWI). And although you could be convicted of impaired driving if your BAC is somewhat below .08, in this case, my client did what we expect him to do. He didn’t drink too much and made sure he was not impaired before he started driving. Unfortunately, the police did not do what we expected them to do. My client only had a BAC of .03, which is so low that there is no excuse for him being charged. This morning the prosecutor agreed to dismiss the case and my client’s nightmare is over.

Remember, if you drink, call a cab.
If arrested, “Call Ed Instead!”
(616) 233-CALL-ED
(616) 233-2255

01/01/2026

Happy New Year!

11/24/2025

DO POLICE HAVE TO Read Miranda Rights every time they make an arrest?
What do you think?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pO6P30kayWqyER58bCrcY-8z9VFRQe6Q/view?usp=drive_web