DISTINGUISHED LAWYER OF THE YEAR
Max D. Wheeler - Mr. Wheeler was born and raised in Ogden, Utah. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in political science from Weber State University in 1965, and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Utah, College of Law in 1968. His first years as a trial lawyer began in Washington D.C. where he joined the Criminal Section of the Tax Division, United States Department of Justice. In that position, he traveled throughout the United States prosecuting criminal tax cases in many different federal courts.
In 1974, Mr. Wheeler joined the United States Attorneys Office for the District of Utah where he represented the federal government in both civil and criminal cases. He held various positions under several administrations and under four different United States attorneys, including Chief Criminal Assistant and First Assistant, United States Attorney.
Mr. Wheeler left government service in 1979 to enter private practice with the law firm of Snow, Christensen & Martineau in Salt Lake City where he currently serves as Chairman of the Board. In private practice, Mr. Wheeler specializes in complex civil litigation and white collar criminal defense. He has been involved in many high profile cases both as a federal prosecutor and a private practitioner, including the recent Olympics bribery case.
Mr. Wheeler is a member of the Utah State Bar, the American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, the Utah Federal Court, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, and he is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. Over the years, he has served as Chairman of the Public Prosecutors Committee, Chairman of the Federal Criminal Rules Committee, Chairman of the Bar Exam Writers Committee on Evidence, Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Utah College of Law, President of the American Inns of Court VII, Chairman of the Federal Courts Disciplinary Committee, and Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers. In 1997, Mr. Wheeler was recognized as Utah Trial Lawyer of the Year by the American Board of Trial Advocates. In 2003, he was given the Distinguished Service award by the Federal Bar Association.
Mr. Wheeler has been married 42 years to the former Diane Smurthwaite and is the father of four children and grandfather to six grandchildren.