Steve Foritano is a Practitioner in Residence and Director of the First-year Trial Practicum Program at Drake University Law School. Professor Foritano is a graduate of Kent State University (BA, magna cum laude) and the University of Iowa College of Law (JD).
Prior to his teaching career, Professor Foritano worked for twenty-five years as a Bureau Chief at the Polk County Attorney's Office. He also served at the United States Attorney's Office as a Special Assistant United States Attorney, and at the Iowa Attorney General’s Office as an Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Appeals Division, Civil Rights Division, and Consumer Protection Division.
Major cases included: State v. Piper I & II, (serial hotel murders; featured on A&E’s Cold Case Files and Investigation Discovery’s Unusual Suspects); State v. White, (robbery/murder; featured in the book The Drake Diner Murders); State v. Carr, (child sexual abuse homicide); State v. Carlson, (domestic abuse homicide); State v. Morris, (strip club murder featured on TruTv’s Forensic Files); State v. Morales, (child abuse homicide); State v. Woolheater, Huser, (murder for hire); State v. Moffitt (murder raising insanity defense featured on NBC’s Dateline).
Areas of Expertise
Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Trial Advocacy
Education
JD, University of Iowa College of Law
BA, Kent State University, magna cum laude
Significant Accomplishments
Honorary member, Order of the Barristers, Drake University Law School, 2005, 2008
Iowa County Attorney Association Award of Merit, 2003
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General's Integrity Award, 1991
Featured on A&E'sCold Case Filesand Investigation Discovery'sUnusual Suspects,State v. Piper I & II
Featured in the bookThe Drake Diner Murders, State v. White
