Kerrie Droban finds writing and law fulfilling

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Whether it was through her work as an attorney or as a true crime author, Kerrie Droban has made her mark.

As a former Maricopa County attorney, Droban has been a criminal defense attorney for 27 years, litigating major felonies, complex white-collar fraud cases and death penalty matters. Her capital appeal, State v. Timothy Ring, was heard before the U.S. Supreme Court. The decision resulted in the remand of more than 180 death row cases nationwide.

“That’s why we have jury sentencing for capital cases,” she says. “We’re one of several states now that do jury sentencing.”

In addition to criminal law, Droban also specializes in family law—specifically divorce cases—helping people in crisis, through her firm KBUNITED. It’s her forte.

“Helping people navigate the worst times of their lives is rewarding work.”

Droban keeps her practice small so she can devote her attention to her clients.

“People in crisis need to talk to their lawyer, not a middleman like a paralegal or a secretary,” she says. “Being a lawyer is not a 9-to-5 job. When I was a criminal lawyer, clients in custody reached out sometimes at midnight and on weekends. It became part of the way I like to practice law.”

Droban parlayed her experiences into a career writing true crime books, specifically “The Last Chicago Boss: My Life with the Chicago Outlaws Motorcycle Club”; “Vagos, Mongols and Outlaws: My Infiltration of America’s Deadliest Biker Gangs”; “Prodigal Father, Pagan Son”; “Running with the Devil: The True Story of ATF’s Infiltration of the Arizona Hells Angels”; and “A Socialite Scorned.”

She has also appeared on national television on CNBC’s “American Greed,” “A Widow’s Web,” A&E’s “Gangland” “Behind Enemy Lines,” the American Heroes Channel, “Codes and Conspiracies,” Investigation ID and the Discovery Channel’s “Deadly Devotion.”

“It dovetailed really nicely into criminal law,” she says. “Both careers are pretty involved. I can’t say that one is less than the other. I get clients asking me to write their story, or they worry that I won’t be able to devote enough time to their case.

“I’m able to do both pretty well. That’s my passion.”

Droban says her dual career is exciting and sees a commonality between the two.

“Writing is a passion,” she says. “It makes me a well-rounded lawyer. I’m not just about crime or divorce. I bring a lot of experience to the table. My strength is navigating crises and helping clients see the bigger picture.”

She balances the two well. Droban practices law four days a week and dedicates the weekends to writing.

“I don’t find my projects,” she says. “People have approached me to write their stories. And though at times, on deadline, I’ve written for 20 hours at a time, I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.”  

Kerrie Droban

KBUNITED

480-612-3058, kdrobanlaw.com