Daniel A. Summer

Daniel Aaron Summer was a distinguished attorney known for his exceptional legal expertise and significant contributions to criminal defense. Born on October 29, 1960, in Chicago, Illinois, he later moved to Dayton, Ohio, where he spent his formative years until graduating from The Miami Valley School in 1978.

Summer’s academic journey led him to the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where he graduated with honors, earning a B.A. in Economics in just three years. Following his passion for the law, he attended Emory University Law School in Atlanta, graduating in1985.

After completing his legal education, Summer began his career as an Assistant District Attorney for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit, where he demonstrated his exceptional trial skills. In 1989, he, along with his beloved wife Chandelle, founded the Summer &Summer law firm in Gainesville, Georgia, specializing in criminal defense cases.

Throughout his career, Summer served as lead counsel on several high-profile cases that garnered national media attention. His groundbreaking genetic defense in a capital murder case and his efforts in repealing mandatory life sentences for certain felonies demonstrated his dedication to protecting the rights of criminal defendants.

Summer’s leadership in the legal community was widely recognized, and he served as the President of the Northeastern Bar Association from 2001 to 2002. He actively participated on the boards of various organizations, including the Georgia Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys.

Tragically, Daniel Aaron Summer passed away on January 14, 2016,at the age of 55, after a courageous battle with ALS. He left behind a loving family, including his wife, sister, and five children. In his honor, the Daniel Summer 85L Memorial Scholarship was established by his Emory Law classmates. His memory lives on through various tributes, including complementary resolutions by the Georgia Legislature and the US House of Representatives, and a life-sized statue carved from a tree trunk on historic Green Street in Gainesville, Georgia.