Eric Tennen

Biography

Eric Tennen is a partner Swomley & Tennen, LLP. His work focuses on criminal defense and civil rights matters. Attorney Tennen has extensive experience as a trial litigator and appellate advocate.

Attorney Tennen specializes in issues related to sex offenses and collateral consequences, such as involuntary civil commitment and sex offender registration. He has won the release of many persons facing civil commitment as a sexually dangerous person and has successfully petitioned for the release of persons who were already involuntarily committed. He has also successfully represented clients before the Sex Offender Registry Board. Attorney Tennen has been on several continuing legal education panels as an expert in sex offender registration practice.

In addition to his work as a trial attorney, Attorney Tennen has extensive experience as an appellate advocate. Attorney Tennen began his career as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Justice John Mason of the Massachusetts Appeals Court and for the Honorable Chief Justice Michael Kruse at the High Court of American Samoa. He has authored several amicus briefs on behalf of various organizations.

Attorney Tennen is one of few attorneys authorized to represent indigent defendants in District Court, Superior Court, and in post-conviction matters (appeals), as well as persons who are charged with murder, petitioned for involuntarily commitment, and those appearing before the Sex Offender Registry Board. He also represents Federal defendants through the Criminal Justice Act.

In 2011, he was awarded the Paul Liacos Mental Health Advocacy Award by the Committee for Public Counsel Services for zealous advocacy on behalf of indigent defendants. In 2007 and 2013, Attorney Tennen was recognized as “Massachusetts Rising Star.” Since 2015, he has been selected as a “Super Lawyer” as published in Boston Magazine.