From 2016 (re: famous fanciful fiction collective letter) to date, John Lauro has been retained by Wendi Adelson. If memory serves, in the course of an interview John Lauro stated to the effect that “it changes nothing either his client is guilty or innocent." IMHO, what matters to most lawyers is that the client wants to be defended. John Lauro is a defender of white collar criminals. Most white collar crime cases go to plea deal rather than trial.
Donna Adelson’s docket showed in August 2025 that Matthew Luka is added as Wendi Adelson’s defender. Matthew Luka is a criminal defense lawyer (as contrasted with a defender of white collar criminals) with about 21 years of experience from the Miami, FL area.
In the previous 3 trials related to Dan Markel’s murder, John Lauro was in the court room only while Wendi Adelson testified, and thereafter they both left Tallahassee promptly. After Wendi testified in her mother’s trial, it was reported that John Lauro lingered few days in Tallahassee as if perhaps studying. Combined with the addition of Matthew Luka, this change of behavior is an indicator of worries that Wendi Adelson could be indicted by a grand jury.
