About Joseph Patrick
Joseph Patrick Hougnon is a licensed attorney admitted to practice law in the State of California. He was admitted to the California State Bar on December 11, 1996,. His license is currently in active status. Mr. Hougnon is the sole practitioner at his law firm, Joseph P. Hougnon, Attorney at Law, located at 901 H Street, Suite 301, Sacramento, California 95814. He serves clients throughout Sacramento and the surrounding counties, including Placer, El Dorado, Yolo, Solano, and Yuba.
Mr. Hougnon earned his Juris Doctor degree from Lincoln Law School of Sacramento in 1996, graduating with the best academic record in his class. During his time at Lincoln Law School, he received several awards, including Best Oral Argument, Best Trial Advocacy Team, and Excellence in Academic Achievement. Prior to law school, he completed his undergraduate education, though specific details about his undergraduate degree and institution are not available.
Mr. Hougnon's practice focuses primarily on DUI defense, personal injury, and criminal defense. He has extensive experience handling cases involving alcohol and drug-related DUIs, including marijuana-related offenses, felony and misdemeanor injury-related DUIs, administrative hearings, DMV administrative per se actions, felony reductions, expungements, jury trials, and litigated motions. His practice encompasses all stages of litigation, including initial case evaluation, discovery, mediation, settlement negotiations, and trial proceedings in both state and federal courts.
Throughout his career, Mr. Hougnon has handled cases in the Superior Court of California for the County of Sacramento, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He has also appeared before the California Court of Appeal on multiple occasions. Prior to founding his own firm, he worked as a law clerk and deputy district attorney in Del Norte County, where he prosecuted felony and misdemeanor juvenile cases.
Mr. Hougnon is an active member of the California State Bar Association. He has been recognized for his professional achievements, including being named a "Top 10 Criminal Defense Attorney" by Best of the Best Attorneys in 2023, and receiving the "Top 10% Criminal Defense in the USA" designation from Lawyers of Distinction in 2017. He is also a member of the American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys and has received the "10 Best Client Satisfaction" award in 2016. Mr. Hougnon is fluent in English and Spanish, allowing him to serve the diverse communities of Sacramento and Northern California effectively.
