About Wiliam R.
Wiliam R. Burgener earned his law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1976. He moved into practice shortly thereafter. The mid-1970s and early 1980s were a busy time for new attorneys. He chose to establish a private practice and build a courtroom practice rather than follow an academic or corporate path.
In 1980 he opened what is listed as the Law Office of William R. Burgener, APC. That step marked the formal beginning of a solo and small-firm practice that has continued for decades. Over the years he has maintained a steady presence in local courts and managed a practice that handles courtroom work, client counseling and the procedural demands that come with criminal cases.
Since 1991 Burgener has served on the Criminal Justice Act Panel as a criminal defense attorney. That appointment means he accepts court-appointed matters through the panel. He has handled appointed criminal defense work for many years, navigating pretrial proceedings, hearings and trials for clients who could not otherwise retain private counsel. The panel role has anchored a substantial portion of his courtroom calendar.
Colleagues and court records show a practitioner comfortable in front of judges and juries. He has experience managing investigations, preparing motions and conducting trials. He also has handled plea negotiations and the post-conviction steps that sometimes follow. His practice reflects steady immersion in criminal defense procedures rather than frequent lateral moves between practice areas.
Burgener’s career arc is straightforward. Law school in 1976. Private practice established in 1980. CJA Panel membership beginning in 1991 and continuing to the present. That uninterrupted sequence underscores a long-running legal practice rather than a string of short stints. It also signals consistent involvement in public defense through the court-appointed system.
He continues to practice at the Law Office of William R. Burgener, APC. He handles criminal defense cases and accepts court-appointed representation through the Criminal Justice Act Panel.
