Criminal Defense law in California covers felonies, misdemeanors, drug offenses, assault, theft, and white-collar crimes. When these legal matters arise, having the right attorney can make a significant difference in the outcome. California has its own statutes, court procedures, and legal standards that apply specifically to criminal defense cases, and attorneys who practice in Superior Court regularly understand the nuances that affect how these matters are resolved.

Criminal cases in California are prosecuted through Superior Court, with appeals handled by the Court of Appeal. Your constitutional rights apply, but California's own rules of criminal procedure determine how the case unfolds in practice. Early representation is critical — the decisions made in the first days after arrest often define the trajectory of the entire case. The State Bar of California maintains standards for criminal defense practitioners in the state.

Choosing the right criminal defense attorney in California means evaluating more than just qualifications — it means finding someone who understands the local legal system and has handled similar cases. Use the profiles on this page to compare attorney experience, read client reviews, check office locations, and identify lawyers who offer free initial consultations. Taking the time to compare options can significantly affect your outcome.

Want to understand your legal rights before contacting an attorney? Read our complete guide to criminal defense law in California for an in-depth look at California's statutes, court procedures, and what outcomes are possible. When you're ready, use the profiles below to compare attorneys and schedule a consultation.

Marc Steven Applbaum - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Midway Law Firm APC
 4275 Executive Square Ste. 200 La Jolla CA 92037
(619) 993-0288
Univ of Southern Calif
English, Spanish
Bar #222511
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Arbitration & Mediation Business Law Cannabis & Marijuana Law
Mark Anthony Davis - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Law Offices of Mark A. Davis
 750 E Green St Pasadena CA 91101
(626) 440-0477
South Texas College of Law (1999)
Bar #195014
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Appeals & Appellate Business Law Criminal Law
Robin Dwayne Perry - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates, a boutique law firm located in Long Beach, California
 100 Oceangate Ste 525 Long Beach CA 90802
(562) 216-2944
Univ of California Davis
Bar #181686
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Business Law Criminal Law Domestic Violence
Sanjay Sobti - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
U.S. Law Center
 4230 Green River Rd Corona CA 92880
(951) 371-0027
California St Univ
Bar #202636
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Business Law Criminal Law Divorce
Kevin Heaney - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Law Office of Kevin J. Heaneyd
 24 Professional Center Pkwy Ste 240 San Rafael CA 94903
(415) 302-9609
University of San Francisco (1987)
English, Spanish
Bar #154496
9th Circuit Bar
Active License
Verified
Criminal Law Domestic Violence DUI & DWI
Richard F. Taub - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Taub & Taub, P.C.
 6320 Canoga Avenue Suite 1500 Woodland Hills CA 91367
(818) 646-5300
Nova Southeastern University (1990)
English
Bar #273865
10th Circuit Bar
Active License
Verified
Business Law Criminal Law Divorce
Stephen Allen Gershman - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Law Offices of Stephen A. Gershman
 17547 Ventura Blvd # 308 Los Angeles CA 91316
(818) 990-6505
Pepperdine University School of Law
Bar #70941
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Arbitration & Mediation Civil Rights Criminal Law
Steven Peter Small - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Steven P. Small
 2509 Santa Clara Ave Alameda CA 94501
(510) 865-2038
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
Bar #39869
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Bankruptcy Consumer Law Criminal Law
Maria Amaya - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Maria Amaya, A Professional Law Corporation
 196 Cohasset Rd, Suite 205 Chico CA 95926
(530) 897-3700
California St Univ Chico
English, Spanish
Bar #220753
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Criminal Law DUI & DWI Personal Injury
Ted Khalaf - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Khalaf Law Group
 6300 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles CA 90048
(213) 550-4600
La Sierra Univ
English, Spanish, Spanish
Bar #206518
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Arbitration & Mediation Business Law Criminal Law
Amanda Moran - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Moran Law Firm in Fresno, California
 1330 L Street, Suite A Fresno CA 93721
(559) 264-2688
California State University - Fresno
Bar #311090
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Appeals & Appellate Criminal Law Divorce
Anjali A. Bansal - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Law Offices of Anjali A. Bansal
 3333 E American Avenue Ste C Fresno CA 93725
(559) 600-6681
University of California, Davis, School of Law (2011)
Hindi
Bar #301791
Active License
Verified
Criminal Law Domestic Violence Juvenile Law
Harry Wayne Harrison - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Bodell Law Group
 11455 El Camino Real #400 San Diego CA 92130
(858) 461-4699
University of San Diego School of Law
Bar #211141
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Business Law Civil Rights Consumer Law
Vernon Louis Ellicott - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Law Offices of Vernon L. Ellicott
 3435 Thousand Oaks Blvd #4361 Westlake Village CA 91359
(818) 914-7322
Southwestern University School of Law
Bar #175334
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Bankruptcy Civil Rights Criminal Law
Stephen D. Klarich - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Wallin & Klarich, A Law Corporation
 505 N. Arrowhead Avenue Suite 105 San Bernardino CA 92401
(714) 730-5300
Western State College of Law at Argosy University (1981)
English, English
Bar #100728
California Bar
Resigned License
Verified
Appeals & Appellate Criminal Law Divorce
Paul Takakjian - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Takakjian & Sitkoff, LLP
 7755 Center Ave, 11th Floor Huntington Beach CA 92647
(714) 456-9955
Univ of California at Los Angeles
English, French
Bar #89449
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Criminal Law Domestic Violence DUI & DWI
Robert Daniel Rodriguez - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Law Offices of Robert D. Rodriguez
 4695 Chabot Drive Ste. 200 Pleasanton CA 94588
(209) 596-4263
California St Univ Stanislaus
Bar #242396
Federal Circuit Bar
Unknown Status
Verified
Bankruptcy Civil Rights Collections
Shawn Patrick King Huston - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Huston | McCaffrey, LLP
 1650 Hotel Circle North, Suite 201 San Diego CA 92108
(619) 800-1166
National Univ
Bar #235944
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Animal & Dog Law Arbitration & Mediation Bankruptcy
Nathan Mubasher - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Law Offices of Nathan Mubasher
 2621 Green River Rd Ste 105 PMB 403 Corona CA 92882
Thomas Jefferson School of Law
Arabic
Bar #281645
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Arbitration & Mediation Business Law Consumer Law
Victor Manuel Perez - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Perez Law Firm
 1304 W Center Ave Visalia CA 93291
(559) 625-2626
University of California College of the Law, San Francisco
Bar #114381
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Animal & Dog Law Criminal Law Domestic Violence
Thomas Rodger Chapin - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Reel Fathers Rights APC
 232 E. Grand Boulevard Suite 204 Corona CA 92879
(951) 278-2919
California St Univ Northridge
Spanish
Bar #221741
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Civil Rights Criminal Law Divorce
Darryl Paul Rains - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Morrison & Foerster LLP
 755 Page Mill Rd Palo Alto CA 94304
(650) 813-5600
Columbia Law School (1982)
Bar #104802
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Business Law Consumer Law Criminal Law
Matthew Stevan Luzaich - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Law Offices of Matthew S. Luzaich
 2540 Esplanade Ste 11 Chico CA 95973
(530) 809-1752
Golden Gate University School of Law (2010)
English
Bar #291609
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Criminal Law Domestic Violence DUI & DWI
Richard James Molin - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Stewart Humpherys & Molin, LLP
 PO BOX 720 CHICO CA 95927
(530) 891-6111
San Francisco State Unv
Bar #66894
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Civil Rights Consumer Law Criminal Law
Eugene Illovsky - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Illovsky Gates & Calia LLP.
 1611 Telegraph Avenue Suite 806 Oakland CA 94612
(510) 394-5885
Yale Law School (1983)
Bar #117892
State Bar of California Bar
Active License
Verified
Antitrust Law Appeals & Appellate Business Law
Peter Vlautin III - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Law Office of Peter P. Vlautin, J.D. LL.M.
 1020 Suncast Lane Suite 101 El Dorado Hills CA 95762-9335
(916) 365-9734
University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law (1980)
Bar #54733
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Business Law Criminal Law DUI & DWI
Donald Wayne Werno - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Werno Family Law Solutions
 540 N. Golden Circle Dr. Suite 115 Santa Ana CA 92705
(714) 542-4466
National Univ
Bar #200918
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Criminal Law Divorce Domestic Violence
Amador Larry Corona - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Law Offices of Amador L. Corona
 2124 Main Street, Suite 130 Huntington Beach CA 92648
(951) 279-1009
Univ of California Irvine
Spanish
Bar #93679
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Criminal Law Insurance Claims Juvenile Law
David R. Mugridge - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Law Offices of David R. Mugridge
 P.O. Box 1369 Fresno CA 93716
(559) 840-0020
Monterey Institute of International Studies (1979)
French, Spanish
Bar #123389
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Appeals & Appellate Business Law Criminal Law
Mr. Joe J. Vandervoort - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
DUI KING
 1339 Esplanade Chico CA 95926
(530) 342-2858
University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (1969)
Bar #54720
9th Circuit Bar
Resigned License
Verified
Criminal Law Domestic Violence DUI & DWI
Geoff A. Dulebohn - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
 1339 Esplanade Chico CA 95926
(530) 342-2858
California Western School of Law
Bar #255187
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Civil Rights Criminal Law Domestic Violence
Rena Marie Harrison - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Hammerschmidt Law Corporation
 2445 Capitol St. Ste. 150 Fresno CA 93721
(559) 233-5333
San Joaquin College of Law (2015)
English
Bar #330925
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Criminal Law Domestic Violence DUI & DWI
Scot Andrew Candell - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Law Offices of Scot Candell
 4040 Civic Center Drive Suite 200 San Rafael CA 94903
(415) 441-1776
Tufts Univ
Bar #173261
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Cannabis & Marijuana Law Civil Rights Criminal Law
Brian L Coggins - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Coggins Law, P.C.
 9001 Foothills Blvd # 110 Roseville CA 95747
(916) 270-2895
University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
Bar #239481
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Bankruptcy Business Law Collections
Jonathan Allan Goldstein - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
The Law Offices of Jonathan A. Goldstein, Esq.
 8912 Burton Way Beverly Hills CA 90211
(310) 866-9295
The George Washington University Law School (1999)
Spanish
Bar #225293
District of Columbia Bar
Active License
Verified
Appeals & Appellate Arbitration & Mediation Business Law
T Troy Otus - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Otus Law Group
 7901 Oakport St 4300 Oakland CA 94621
(510) 250-2298
Trinity Univ
Bar #148411
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Civil Rights Consumer Law Criminal Law
Fritzie Galliani - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Law Office of Fritzie Galliani, A.P.C.
 1770 Corson Street Pasadena CA 91106
(626) 577-2326
California State University - San Diego State University
English
Bar #82054
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Criminal Law Divorce Domestic Violence
Joshua Mulligan - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
The Mulligan Defense
 82-850 Highway 111 ste B Indio CA 92201
(760) 777-4322
Univ of Montana
Bar #233009
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Criminal Law Domestic Violence DUI & DWI
Jere Norwood Sullivan Jr - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Law Offices of Jere N. Sullivan Jr.
 1141 Pacific St STE A San Luis Obispo CA 93401
(805) 543-8869
The George Washington University Law School
Bar #73476
California Bar
Active License
Verified
Animal & Dog Law Business Law Criminal Law
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