California Criminal Defense Lawyers

Criminal Defense Law

711 Jefferson St, Fairfield, CA 94533, USA

Laura M. Petty is dedicated to the defense of those individuals charged with criminal offenses, both in the trial court and courts of appeal. Ms. Petty is highly experienced, certified Criminal Law Specialist and has successfully defended clients charged with first degree murder, "three strikes" and other life-term cases, as well as serious felony and other matters. She represents both adults and juveniles, and her areas of practice also include successful misdemeanor and traffic representation. In addition, Ms. Petty represents both parents and children in juvenile dependency (child welfare) cases. Ms. Petty completed a double major in Politics and Women's Studies, and graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 1993 with highest honors. Ms. Petty attended Golden Gate University School of Law in San Francisco, receiving her Juris Doctor degree in 1996. Ms. Petty has further distinguished herself by becoming certified by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization in criminal defense. This certification is granted to attorneys who have completed an exhaustive examination, have extensive experience in criminal law, and have been evaluated by peers, courtroom adversaries and judges.

Criminal Defense Law

19200 Von Karman Ave suite 400, Irvine, CA 92612, USA

Lauren Johnson-Norris is a nationally recognized criminal defense and juvenile dependency attorney, bringing more than two decades of elite courtroom experience to her clients across California. As the founder and CEO of the Irvine-based Johnson Criminal Law Group, APCL, and its dedicated dependency division, CPS Law Group, she is widely regarded as the state’s most effective advocates for individuals facing high-stakes child welfare proceedings and serious criminal charges Combining a commanding grasp of evidentiary law with a deep commitment to family preservation, Ms. Johnson-Norris provides strategic, aggressive, and compassionate representation to clients navigating the most difficult moments of their lives.

Criminal Defense Law

1059 Tenth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101, USA

Lisa J. Damiani, named as a San Diego Super Lawyer since 2010, received her B.A. degree in 1983 from New York University and her J.D. degree in 1988 from California Western School of Law in San Diego. Ms. Damiani continued trying criminal cases and focused her civil practice on labor, employment and business litigation matters. Ms. Damiani also consults with her employer clients on lay-offs, terminations, severance agreements, misconduct, and other employment related issues to prevent potential litigation. Some of her corporate clients include Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc., Equity Management Inc. and Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP. Ms. Damiani’s criminal and civil trial experience is extensive. She has practiced in various jurisdictions, including California, Idaho and Oklahoma, the United States District Courts for the Northern, Central and Southern Districts of California, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and United States District Courts for the Districts of Colorado and Nevada.

Criminal Defense Law

555 Seventh St., San Francisco, CA 94112

Manohar Raju is the San Francisco Public Defender and a founding member of Public Defenders for Racial Justice. A son of immigrants from India, his pursuit of justice is rooted in his acute awareness of the ramifications of social inequalities. Despite coming from a farming village, his parents managed to emigrate to America, where they raised Mano on the East Coast. Mr. Raju completed his undergraduate degree at Columbia University, and holds a Master’s degree in South Asian Studies from U.C. Berkeley, where he also earned his law degree. He worked as a Deputy Public Defender in Contra Costa County for seven years before he was recruited by Jeff Adachi to join the SF Public Defender’s felony unit in 2008. Due to his impressive practice as a felony line attorney, he was promoted to be the Director of Training and then Manager of the Felony Unit. Mr. Raju is deeply committed to a client-centered approach to defense work. “Our impact is not measured in numbers, but in the people we represent,” he said. “It’s by the mother who can return home to her family. The son who can continue to work to support his family. And to the children of those we defend, who benefit from having an equal opportunity to survive and who might one day use that opportunity to lead.” The personal interest he takes in his clients’ lives helps fuel him not only to fiercely litigate and win cases, but also to raise his voice against the inequities he and his clients encounter in the criminal justice system. It has earned him the loyalty of his entire Department and the confidence of Mayor London Breed, who appointed him to fill the post in March 2019. As Public Defender, Mano will continue to uphold the office’s reputation not only as a formidable group of lawyers, but also as a catalyst for criminal justice reform.

Criminal Defense Law

20 North Raymond Avenue, 240, Pasadena, CA 91103