Paul Russell DePasquale

After graduating from law school, I started practicing criminal defense in Berkeley and Oakland.  In addition to representing clients in state court criminal matters, I was appointed to defend people accused in San Francisco Federal Court, especially in selective service cases.

            In 1975 I moved to Susanville, in Lassen County, where I continued to practice criminal law.  I was appointed to provide criminal defense to indigent clients, there was no public defender's office in Lassen County.  In 1978 I was elected District Attorney of Lassen County, and thereafter prosecuted all kinds of criminal cases, from traffic infractions and misdemeanors to very serious felonies such as rape and murder.

            In 1983 I moved from Susanville to Los Angeles, where I worked for a firm representing law enforcement officers, including in criminal cases, civil rights cases and internal discipline matters.  For example, I was counsel for one of the police officers accused in the Rodney King case.  My client was acquitted in the state court criminal case in 1992, again found not guilty in the federal court criminal prosecution in 1993, and finally found not liable for any money judgment in the federal civil rights case in 1994.  During this time I also continued to represent non-law enforcement clients in state and federal criminal cases.

            Since then, I have continued to represent the accused in many cases.  This defense work has been for civilians as well as for law enforcement personnel.  All in all, I have been counsel of record in hundreds of criminal cases, and have been trial counsel in well over 100 criminal jury trials.