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- Kenneth Hamilton
Kenneth Neil Hamilton
- Ventura, CA
- Licensed for 17 years
- Free consultation
About Kenneth
Certified criminal law specialist for expertise with DUI defense and appeals in Santa Barbara, Ventura & the entire South Coast.
All of my education and experience has been constitutional criminal defense. I believe in protecting the innocent by providing zelous advocacy to all accused.
I've never been a cop or prosecutor. I've never arrested people or argued to send people to prison. I never had to work for the leviathan, and never wanted to. I've always represented the little guy--the defendant--against the enormous weight of the State. If you think you can work for the leviathan for 10 or 20 years arresting people and sending them to prison and then all of a sudden switch sides and effectively represent defendants like a seasoned defense lawyer, then I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.
I was Valedictorian of my graduting class at law school. While in law school I interned with criminal attorneys for 3 years including a private firm and a public defender's office. I served as a public defender for Ventura County and Tulare County.
I regularly provide consultation to other criminal defense lawyers throughout California and trained public defenders and private lawyers on effectively defending clients accused of a DUI. I am qualified to administer standardized field sobriety tests after competing the IACP/NHTSA student course on DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing and understand their limitations.
With regard to appellate law, I have successfully written appeals for clients all throughout my time practicing law, and worked in the appellate division of the Ventura County Public Defender's Office. I am the attorney of record on multiple published opinions (addressing Second Amendment and Fourth Amendment law) and I am currently on the Appellate Panel for the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Finally I have considerable experience pertaning to the intersection of mental health and criminal law. I represented clients detained at mental health hospitals, and defended them in LPS proceedings. I have also received special training to represent clients with mental illness in court and participated on the Ventura County Mental Health Board for over 2 years where I assisted the local behavioral health organizations in formulating and reforming programs and policies developed to assist individuals with mental illness.
When I'm not helping the innocent and wrongfully accused or helping my kids with homework I can be found sailing on the sea, shooting at the range, or brewing beer in my garage.
I am retained to represent clients throughout the South Coast of California but primarily work out of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.
Practice areas
- DUI and DWI: 80%
Defending all types of DUI cases from "under 21" cases where clients are accused of driving with measurable alcohol in their system to serious multiple DUI and a DUI with injury cases. I take a holistic approach to DUI defense. Where many attorneys look at a test result to determine whether the case is defensible, I always look at a test result as the beginning, not the end, of the story. I have been drawn to DUI defense because the cases arso challenging and the victories are so much sweeter
17 years, 500 cases
- Criminal defense: 10%
I have been a certified criminal law specialist since 2011. To be a certified specialist, you need the experience, reputation, and ability to demonstrate your knowledge in a rigorous specialist exam administered by the bar that tests all aspects of criminal law including complicated charges and sentencing, constitutional rights of the defendants, criminal writs and appeals, and emerging and trending issues. I always consider my clients as good people who are trying to do the right thing.
17 years, 1,000 cases
- Appeals: 10%
I have handled appeals since I began practicing law including taking cases to the federal court of appeal for the 9th Circuit. I have a number of reported cases. I received focused training on drafting appellate briefs while working in the appellate section of the Ventura County Public Defender's Office. And my extensive experience presenting cases to juries gives me the understanding of assessing the competence of other trial lawyers when I handle their appeals.
17 years, 50 cases
Languages spoken
English
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Contact
Kenneth N. Hamilton
5740 Ralston Street
Suite 300
Ventura, CA, 93003
Exclusive DUI Defense, Inc.
3 W. Carrillo Street
Suite 203
Santa Barbara, CA, 93101-4603
Resume
| State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA | Active | 2002 | 10/27/2020 |
| Award name | Grantor | Date granted |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Recognition | Ventura County Public Defender | 2015 |
| Trial Lawyer of the Year | Private Defenders of California | 2014 |
| Certificate of Commendation | Ventura County Mental Health Board | 2013 |
| Qualified to Administer Standardized Field Sobriety Tests | La Pier & Associates | 2013 |
| Mental Health Court Practitioner Certification | Ventura County Superior Court | 2011 |
| Certified Specialist - Criminal Law | State Bar of California | 2011 |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Completion | NAMI Court Education Program on Mental Illness | 2010 |
| Juvenile Dependency Court Practitioner Certification | San Diego County Superior Court | 2004 |
| Valedictorian | Western Sierra Law School | 2002 |
| Title | Company name | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Founder | South Coast DUI Law Center | 2015 - Present |
| Board Member | Ventura County Mental Health Board | 2009 - 2011 |
| Deputy Public Defender | Ventura County Public Defender | 2008 - 2015 |
| Deputy Public Defender | Tulare County Public Defender | 2006 - 2008 |
| lawyer | Kenneth N Hamilton Attorney at Law | 2002 - 2006 |
| Certified Law Student | San Diego County Public Defender | 1999 - 2001 |
|---|---|---|
| law clerk | Ross & Cotman | 1999 - 2002 |
| Association name | Position name | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Superior Court Appellate Division Panel | Appellate Lawyer | 2016 - Present |
| National College of DUI Defense | General Member | 2015 - Present |
| California DUI Lawyers Association | Member | 2010 - Present |
| State Bar of California, Criminal Law Section | Member | 2010 - Present |
| Ventura County Criminal Defense Bar Association | Member | 2008 - Present |
| US District Court for the Central District of California | Member | 2005 - Present |
|---|---|---|
| US Tax Court | Member | 2005 - Present |
| US District Court for the Southern District of California | Member | 2004 - Present |
| US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit | Member | 2004 - Present |
| California Public Defenders Association | Member | 2003 - Present |
| State Bar of California | Admitted to Practice | 2002 - Present |
| NORML Legal Committee | Member | 2009 - 2014 |
| National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers | Member | 2003 - 2006 |
| California Attorneys for Criminal Justice | Member | 2003 - 2006 |
| Publication name | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Ventura County Star | The trouble with detecting and proving marijuana DUI | 2018 |
| AVVO Legal Guides | DUI Arrest in Ventura County? You can Fight your Charge! | 2016 |
| AVVO Legal Guides | How do I Fix my Criminal Record when I was Convicted of a DUI or Other Crime in Ventura County? | 2016 |
| blog | When I am being investigated for a DUI in Ventura County, should I submit to a breath test? | 2015 |
| blog | Why should a DUI suspect voluntarily provide a cop with PC to make the arrest? | 2015 |
| School name | Degree | Graduated |
|---|---|---|
| Western Sierra Law School | JD - Juris Doctor | 2002 |
| Phoenix College | pursued Liberal Arts Degree | 1996 |
| Portland Community College | pursued Liberal Arts Degree | 1995 |
| Conference name | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Public Defender MCLE | Speeding but Staying in the Lanes: Effective DUI Representation without Waiving Time | 2015 |
| Ventura County Criminal Defense Bar | Challenging Seizure of Client's Blood, Breath and Urine Post-McNeely | 2014 |
| Public Defender MCLE | Ten Issues to Address with the Jury in Every "Numbers" DUI Breath Case | 2011 |
| Ventura County Star | Defense attorneys say Ventura County DA's office misled them on malfunctioning breathalyzers | 2011 |
| Ventura County Public Defender | Strengthening Forensic Science | 2011 |
| Case name | Outcome |
|---|---|
| People v. PT | not guilty all sales charges, client got no jail and Prop. 36 probation |
| People v. AM | dismissed |
| People v. DE | Case dismissed two times. Client at home with wife and daughter. |
| People v. Burton | Appellate Court ruled in favor of the government. |
| People v. Liscotti | Court of Appeal decided case in favor of the government. |
| People v. WW | Case dismissed after 2 mistrials following 2 deadlocked juries |
|---|---|
| People v. TG | dismissal after court of appeal reversed trial court's decision denying suppression motion |
| People v. CN | not guilty |
Great Lawyer - Most Competent I Ever Spoke With
Posted by Alex S.
Sat Dec 01 2018
Great Attorney
Posted by anonymous
Wed Oct 18 2017
Terrific Advocate in Ventura
Posted by anonymous
Mon Sep 25 2017
Ventura Courts' superstar attorney!
Posted by Sherry
Thu May 11 2017
THE go to guy
Posted by Jacob
Thu Mar 30 2017
Magic touch in court
Posted by Rosie
Thu Mar 09 2017
Client Review
Posted by anonymous
Wed Feb 15 2017
DUI
Posted by Cory
Tue Sep 20 2016
Excellent Attorney
Posted by anonymous
Mon Sep 19 2016
Top of His Profession
Posted by AF
Wed Jun 22 2016
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Attorney endorsements
(27)Eugene Carson, Criminal defense Attorney on Dec 25, 2019
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. Kenneth is a great lawyer! He goes the extra mile for his clients and fellow attorneys. I highly recommend him. He will get the job done!
Catina Irvin, Criminal defense Attorney on Jan 20, 2019
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Kenneth is a sharp attorney who is a real go getter. He is not only highly skilled in the area of DUI defense, but he has the passion and intuition to match his skill. I appreciate Kenneth's collegial nature and how he always takes time to impart his legal knowledge and mentorship on fellow attorneys such as myself. I endorse this lawyer.
Todd Means, DUI and DWI Attorney on Nov 5, 2018
Relationship: Worked together on matter
Ken is sharp-witted, thoughtful, and intelligent. He is a worthy-adversary for any DA.
Rachel Eeles, DUI and DWI Attorney on Nov 22, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Ken is straight talking and very good at what he does. He is not afraid of taking on difficult cases. I highly recommend this lawyer.
Lisa Jensen, Criminal defense Attorney on Apr 28, 2017
Relationship: Worked together on matter
Ken knows the legal issues that are relevant today and isn't afraid to fight for his clients. His thick skin, pleasant demeanor, and tenacity serve him extremely well and he is an excellent defense attorney that I would recommend to anyone in need.
Mark Sollitt, DUI and DWI Attorney on Apr 26, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I have known Ken for over 20 years. He is a leader in the area of criminal defense and DUI defense. I have participated in chat groups and in conferences with Ken for many years. He is brillant. I recommend him highly.
Michael Kern, DUI and DWI Attorney on Mar 1, 2017
Relationship: Worked together on matter
Attorney Ken Hamilton is one of the best DUI lawyers in the State of California. He understands DUI law better than most attorneys. Furthermore, he has extensive trial experience and works incredibly hard to get the best results for his clients. I endorse this lawyer.
Robert Lombardo, Criminal defense Attorney on Feb 27, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Jay Ramey, Criminal defense Attorney on Feb 27, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. I have know Kenneth Hamilton for many years because of our mutual membership in the NORML Legal Committee. He knows everything there is to know about marijuana law in California.
Scott Summer, Criminal defense Attorney on Feb 24, 2017
Relationship: Other
It has been my privilege to get to know Ken over a number of years as a fellow member of the NORML Legal Defense Committee. He is very helpful to fellow members and has a nationwide reputation for providing his clients with excellent representation. I endorse this lawyer.
Ruth Liebesman, Criminal defense Attorney on Feb 24, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Amir Soleimanian, Criminal defense Attorney on Sep 21, 2016
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Bryce Armendariz, DUI and DWI Attorney on Aug 12, 2016
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Ken is a fantastic lawyer and one of the premier DUI specialist in California. He is one of the people I call first in regards to serious felony DUI matters. He is a great resource to the Ventura community. I highly endorse this lawyer.
Jeremy Lessem, Criminal defense Attorney on Apr 30, 2016
Relationship: Worked together on matter
Ken Hamilton is an extremely skilled communicator. This skill serves him well both in the court room as well as in his dealings with clients. Ken works extremely hard and truly cares about his clients. As a result his clients get fantastic outcomes. A strongly endorse Kenneth Hamilton.
David Diaz, DUI and DWI Attorney on Apr 18, 2016
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. Ken is an experienced DUI trial lawyer, with great results in San Diego and all of the South Coast. He knows the defenses and he's always willing to go to trial. Other lawyers consult with him on their cases, too. I highly recommend him.
Mark Mcbride, DUI and DWI Attorney on Apr 16, 2016
Relationship: Worked together on matter
Ken is such a fine lawyer. He's smart, he's honest and he does impeccable work. When he doesn't know the answer to something, he won't say that he does. I have come to rely on Ken in a pinch, and he comes through. Ken stands good with me. He cut his teeth in Ventura County, which is a really tough place to practice criminal law. And it didn't change him: he got results then, and now in private practice, he gets results now. I am mostly in LA County. He's my go-to DUI guy, though, for all DUI's -- and certainly other areas of the law -- in SOCAL.
David Martinez, DUI and DWI Attorney on Apr 13, 2016
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Ken is a skilled and concientious advocate for his clients. I started practicing in Ventura County about four years ago, and immediately recognized Ken as a respected and serious criminal defense attorney. I have seen him in trials and was impressed with his knowledge of the law and his skills in applying and arguing the law on behalf off his clients. Many seasoned attorneys learn and borrow from Ken. I endorse this lawyer.
Christopher Welch, DUI and DWI Attorney on Apr 13, 2016
Relationship: Worked together on matter
Iv seen Ken practice for almost 10 years. He is very skilled and adept at litigating dui cases. He is a strong advocate and one of the best dui specialists in southern california.
Okorie Okorocha, DUI and DWI Attorney on Apr 11, 2016
Relationship: Worked for lawyer
I endorse this lawyer. I have worked with Mr. Hamilton for about 10 years and he is one of the leading authorities in DUI law and trials. He is also expert at all aspects of criminal defense.
Gary Labin, DUI and DWI Attorney on Apr 7, 2016
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Kenneth Hamilton is truly the most hard working, passionate, and knowledge attorneys that I have ever met. Nobody that I have ever met fights DUI cases harder, and nobody gets better results for their clients on DUI case, period, end of story. Kenneth always stays on the forefront of emerging trends in law and science when it comes to DUI defense, and I wholeheartedly endorse him for both DUI defense and general criminal law defense!
Cost
- Hourly Rates$50-$500/hour
- Free Consultation Some lawyers offer a free consultation to help determine whether their services are right for your legal needs30 minutes
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Legal guides written by Kenneth Hamilton
- How do I Fix my Criminal Record when I was Convicted of a DUI or Other Crime in Ventura County?Last updated at: April 19, 2016
- Ventura County DUI Arrest? You Can Fight your Charge!Last updated at: April 18, 2016
- Why should I hire a lawyer to fight a first time non-injury DUI when the BAC results are over 0.08?Last updated at: February 26, 2016