Stephen Kerr Dunkle

I am a partner at the law firm of Sanger Swysen & Dunkle, with offices in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria.  My practice is primarily criminal defense and appeals.  I am an Appellate Law Specialist, certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.  I defend clients accused of crimes up to and through trial.  I have also been involved in preparing complex criminal and civil litigation matters and avoiding indictment for clients in potential federal criminal investigations. I received an AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell. 

ADMISSIONS: State Bar of California, U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Central, Eastern and Southern Districts of California, U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Central Districts of Illinois, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Ninth Circuit and D.C. Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.

BOARD CERTIFICATION: Certified Specialist, Appellate Law, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

EDUCATION: Pomona College (B.A. 2000); University of Southern California Law School (J.D. 2003).

MEMBERSHIP: The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), the California Public Defender's  Association (CPDA), California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (CACJ), California Appellate Defense Counsel (CADC) and American Bar Association (ABA).

PRACTICE AREAS: Criminal Defense, Appeals, Civil Litigation