James William Webster

James William Webster

also known as James Wm. Webster

4.3
Rating: 8.8

Licensed for 48 years

Criminal defense Lawyer at Sonora, CA
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, DUI & DWI, Personal Injury ... +2 more

36 North Washington Street, Sonora, CA

About James

Biography

Practice Areas

Fees and Rates

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Licenses

Licensed in California for 48 years

State: California

Acquired: 1977

Inactive

No misconduct found

Location

James Wm. Webster

36 North Washington Street, Sonora, CA, 95370

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James William Webster's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.3 /5.0

6 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (6) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 5 of 6 reviews

Posted by Dan Roy | February 22, 2017 | Hired Attorney

The Real Daniel

I am Mr. Webster's client named Daniel and I have always been very satisfied with him. Mr. Webster is an honest councilman, a value not only sought after by the client but highly respected by the city. Whenever I call or come into the office I always feel welcome and treated with the utmost respect f...rom Jim and his assistant Laurie :)

Posted by Daniel | February 16, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Misleading and unconfident

Proof that $7000 can buy poor advice, Mr. Webster was paid to go to trial but maneuvered masterfully out of it while asserting a felony offer when a misdemeanor offer had previously been on the table. If you are confused or naive about what to expect realistically as your best course of action you c...ould do considerably better with the Public defender. Perhaps incapable of dispelling fantasy and also secretly guilty of applying his own bias in the outcome, I will pay for the rest of my life while still believing in some way that I am truly innocent. Follow-up: I'm still a felon today. But.. after 8 more years, there is finally some healing in my family. After getting my felony I lost all my friends, was homeless for a couple years, haunted by misfortune, and had lost all the trust in my family. Mr. Webster, who claims he hadn't had a client with my name since 2016 wasn't lying, he was mitigating responsibility. He represented me in 2009 I believe. Nothing could have been more apparent that he knew who I was than when I received a letter announcing his retirement shortly after writing this review in 2017. He knows who I am. He even got another client to sign in here and vouch for him, not very professional. My review was fair then, and it's still fair now. The Public Defender is more knowledgeable and would have steered me away from a felony at all costs. Which Mr Webster didn't do. I was concerned about spending time in jail back then and should have been concerned about the severity of the charge. I'm wiser now but cannot change the past. Mr Webster did offer me something valuable though which I wanted to add, he told me about the 'Mens Rea' in law, where a person has to be conscious of their crime to have committed it, which I was not conscious. He even told me that we couldn't win the case that I had from day 1, which was completely true. But at that point he resigned himself to let my desperation to escape fill his wallet, instead of believing me enough to throw me a life raft called called 'misdemeanor'. We could have gotten a misdemeanor, it was offered by the prosecution on day 1. But after 25 years of being a prosecutor himself, Mr Webster, who was spending his years unwinding as a defender had a more important problem than getting his clients the best deal. He had to sleep at night for putting every person in jail that was standing on the gray line and that meant letting me hang myself with my own ignorance. That was the cost of playing both sides. And what did Mr Webster do the first moment an accusation was lobbed at him? He mitigated responsibility and tried to cover his butt because he truly believes that everyone is capable of the crimes he spent all those years prosecuting and defending. At least that's equal opportunity. But it certainly isn't the quality of a good defense attorney. I double down on my original review!

James Webster

Replied last February 17, 2017

I have no idea who this person is. The only Daniel that I have represented in a felony case since at least January 1st of 2016 who is charged with a felony has a case that is still pending and no settlement discussions have even been held yet.

Posted by Douglas d sr | January 08, 2015 | Criminal Defense

Look no further

We came to James Webster with what I feel were a no win felony charges. At first I thought this case would ruin my chances to own my fathers business and also ruin my chances to be a licensed plumbing contractor and I had a lot of fear. Webster got the felony charges dropped and got me a misdemeanor ...charge that I was thankful for my family and I are happy with this attorney and feel we got the best results for our money

Posted by Bob | December 30, 2014 | Criminal Defense

Smart Guy!

Jim Webster took my case after other attorneys turned me away. He has so much knowledge and was able to get all my charges dropped! If you find yourself in trouble and you honestly were wronged, he can help!

Posted by Bryan | December 19, 2014 | Lawsuits & Disputes

Timely service, minimal cost

Mr. Webster has kept me apprised of all actions regarding my cases and alleviated stress when I needed it most. There were no hidden costs and he always treated me fair, without taking up too much of my time. All outcomes have been favorable and he is a true professional.

See All Client Reviews

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Experience

Rating:  8.8 (Excellent)

Honors

2014

BV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

1983

Who's Who in the West, Who's Who Legal

1982

Who's Who in the West, Who's Who Legal

Work Experience

1981 - Present

Attorney at law, Law Offices of James Wm. Webster - Sonora

1982 - 1986

Public Defender, Tuolumne County Court

1980 - 1981

Attorney at law, Law Offices of James Wm. Webster - Santa Monica

1978 - 1980

Chief Prosecuting Attorney, Santa Monica City Attorneys Office

1977 - 1978

Deputy City Attorney, Santa Monica City Attorneys Office

1974 - 1977

Clerk, Santa Monica City Attorneys Office

Associations

1998 - Present

Alliance Defending Freedom

Member

California Public Defenders Association

Member

Christian Legal Society

Member

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Member

National College of DUI Defense

Member

National Lawyers Association

Member

Legal Aid Society of Santa Monica

Past Vice President

Santa Monicans Against Crime

Former Board of Directors

Tuolumne County Criminal Defense Lawyers

Past President

Society of Public Attorneys of Santa Monica

Past President

2006 - 2008

Tuolumne County Bar Association

President

2004 - 2006

Tuolumne County Bar Association

Vice President

Education

1976

San Fernando Valley College of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

1972

University of Northern Colorado

BA - Bachelor of Arts

1972

University of Northern Colorado

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Languages

English

Avvo Rating

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