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    • Santa Cruz, CA Criminal Defense Lawyers

    56 criminal defense lawyers serve Santa Cruz, CA. Compare the best based on 236+ reviews and detailed profiles. Related practice areas and nearby towns in Santa Cruz County are listed below.

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    Santa Cruz Has 56 Criminal Defense Attorneys with 236 Reviews

    John William Thornton

    PRO

    John William Thornton

    4.960 reviews
    303 Potrero #30, Santa Cruz, CA
    Criminal Defense Lawyer Licensed for 35 years
    Practice Areas:  Criminal Defense, DUI & DWI
    Exclusively in Santa Cruz since 1990
    Rating:  10
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    Phillip James Crawford

    PRO

    Phillip James Crawford

    5.022 reviews
    The Crawford Law Firm, Inc.
    1414 Soquel Ave., Suite 224, Santa Cruz, CA
    Criminal Defense Lawyer Licensed for 14 years
    Practice Areas:  Criminal Defense, DUI & DWI
    2018 Recipient - President's Award - California DUI Lawyers Association
    Rating:  9.9
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    Criminal Defense Lawyers in Santa Cruz, CA

    Criminal defense lawyers represent clients at every stage of a criminal case: investigation, arrest, arraignment, plea bargaining, trial, and appeal. They assess evidence, protect constitutional rights, negotiate reduced charges or sentences, cross-examine witnesses, raise defenses, file motions, and advocate to minimize penalties or obtain acquittals.

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    Criminal Defense

    Criminal defense lawyers represent clients at every stage of a criminal case: investigation, arrest, arraignment, plea bargaining, trial, and appeal. They assess evidence, protect constitutional rights, negotiate reduced charges or sentences, cross-examine witnesses, raise defenses, file motions, and advocate to minimize penalties or obtain acquittals.

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    George Jacob Gigarjian

    George Jacob Gigarjian

    4.933 reviews
    108 Locust St #13, Santa Cruz, CA
    Criminal Defense Lawyer Licensed for 39 years
    Practice Areas:  Criminal Defense, Personal Injury
    Bio: For over 29 years, George Gigarjian has been successfully representing people accused of crimes and people injured in personal injury matters. In 1998, Mr. Gigarjian started his own law firm in Santa Cruz. Since that time, Mr. Gigarjian has contin...
    Rating:  8.8
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    Nicole Lambros

    Nicole Lambros

    5.01 review
    Nicole E Lambros
    835 Cedar street, Santa Cruz, CA
    Criminal Defense Lawyer Licensed for 24 years
    Practice Areas:  Criminal Defense
    Review: "Ms. Lambros was outstanding as my lawyer and got my charges fully resolved quickly and efficiently. She treated me with the highest respect and was professional and very knowledgeable and got me a better outcome than I expected. I will always use ..."
    Rating:  8.9
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    Jamyrson Leigh Pittori

    Jamyrson Leigh Pittori

    5.010 reviews
    Jamyrson Law Firm, APC
    200 Washington Street, Suite 211, Santa Cruz, CA
    Criminal Defense Lawyer Licensed for 26 years
    Practice Areas:  Criminal Defense, Juvenile
    Review: "Jamyrson is a powerhouse. During an extremely high-conflict divorce, the opposing party attempted to weaponize the legal system in ways that were both aggressive and destabilizing in order to get out of paying support after a long marriage. Jamyrs..."
    Rating:  7.1
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    Paul Brandeis Meltzer

    Paul Brandeis Meltzer

    5.01 review
    Law Offices of Paul B. Meltzer A Professional Corporation
    340 Soquel Avenue Suite 212, Santa Cruz, CA
    Criminal Defense Lawyer Licensed for 48 years
    Practice Areas:  Criminal Defense
    Review: "I couldn't ask for more. I was facing an inordinately nasty charge for a relatively small misunderstanding at a very young, barely adult age. With a court appointed attorney, I would've received jail time, despite it being my first arrest. I aske..."
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    Sal Gallardo

    Sal Gallardo

    5.021 reviews
    Sal Gallardo
    303 Potrero Street, Suite 30, Santa Cruz, CA
    Criminal Defense Lawyer Licensed for 26 years
    Practice Areas:  Criminal Defense
    Review: "Out of all the lawyers I have had,Sal Gallardo is by far the best! He put in so much time and effort into the case and in the end it really paid off. He is very knowledgable and always answered my calls and called me back, no matter how busy he wa..."
    Rating:  7.1
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    Jaime Melquiades Longoria

    Jaime Melquiades Longoria

    5.03 reviews
    Longoria Law, PC
    325 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA
    Criminal Defense Lawyer Licensed for 11 years
    Practice Areas:  Criminal Defense
    Bio: Attorney Jaime Longoria is a criminal defense attorney who brings into his practice his own personal experiences with law enforcement. He knows what it's like to be racially profiled, searched for no reason and accused of crimes. He is one of the ...
    Rating:  7.5
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    Michael Paul Dudley

    Michael Paul Dudley

    5.02 reviews
    Page & Dudley
    605 Center Street, Santa Cruz, CA
    Criminal Defense Lawyer Licensed for 21 years
    Practice Areas:  Criminal Defense
    Review: "Mr. Dudley is an excellent attorney and is very knowledgeable. My expungement process was handled very well and I was kept informed throughout the process. His billing was fair and I am glad I hired him to handle my expungements."
    Rating:  7.4
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    Bryan Joseph Hackett

    Bryan Joseph Hackett

    5.02 reviews
    289 Water St, Santa Cruz, CA
    Criminal Defense Lawyer Licensed for 17 years
    Practice Areas:  Criminal Defense
    Bio: Mr. Hackett studied under Barry Scheck, and others, in the Criminal Defense Clinic at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. From August 2006 to May 2007 he interned at the Legal Aid Society in New York City, representing clients on a variety of misde...
    Rating:  6.8
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    Christine McGuire

    Christine McGuire

    5.01 review
    The McGuire Law Corporation
    303 Water Street, Suite 140, Santa Cruz, CA
    Criminal Defense Lawyer Licensed for 48 years
    Practice Areas:  Criminal Defense, DUI & DWI
    Review: "Christine is by far the best atty to have on your side when facing a DUI. As a tech executive her skill in representing me ultimately resulted in an expungement. She managed my case from start to finish, communicating thoughtfully and promptly. I'..."
    Rating:  6.6
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    Lars Shallberg

    Lars Shallberg

    5.03 reviews
    Lars Shallberg, Attorney at Law
    605 Center Street, Santa Cruz, CA
    Criminal Defense Lawyer Licensed for 37 years
    Practice Areas:  Criminal Defense, DUI & DWI
    Bio: Every DUI case presents its own challenges and opportunties and in every DUI case he accepts, Lars Shallberg works diligently to protect the best interests and the very freedom of his clients. Mr. Shallberg takes on a limited number of DUI cases e...
    Rating:  7.8
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    Charles Luke Stevens

    Charles Luke Stevens

    5.01 review
    Law Office of Charlie Stevens
    740 Front St Ste 360, Santa Cruz, CA
    Criminal Defense Lawyer Licensed for 29 years
    Practice Areas:  Criminal Defense
    Review: "Several of our family members have retained Mr. Stevens as a defense attorney and would not hesitate doing so, again, if needed. Charlie is exceptionally responsive and generous with his explanations and time. His relationships within the Court ar..."
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    Eric John Nelson

    Eric John Nelson

    5.05 reviews
    LAW OFFICE OF ERIC JOHN NELSON
    223 River St Ste D, Santa Cruz, CA
    Criminal Defense Lawyer Licensed for 20 years
    Practice Areas:  Criminal Defense, Employment & Labor
    Review: "My partner and I hired Eric to help us with a Real Estate Disclosure case. Eric worked above and beyond what we ever expected and kept going strong even when our case became more complicated and difficult. His knowledge of real estate disclosure l..."
    Rating:  6.7
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    Jonathan Che Gettleman

    Jonathan Che Gettleman

    5.02 reviews
    Caballero and Gettleman, Law Office Inc.
    223 River St Ste D, Santa Cruz, CA
    Criminal Defense Lawyer Licensed for 23 years
    Practice Areas:  Criminal Defense, Appeals, Employment & Labor
    Review: "Jonathan Che Gettleman is the best, brightest and most humane lawyer I have had the privilege to utilize. Indeed, he is the only one I know. I have had multiple experiences with soul sick rapacious lazy attorneys thus I speak from experience. Gett..."
    Rating:  6.5
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    Mitchell Alan Page

    Mitchell Alan Page

    4.01 review
    Page & Dudley
    605 Center St, Santa Cruz, CA
    Criminal Defense Lawyer Licensed for 51 years
    Practice Areas:  Criminal Defense
    Review: "Very professional and knowledgeable! Listened to every detail of my case and made me feel listened to and taken care of! Won my case and had integrity!"
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    Stephen M. Laberge

    Stephen M. Laberge

    Not yet reviewed
    Stephen La Berge Law Offices
    303 Water St Ste 10, Santa Cruz, CA
    Criminal Defense Lawyer Licensed for 48 years
    Practice Areas:  Criminal Defense
    Bio: Stephen La Berge has been defending the rights of people accused of criminal acts since 1978. The California State Bar Board of Specialization has certified Stephen La Berge as a Criminal Law Specialist.
    Rating:  8.1
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    Heather Ruth Rogers

    Heather Ruth Rogers

    Not yet reviewedReview Heather
    Santa Cruz County Public Defender
    2103 N Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA
    Criminal Defense Lawyer Licensed for 22 years
    Practice Areas:  Criminal Defense
    Rating:  7.8
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    Brian Morgan Heit

    Brian Morgan Heit

    4.04 reviews
    Heit Law Group, P.C.
    903 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz, CA
    Criminal Defense Lawyer Licensed for 11 years
    Practice Areas:  Criminal Defense, Employment & Labor, Corporate & Incorporation and more
    Bio: Founder of Heit Law Group, P.C., Brian began the firm to ensure his clients’ matters were resolved with their interest in mind and the freedom to do everything possible to help his clients succeed. Brian’s diverse background in public and private ...
    Rating:  8.9
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    Mark Benjamin Briscoe

    Mark Benjamin Briscoe

    3.33 reviews
    Biggam Christensen & Minsloff
    2103 N Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA
    Criminal Defense Lawyer Licensed for 19 years
    Practice Areas:  Criminal Defense, DUI & DWI
    Review: "I have no hesitation in recommending Mark Briscoe as a attorney. I have had the pleasure working with Mark Briscoe several times. Briscoe is very reliable and trustworthy. He is dedicated and determined and takes his cases very seriously. I know t..."
    Rating:  6.9
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