Top Criminal Defense Attorneys in San Diego, California

The Law Office of Bradley R. Corbett is a San Diego criminal defense firm with two decades of courtroom experience. Attorney Bradley Corbett handles DUI, domestic violence, hit-and-run, and firearm offenses across San Diego County. He has won not guilty verdicts in every courthouse in the region, from Vista to downtown San Diego.

Corbett personally manages each case and stays available around the clock. His office also serves Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Escondido, and Oceanside residents. Spanish-speaking clients can access services in their language. Initial case reviews come at no cost.

Vikas Bajaj is a San Diego criminal defense attorney with over 20 years of experience. His firm defends clients charged with violent crimes, federal offenses, sex crimes, DUI, drug charges, and white-collar matters. Bajaj has taken thousands of cases to successful resolution, including numerous jury trial wins.

The firm also handles military criminal defense for service members at San Diego-area bases. Bajaj's pre-investigation strategy often leads to reduced or dropped charges before cases reach trial. The office provides complimentary case evaluations and serves all of San Diego County.

Peter Liss is a Vista criminal defense lawyer with 40 years of trial experience. A UC Berkeley Law graduate, he has tried over 100 jury cases and secured acquittals, dismissals, and reduced charges across San Diego County. Liss personally handles every case from start to finish.

His practice covers DUI, domestic violence, sex crimes, juvenile offenses, drug charges, and white-collar matters. He maintains offices in both Vista and downtown San Diego. The firm accepts all major credit cards and offers a complimentary first consultation with 24/7 availability.

Monder Law Group is a highly reviewed criminal defense firm in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter. Founded in 2012, the firm has built a strong reputation for defending assault, DUI, domestic violence, drug, and fraud cases. Lead attorney Brandon Naidu holds Super Lawyers Rising Star recognition for five straight years and carries a perfect 10.0 attorney rating.

The team covers all San Diego County courthouses, from downtown to Vista. Monder Law also defends active-duty military members facing criminal charges. The firm offers affordable rates and no-cost initial consultations.

Griffin Law Office is a San Diego criminal defense practice founded by Patrick Griffin, a graduate of the top-ranked trial skills law school in the country. He has managed over 1,000 criminal cases and won jury trials in every courthouse across San Diego County. His experience spans first-degree murder, federal crimes, drug offenses, and DUI defense.

Griffin completed a federal judicial internship, which gave him valuable insight into how judges approach legal arguments. The firm provides complimentary consultations and detailed case preparation for clients facing both misdemeanor and felony charges.

Blair Defense Criminal Lawyers are led by founding attorney Peter Blair, who holds a perfect 10.0 attorney rating and has earned Super Lawyers recognition. Since 2010, Blair has litigated thousands of criminal cases in San Diego County, ranging from murder and domestic violence to drug crimes and federal charges. His track record includes not guilty verdicts and case dismissals in serious felony matters.

Blair was named a Top 40 Under 40 attorney by The National Trial Lawyers for three consecutive years. He handles each client's case personally and prepares every defense as though it will go to trial. No-cost case evaluations are available around the clock.

Anna Yum is a former prosecutor turned San Diego criminal defense attorney with 20 years of experience. Her background in the Riverside County District Attorney's sex crimes unit gives her rare insight into how prosecutors build cases. She has defended everything from DUI and drug offenses to murder and gang-related charges.

Recognized as a Super Lawyer and Top 100 Trial Lawyer nationally, Yum is regularly called on by Fox News, CNN, and Court TV as a legal commentator. She graduated from Northwestern University and earned her law degree from the University of San Diego. The firm provides a no-cost initial consultation.

Christoph Law Offices is a father-son criminal defense practice in Vista, California. William and Nicholas Christoph have handled over 5,000 DUI cases and thousands of criminal matters over 55+ combined years. Their office sits directly across from Vista Courthouse, where they work daily with local judges and prosecutors.

William Christoph is a former USMC captain and ex-prosecutor listed among San Diego Magazine's "Top Lawyers." The firm also defends drug, theft, domestic violence, and assault charges throughout North County, including Oceanside, Escondido, and Carlsbad. Initial consultations are free.

Dod Ghassemkhani is an award-winning San Diego criminal defense attorney named 2023 Trial Lawyer of the Year by the San Diego Criminal Defense Bar Association. With over 20 years in the justice system, he has handled more than 6,500 cases, including 75+ jury trials. His record includes three consecutive not guilty verdicts on serious felony charges, including an acquittal for a client facing 25 years to life.

Dod Law operates offices in downtown San Diego, Vista, and Orange County. The firm takes on murder, DUI, domestic violence, drug crimes, and assault cases. Consultations are free and available 24/7.

The Law Office of George Gedulin handles criminal defense and family law in San Diego. Attorney Gedulin has represented hundreds of clients in state and federal courts over the past 25+ years. His team covers drug crimes, DUI, fraud, sex offenses, violent crimes, and civil rights violations.

The firm also provides certified mediation services for divorce and custody disputes. Gedulin is known for winning monetary awards in civil rights cases involving wrongful arrest. He speaks Russian and English. Initial case discussions are free.

Pedro Bernal is a San Diego criminal defense lawyer who spent nearly a decade as a prosecutor. He served as both a Deputy District Attorney in San Diego and a Special United States Attorney, giving him deep knowledge of how the government builds its cases. Since 2016, he has defended clients in state and federal courts on charges ranging from DUI and domestic violence to complex white-collar crimes.

Bernal also teaches trial advocacy at California Western School of Law. Fully bilingual in English and Spanish, he serves a diverse client base across Southern California. The firm offers no-cost case evaluations.

Daniel S. Castañeda is a San Diego attorney who practices immigration, criminal defense, and civil litigation. Born and raised in Mexico City, he brings cultural understanding and full Spanish fluency to his legal work. Since 2011, he has represented hundreds of clients in deportation hearings, drug smuggling cases, and landlord-tenant disputes.

Castañeda holds a master's degree in international relations and has experience in federal, state, and appellate courts. His practice serves the Latino community with legal guidance they can follow in their own language.

Michael Anthony Hernandez is a San Diego criminal defense attorney with nearly 20 years of experience in federal and state courts. He sits on the Board of Governors for California Attorneys for Criminal Justice and holds membership in the San Diego Criminal Defense Bar Association.

The firm handles felony and misdemeanor cases along with record clearance services such as expungements. Hernandez earned Super Lawyers recognition from 2021 through 2025. His practice offers no-cost case evaluations for anyone facing criminal charges.

The Law Office of Joshua R. Bourne provides criminal defense in San Diego with a focus on DUI and domestic violence cases. With 20+ years of experience, Bourne represents clients in both misdemeanor and felony matters throughout San Diego County.

Nicole Irmer is a San Diego defense attorney who specializes in professional licensing cases tied to criminal charges. Since 2003, she has helped doctors, nurses, real estate agents, and other licensed professionals protect their careers when facing criminal accusations or board investigations.

Her practice covers DUI, theft, fraud, sex crimes, and drug offenses — with a focus on how these charges affect professional licenses. Irmer represents clients before California state licensing boards at every stage, from investigation through formal hearings. The firm provides complimentary consultations.

Gregory Garrison is a San Diego criminal defense attorney with over 30 years of combined experience as a defense lawyer, prosecutor, and law enforcement officer. As an investigator, he personally worked on more than 500 criminal cases — experience that now benefits his defense clients.

His firm handles everything from DUI and probation violations to serious, violent, and sexual offenses. Garrison also assists with expungement petitions and criminal appeals.

Herbert and Tanya Weston are board-certified criminal defense specialists in Vista, California. Together, they bring over 50 years of trial experience and have handled more than 500 jury trials. Board certification in criminal law is a distinction held by a small percentage of California attorneys.

The firm defends felony and misdemeanor charges throughout North San Diego County, including DUI, drug crimes, and violent offenses.

Anthony Z. Vargas is a former Public Defender now in private criminal defense practice in San Diego. He handles DUI, drug charges, theft, domestic violence, and violent crime cases across courthouses in San Diego, Vista, El Cajon, and Chula Vista. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Vargas provides personalized defense strategies and flexible payment options.

Domenic J. Lombardo is a criminal defense attorney in San Diego with more than 30 years of courtroom experience. He defends clients against felony and misdemeanor charges, including DUI, drug offenses, and violent crimes. His long-standing presence in San Diego courts has built strong relationships with judges and prosecutors.

The firm offers complimentary initial consultations for all criminal matters.

McKenzie Scott is a San Diego law firm that combines civil rights litigation with criminal defense. Co-founder Michele McKenzie served nearly two decades as a trial attorney at the Federal Defenders of San Diego. The team has secured landmark verdicts in excessive-force and police misconduct cases.

Their criminal practice covers serious felony charges in both state and federal courts, from the initial investigation through appeals. The firm also handles SEC and grand jury matters.

John D. Kirby is a federal criminal defense lawyer in San Diego with 25+ years of legal experience. He spent 10 years as a U.S. Federal Prosecutor before switching to defense work. That insider knowledge gives his clients a distinct edge in complex federal cases.

Kirby handles white-collar crimes, drug trafficking, financial fraud, and other federal charges. His practice draws on direct experience with how federal agencies investigate and prosecute cases.

Paul Neuharth Jr. is a San Diego criminal defense attorney with over 30 years of practice. He is the former president and current director of the La Jolla Bar Association. His firm defends clients facing drug possession, theft, murder, assault, sex crimes, and DUI charges throughout San Diego County.

Ezekiel E. Cortez Law Offices in San Diego focuses on federal criminal defense. With 40+ years of experience, the firm represents clients facing serious federal charges nationwide. The practice handles drug trafficking, fraud, weapons offenses, and other complex federal matters.

Pat Ford Appeals concentrates on criminal appeals, writs, and post-conviction relief in San Diego. Attorney Pat Ford is recognized for his appellate work and helps clients challenge convictions, seek sentence reductions, and pursue other remedies after trial.

Alicia C. Freeze is a San Diego attorney who practices both criminal defense and family law. Her criminal practice covers DUI, domestic violence, and drug charges. On the family law side, she handles divorce, child custody, and support cases. The firm offers personal representation and no-cost initial consultations.

Stewart Law Group in San Diego handles criminal defense and personal injury cases. The firm brings former federal prosecutor experience to its defense practice, giving clients an inside perspective on government case strategies. They represent individuals facing a range of criminal charges in San Diego County courts.