EDUCATION

SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, LOS ANGELES,                                                 CALIFORNIA
Juris Doctor December 1982
Admitted to practice June 1983
Honors:  Graduated Magna Cum Laude; American Board of Trial Advocates Award For Excellence in Preparation for Trial  Practice  of the Law; National Dean’s list; Who’s Who in American Law  Schools.

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, CHAMPAIGN-URBANA, ILLINOIS
Bachelor of Science Business Administration 1973

EXPERIENCE

Private Criminal Practice     1989 - present
      

Main practice in Orange County ( handling cases in Los Angeles, Riverside, Ventura,  San Diego, San Bernardino  Counties). 

Tried in excess of 150 jury and court trials, ranging from homicide, assault and battery, domestic violence, driving under the influence, white collar crime, burglary, drug crimes, drug trafficking, kidnapping, tax evasion, construction code violations, odometer roll back schemes, violations of the state elections code, theft, attempted murder, embezzlement, etc. .

Certified Specialist, Criminal Law California Board of Legal                     Specialization

Martindale-Hubbell rating  “AV”

Selected Southern California Super Lawyers in Criminal Law 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 (Los Angeles Magazine, Law & Politics)

Deputy District Attorney, Orange County District Attorneys Office                                                                  August 1984-February 1989

•                President of the Association of Orange County Deputy District Attorneys (1988-1989)
•                Board member of Civic Action Committee for Deputy District Attorneys, Deputy Public Defenders and County Counsel
•     Special Assignments       
•     Major Frauds        
•     Felony Trial Panel 
•     Juvenile Court Trial Assignment (Gang Unit)  
•     Special Deputy Attorney General Appointment               

     Richards, Wood, Nyman and Ward
1983-1984
Specialized in insurance defense

Frank B. Hall Insurance Brokers
1980-1983
Assistant Vice President
handling nationwide claims
ACTIVITIES

The State Bar of California 1983 (108450)

Orange County Bar Association (Past Member: Administration of Justice                    Committee; Judiciary Committee; Board of Directors; Client                        Relations Committee)

Newport Harbor Bar Association

Orange County Bar Foundation Board of Directors (2009-2010)

California Public Defenders Association

Admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States

Admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the State of California

Admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Central District of California

Member  Private Indigent Defense Panel for Homicides for Orange County

Past Member National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Past Member California Attorneys for Criminal Justice

Past member of the Orange County Trial Lawyer’s Association

Past Member of the Federal Bar Panel for Conflict Appointments

Past Member Administration of Justice Committee-Orange
     County Bar Association                    

Past Member Judiciary Committee- Orange County Bar
     Association                               

Past Member of Board of Directors of the Orange County
     Bar  Association

Past Member of the Client Relations Committee of the
     Orange  County Bar Association

Orange County Bar Foundation Shortstop Instructor    1987- 1994

Coach for Cypress High School Mock Trial Team -County
     and State Champions in 1987 - 1988

National Registry of Who’s Who (life member)