Best Criminal Lawyer in San Francisco
JAMES REILLY
Criminal Lawyer
James Reilly sets the standard of excellence at Summit Defense. A former supervising prosecutor and current defense attorney with over 20 years of criminal law experience under his belt, Jim’s accomplishments in the courtroom are respected throughout the Northern California legal community.
In one case result that Jim is particularly proud of, our client was accused of molesting two children and was facing life in prison. Following a three week trial, Jim hung the jury, persuaded the DA not to refile and ultimately secured a dismissal in the case. Our client is now home with his family.
Summit Defense is known for representing Bay Area professionals with first-time offenses such as shoplifting, DUI and Domestic Battery. However, because of Jim’s leadership, Summit Defense is often selected to handle the San Francisco Bay Area’s most difficult and prominent cases. Some of the serious felonies that Summit Defense defended in 2011 include child molestation, first degree murder, embezzlement and federal fraud. In 2011 Summit Defense represented a client accused of running a 20 year long $50 million ponzi scheme. Summit Defense also represented a defendant in the Hewlett Packard pretexting scandal.
Christopher Morales
Criminal Lawyer
If you had a serious illness, wouldn’t you want to be treated by a doctor who specialized in that area? Criminal law is serious. Mr. Morales is a certified specialist in criminal law. The State Bar of California questioned judges and lawyers who know Mr. Morales’s work in court and found that he is the best of the best.
Furthermore, Martindale-Hubbell, the oldest and most respected firm that evaluates and rates lawyers found, after questioning judges and lawyers who know Mr. Morales that he has an exemplary reputation and the highest ethical standards.
Mr. Morales has been in private practice since 1991 and has successfully defended thousands of clients accused of breaking the law. He practices criminal defense in all counties in California, handling misdemeanors, felonies and juvenile cases. Throughout his years as a criminal defense attorney Mr. Morales has been interviewed numerous times on television while defending high-profile clients and was an expert commentator for Fox News on the Scott Peterson murder trial. He also has been quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle as well as the San Jose Mercury News and other newspapers.
Mr. Morales is an aggressive trial attorney who tries all types of cases including: DUI’s, sexual assault, child molestation, three strikes cases, possession of drugs, assault, murder cases and all types of white collar crimes. He handles the toughest cases and has won the respect of judges and prosecutors alike for his tenacious and intelligent defense of his clients.
Mr. Morales is a native San Franciscan and graduated from U.C. Berkeley and Santa Clara University Law School before starting his private law practice. While in law school, Mr. Morales realized that he had a passion and talent for battling the police and prosecutors in criminal cases. This is the reason why he only handles criminal cases.
Neil Hallinan
Criminal Lawyer
The Hallinan Law Firm brings together top-level knowledge, experience, and fortitude, a unique combination essential to our success in affording our clients the best possible representation. Our boutique firm offers the efficiency and rate of success for which many larger firms are known while offering our clients the utmost personal care and attention. We strive to protect not only your rights and freedom, but also your reputation, professional licenses, and immigration status if necessary.
The Hallinan Law Firm will provide you with carefully crafted, unwavering, and discrete representation. We know that each individual’s own set of circumstances is highly unique, which is why we focus on providing the individualized attention and care that our clients deserve.
Ernest A. Cardona
Criminal Lawyer
Ernest is a senior family law attorney, with over 26 years of experience running his own practice in San Jose and other cities in greater California. Through the years Ernest has handled cases in all areas of family law, ranging from simple to complex and everything in between. Before beginning college Ernest served in the US Army Reserve, US Army, and the Air Force National Guard. After graduating with an English degree from San Jose State University in 1991, Ernest attended Santa Clara University School of Law, obtaining his Juris Doctor degree and passing the California State Bar in 1995. From the beginning Ernest has been independent and resourceful, utilizing his skills and knowledge to help his clients achieve desirable outcomes, whether through negotiated settlements or via hearings and trials. In addition to a family law practice, Ernest also provided criminal defense representation from 1996 to 2001.
Helping clients through difficult times and helping them to understand the complexities of California family law and the family court system is a challenge Ernest welcomes and excels at. And achieving a healthy work-life balance is also important for Ernest, who enjoys cooking, travel, hiking, biking, sightseeing and visiting the beautiful west coast from San Diego up to Vancouver, BC.
David Uthman
Criminal Lawyer
David Uthman brings over thirty years of experience as a police officer and litigation attorney to criminal, DMV and traffic defense. He is the managing attorney for the San Francisco Traffic Law Clinic, which successfully defends thousands of traffic citations each year in San Francisco Superior Court, more than any other law office.
Mr. Uthman provides exhaustively researched and prepared criminal defense. His team of expert witnesses and private investigators, many whom also share significant law enforcement backgrounds, and legal assistants explore every means to gain a dismissal or reduction of charges. His staff is fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese and will assist in a comprehensive interview and investigation of Chinese speaking clients. He understands the importance of minimizing any immigration consequences relating to criminal charges.
Mr. Uthman has received the following awards and Certifications:
- 2017 National Trial Lawyers, Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyer
- American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys, 2017 Top 10 Best Criminal Defense Attorney for Exceptional and Outstanding Client Service
- Santa Clara University School of Law Public Interest Law Scholar
- Advance Certificate from the California Peace Officers Standards and Training Agency (POST)
- Certificate of Appreciation from the San Francisco Police Department for his work counseling disadvantaged youth.
Prior to practicing law, Mr. Uthman worked for almost a decade in California law enforcement as a police officer and deputy sheriff, primarily with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office. He was twice named ‘Deputy of the Month,’ for doing an exemplary investigation at a homicide crime scene and for his investigation and arrest of a serial burglar. His assignments included working as a field training officer SWAT team member, Dive team member and court bailiff. Mr. Uthman retired from law enforcement in order to attend law school.
Adam G. Gasner
Criminal Lawyer
Despite a long list of popularized trials and achievements, when asked what he is most proud of, criminal defense attorney Adam G. Gasner says it’s the list of his “quiet dispositions,” the “cases that never make the headlines and where no one knows I am the lawyer — the hundreds of cases where careers, families, and reputations were on the line and I was able to negotiate results that saved jobs, kept families together, and protected against a lifetime of shame.”
During his early years as a certified law intern, Mr. Gasner personally conducted preliminary examinations in narcotics cases. He also gained formative firsthand experience writing and arguing oppositions to motions to suppress, motions to dismiss, motions to disclose confidential informants, and motions to revoke probation. He developed his trade as a criminal defense trial attorney with the Levine Law Firm, a top-ranked San Francisco criminal defense firm, from 1999 to 2000, interviewing clients, investigating crime scenes, drafting motions and memoranda, and creating voire-dire and cross examination questions. He then served in the Contra Costa County Superior Court, located in Martinez, California, as a Criminal Law Research Attorney for the next two years. In this acclaimed position, he was responsible for researching and analyzing all cases, statutes, and secondary materials cited by both parties, as well as for drafting bench memoranda, including analyses, conclusions, and recommendations for future decisions.
A California board-certified specialist — a distinction shared by fewer than 0.16 percent of all practicing, California-based attorneys — Mr. Gasner founded his own firm in 2002 with the vision of providing sophisticated and aggressive criminal defense in both federal and state courts. To become board certified, a lawyer must pass a written examination and demonstrate experience, education, and share references. Periodically one must be recertified to maintain board specialist standing.
Jonah Chew, Esq.
Criminal Lawyer
Jonah Chew has more than two decades of experience in the courtroom, earning a reputation as one of San Francisco’s most aggressive and effective criminal litigators. His work and expertise in a wide range of criminal cases has earned him media coverage in numerous Bay Area publications. After receiving his Juris Doctorate from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 1998 and being admitted to the California State Bar the same year, he started a private criminal practice. Three years later, he was hired at the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, considered among the best public defender offices in the nation. It was there that Jonah sharpened his skills as a top-notchtrial attorney, representing thousands of clients, writing and arguing hundreds of motions and successfully defending people in cases ranging from simple drug possession to serious felonies. Whether he is defending clients in federal court or in state court, Jonah is a trial attorney who consistently obtains outstanding results. He is aggressive and negotiates the best deals for his clients and guides them towards treatment and rehabilitation when necessary. He is an expert in dealing with complex criminal issues and assists his clients in navigating through the intricacies of the legal system.
Chew Law Offices, which opened in 2006, has formed deep ties to the community. Jonah volunteers with non-profit organizations throughout the Bay Area, including the Asian American Criminal Trial Lawyers Association (where he was a Founding Board Member), Bar Association of San Francisco, Filipino Bar Association of Northern California and the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area. Jonah takes pride in not only his courtroom advocacy skills, but also his willingness to advocate for the needs of the community.
SAMUEL GELLER
Criminal Lawyer
Sam is a Bay Area native specializing in criminal defense in San Francisco and the surrounding areas. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from The University of San Francisco and his JD from the Golden Gate University School of Law. Sam is licensed to practice law in California and New York.
The sole reason Sam attended law school was to become a criminal defense attorney. Since being licensed to practice law, he has defended good people accused of committing a vast amount of different crimes.
Sam’s journey began in Marin County where he was a public defender for one year. In his first three months as an attorney, he conducted his first jury trial and obtained a not-guilty verdict for his client. That year he went on to conduct three more jury trials and obtain a dismissal rate that is well beyond average. While four jury trials may not seem like much, consider that attorneys do not conduct a single trial their entire career.
After leaving Marin County, Sam continued his career as a public defender in San Francisco. Sam hit the ground running and during his second week on the job successfully represented his client in a DUI jury trial securing his first win.
In 2014 alone, Sam conducted eight jury trials and assisted in a ninth felony jury trial that received wide media attention throughout California. Sam is able to do this because he prides himself on being an aggressive defense attorney to truly help his clients. For this reason, he has quickly gained respect of his clients, colleagues, prosecutors, and judges throughout the Bay Area.
After some time as a public defender, Sam founded Geller Law. Since, he has successfully defended clients dealing with criminal cases in the greater Bay Area including counties of San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Marin, Napa, Santa Cruz, Solano, and Sonoma. Sam deals with a wide range of criminal cases including DUI/DWI, domestic violence, theft, drugs, gun, assault and battery, and many more.
CAUSES OF WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS
Wrongful convictions occur when an innocent person is found guilty of a crime they did not commit. Several factors contribute to these unjust outcomes, some of which are systemic, while others result from human error or misconduct. Here are the main causes of wrongful convictions:
1. Eyewitness Misidentification
Eyewitness testimony is often a key factor in criminal cases, but it can be highly unreliable. Memory can be influenced by various factors, such as stress, poor lighting, or the passage of time. In some cases, law enforcement may unintentionally suggest suspects, leading to mistaken identifications.
2. False Confessions
Sometimes, individuals confess to crimes they did not commit. This can happen due to psychological pressure, fear, exhaustion, or coercive interrogation techniques. Vulnerable individuals, such as minors or those with mental health issues, are particularly susceptible to making false confessions.
3. Misconduct by Law Enforcement
Police and prosecutorial misconduct, such as withholding evidence, fabricating evidence, or using improper interrogation techniques, can lead to wrongful convictions. In some cases, there is a rush to close a case or a desire to secure a conviction, leading to unethical practices.
4. Ineffective Legal Representation
Inadequate defense attorneys, whether due to inexperience, lack of resources, or negligence, can contribute to wrongful convictions. Poor legal representation might involve failing to investigate key evidence, call witnesses, or challenge the prosecution’s case effectively.
5. Faulty Forensic Evidence
Forensic science plays a crucial role in modern criminal cases, but errors in forensic testing, misinterpretation of results, or reliance on outdated or invalidated techniques can lead to wrongful convictions. For example, bite-mark analysis and certain hair comparison methods have been discredited as unreliable.
6. Jury Bias
Preconceived notions or biases among jurors can affect their decision-making process, leading to wrongful convictions. Jurors may be swayed by racial, socio-economic, or gender biases, or they may be influenced by media portrayals of the case.
7. Informant Testimony
Testimony from jailhouse informants or “snitches” is sometimes used in criminal trials, but it can be unreliable. Informants may lie in exchange for reduced sentences or other benefits, leading to wrongful convictions based on false testimony.
8. Suppression of Exculpatory Evidence
In some cases, prosecutors may fail to disclose exculpatory evidence (evidence that could prove the defendant’s innocence). The suppression of such evidence violates the defendant’s rights and increases the likelihood of wrongful convictions.
9. Pressure to Convict
High-profile cases or public pressure to solve a crime quickly can lead to rushed investigations and trials. This sense of urgency can cause law enforcement and prosecutors to focus on obtaining a conviction rather than seeking justice, even if it means convicting an innocent person.
10. Systemic Issues in the Legal Process
Structural flaws within the criminal justice system, such as inadequate oversight of police or prosecutorial behavior, can also contribute to wrongful convictions. The lack of resources for proper investigations, forensic testing, or appeals can perpetuate errors.
Conclusion
Wrongful convictions have devastating consequences for innocent individuals and undermine the credibility of the justice system. Addressing these causes through better legal representation, more reliable forensic practices, and increased accountability for law enforcement and prosecutors is essential to prevent future miscarriages of justice.