Indexed from official State Bar of California records · Identity verification · Updated regularly

The RegistryCounty Record · California

Criminal Defense Lawyers in San Joaquin County, California

Every criminal defense lawyer and criminal defense attorney listing on this page traces back to the State Bar of California's official roll, filtered to criminal defense matters arising in San Joaquin County. Verification describes profile identity, not quality or outcomes.

The northern San Joaquin Valley's hub; a 13-story Stockton courthouse opened in 2016 consolidated the county's calendars near the Delta waterfront. Venue for most criminal defense matters arising in the county lies with the Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin, seated at Stockton.

Before comparing counsel, note the clock. Under Cal. Penal Code §§ 799–802, the governing period is most misdemeanors: one year to charge; most felonies: three years. Charging deadlines scale with the offense: crimes punishable by death or life imprisonment, and embezzlement of public money, may be prosecuted at any time (Cal. Penal Code § 799). After arrest, arraignment must generally occur within 48 hours (Cal. Penal Code § 825).

This page is the San Joaquin County chapter of the registry's statewide record · Criminal Defense Lawyers in California collects all 58 counties.

The clock & the court

Statute of limitations

Most misdemeanors: one year to charge; most felonies: three years.

Cal. Penal Code §§ 799–802

Charging deadlines scale with the offense: crimes punishable by death or life imprisonment, and embezzlement of public money, may be prosecuted at any time (Cal. Penal Code § 799). After arrest, arraignment must generally occur within 48 hours (Cal. Penal Code § 825).

Court of record

Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin.

County seat: Stockton

Main courthouse: Stockton Courthouse, 180 E. Weber Ave, Stockton, CA 95202

Help with forms without a lawyer: the court's self-help center (source: The court's official website, read 2026-09-27).

Official court information, locations, and filing rules: www.sjcourts.org

Criminal Defense · San Joaquin County roster

198 attorneys on the official State Bar of California roll list criminal defense among their practice areas with an address of record in San Joaquin County.

192 of them hold an active licence; the remainder are recorded as inactive and are not currently eligible to practise.

The roster concentrates in Stockton (178), Lodi (6), Manteca (4) and French Camp (3).

For 1, the registry records a language other than English, almost always from a firm website published in that language; that describes the website, not an attorney's own ability.

Admission years on this roster run from 1974 to 2026.

The employers most represented here are San Joaquin County Public Defender (30), San Joaquin County District Attorney (28) and DA San Joaquin County (8).

The full San Joaquin County roster · 192 attorneys with an active license and a criminal defense practice area: is listed by surname in the 1 sections below.

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Criminal Defense matters in San Joaquin County

The matters this field covers, as Californians search for them. Each attorney's own profile states which of these they take.

  • felony charges
  • misdemeanor charges
  • drug possession and sales charges
  • theft, burglary and robbery charges
  • assault and battery charges
  • weapons and gun charges
  • domestic violence charges
  • homicide and murder charges
  • sex crime charges
  • fraud and white-collar charges
  • gang-related charges
  • arson charges
  • warrants and bail
  • probation violations
  • expungement and record sealing
  • juvenile matters

From the answer files

Can I get a conviction expunged in California?Cal. Penal Code § 1203.4How long does California have to file criminal charges?Cal. Penal Code §§ 799–802How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost in California?Cal. Penal Code § 987

Every criminal defense attorney in San Joaquin County, by surname

Alcaraz – Zendejas192 attorneys

Criminal Defense by city in San Joaquin County

Criminal Defense in StocktonSan Joaquin County

Related counsel in San Joaquin County

Civil Rights Attorneys in San Joaquin County42 U.S.C. § 1983 / Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1Immigration Lawyers in San Joaquin County8 C.F.R. § 1003.38All practice areas in San Joaquin CountyCounty record

Criminal Defense in nearby counties

Criminal Defense in Sacramento County758 attorneysCriminal Defense in Amador County17 attorneysCriminal Defense in Calaveras County13 attorneysCriminal Defense in Stanislaus County138 attorneysCriminal Defense in Alameda County653 attorneysCriminal Defense in Contra Costa County326 attorneysCriminal Defense Lawyers in CaliforniaStatewide record

Source: Cal. Penal Code §§ 799–802 · State Bar of California licensee records · Checked: · Maintained by the California Attorney Registry from official State Bar of California records. Legal information, not legal advice.

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