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

The RegistryCounty Record · California

Criminal Defense Attorneys in Santa Barbara County, California

Looking for a criminal defense lawyer near you in Santa Barbara County? Explore the county record for criminal defense attorneys on the State Bar of California's official roll and review each profile for yourself.

South Central Coast county whose 1929 Anacapa Street courthouse still hears live calendars; branch courts in Santa Maria serve the north county. Venue for most criminal defense matters arising in the county lies with the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara, seated at Santa Barbara.

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 Santa Barbara County chapter of the registry's statewide record · Criminal Defense Attorneys 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 Santa Barbara.

County seat: Santa Barbara

Main courthouse: Santa Barbara Anacapa Division, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

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.santabarbara.courts.ca.gov

Criminal Defense · Santa Barbara County roster

185 attorneys on the official State Bar of California roll list criminal defense among their practice areas with an address of record in Santa Barbara County.

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

The roster concentrates in Santa Barbara (108), Santa Maria (60), Lompoc (7) and Buellton (2).

4 hold a State Bar Certified Legal Specialist designation, a certification issued by the State Bar's Board of Legal Specialization, and not a rating or a ranking.

For 6, 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 1966 to 2025.

The employers most represented here are Santa Barbara County Public Defender (19), Santa Barbara County District Attorney (15) and Santa Barbara District Attorney's Office (10).

The full Santa Barbara County roster · 176 attorneys with an active license and a criminal defense practice area: is listed by surname in the 1 sections below.

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In the last 30 days attorneys have read 11 filed matters on the registry.

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Legal information, not legal advice

Criminal Defense matters in Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara County, by surname

Ajaman – Zens176 attorneys

Criminal Defense by city in Santa Barbara County

Criminal Defense in Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara County

Related counsel in Santa Barbara County

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

Criminal Defense in nearby counties

Criminal Defense in San Luis Obispo County104 attorneysCriminal Defense in Kern County187 attorneysCriminal Defense in Ventura County284 attorneysCriminal Defense Attorneys 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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