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

The RegistryCounty Record · California

Criminal Defense Lawyers in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz County. Verification describes profile identity, not quality or outcomes.

Venue matters. Criminal defense cases from Santa Cruz County are ordinarily heard at the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Cruz. A Monterey Bay county pairing the university town of Santa Cruz with the Pajaro Valley's agriculture; the main courthouse sits in Santa Cruz, with a Watsonville branch serving the south county.

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 Cruz 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 Santa Cruz.

County seat: Santa Cruz

Courthouse at the county seat: Santa Cruz Courthouse, 701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

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.santacruz.courts.ca.gov

Criminal Defense · Santa Cruz County roster

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

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

The roster concentrates in Santa Cruz (106), Aptos (9), Scotts Valley (4) and Soquel (3).

1 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.

Admission years on this roster run from 1973 to 2025.

The employers most represented here are Santa Cruz County Public Defender (15), Santa Cruz County District Attorney (7) and Ofc District Attorney (6).

The full Santa Cruz County roster · 119 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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Criminal Defense matters in Santa Cruz 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 Cruz County, by surname

Alejandre – Ziebron119 attorneys

Related counsel in Santa Cruz County

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

Criminal Defense in nearby counties

Criminal Defense in San Mateo County193 attorneysCriminal Defense in Santa Clara County605 attorneysCriminal Defense in San Benito County16 attorneysCriminal Defense in Monterey County137 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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