Best Orange County Criminal Lawyers
Finding the right criminal defense attorney can make all the difference in the outcome of a case. When facing criminal charges, it’s important to have an experienced and knowledgeable lawyer on your side. Orange County, California has many excellent criminal defense attorneys, but some stand out above the rest. This article will highlight some of the top-rated and most successful criminal lawyers practicing in Orange County.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Lawyer
There are several key factors to keep in mind when selecting a criminal defense lawyer in Orange County or anywhere else:
- Experience – Look for an attorney with extensive experience handling your specific type of criminal case. An experienced lawyer will understand the complexities and be able to build the strongest defense.
- Track Record – Examine the lawyer’s past case results. Do they have a proven history of achieving successful outcomes for clients facing similar charges? This is a good indicator of their skills.
- Resources – The best attorneys have access to top investigators, forensic specialists, and other experts that can strengthen your case. Make sure they have these resources available if needed.
- Reputation – Choose a lawyer with an excellent reputation among peers and judges in Orange County. This demonstrates their high level of competence and ethical standards.
- Personality – Consider if the lawyer’s personality and style fits with your own. You want an attorney you feel comfortable with and can trust completely.
Top Orange County Criminal Defense Lawyers
Here are some of the most highly regarded criminal defense attorneys currently practicing in Orange County:
H. Manuel Hernandez
With over 25 years of criminal law experience, H. Manuel Hernandez has a proven track record of success in even the most complex and difficult criminal cases. He is Board Certified as a Criminal Trial Specialist and Criminal Appellate Specialist by the Florida Bar Association, an honor achieved by less than 1% of lawyers. Attorney Hernandez handles all types of criminal cases including DUI, domestic violence, sex crimes, white collar crimes, and homicide. He is known for his meticulous trial preparation, relentless advocacy for his clients, and his ability to get charges reduced or dismissed. If your case does go to trial, Attorney Hernandez has substantial courtroom experience conducting jury trials and mounting an aggressive defense. Clients praise his compassion, straight talk, and ability to achieve favorable outcomes. Attorney Hernandez offers bilingual services in English and Spanish.
Thomas B. Luka
A former prosecutor, Thomas B. Luka has been practicing criminal defense in Orange County for over 24 years. He has successfully defended clients against all types of charges including sex offenses, domestic violence, theft, juvenile crimes, violent crimes, white collar crimes, and homicide. Attorney Luka is praised for his communication skills, responsiveness, and compassion for clients. He takes time to understand the details of each case and provides skilled representation in negotiations with prosecutors, hearings, and jury trials. Attorney Luka has obtained many not guilty verdicts over his career and knows how to present a persuasive defense. Clients facing criminal charges in Orange County can be confident in Attorney Luka’s experience and dedication to their case.
Anton J. Nace
With over 22 years of criminal law experience in Orange County, Anton J. Nace is known as a passionate advocate for the criminally accused. He handles cases ranging from juvenile crimes to serious violent felonies. Attorney Nace is praised for his ability to listen to clients, clearly explain their options, and develop an aggressive legal strategy. He has successfully defended clients against numerous serious charges including sex crimes, domestic violence, weapons offenses, theft, and homicide. Attorney Nace is experienced in filing motions to suppress evidence, conducting depositions, negotiating with prosecutors, and trial work. His experience on both sides of criminal cases gives him valuable perspective for defending clients.
Staycie R. Sena
A former public defender, Staycie R. Sena has over 27 years of criminal law experience in Orange and Los Angeles counties. She handles complex felony cases including sex crimes, domestic violence, weapons charges, fraud, and homicide. Attorney Sena is known for her meticulous trial preparation, tough negotiation skills, and compassion for her clients. She performs her own investigations, conducts legal research to find creative defenses, and advocates aggressively for her clients in court. Attorney Sena has obtained many not guilty verdicts over her career. Her experience on both sides of criminal cases gives her unique insights that benefit her clients.
Alan Castillo
Alan Castillo is a former public defender who has been practicing criminal defense for over 20 years. He represents clients facing all types of charges including DUI, domestic violence, sex crimes, drug offenses, theft, and violent felonies. Attorney Castillo is praised for his communication skills, responsiveness, and compassion for clients. He has successfully defended many serious cases by identifying key weaknesses in the prosecution’s case. Attorney Castillo handles cases from investigation through trial, negotiating firmly with prosecutors and mounting an aggressive courtroom defense when needed. His experience enables him to anticipate prosecutorial strategy.
Neil Shouse
With over 20 years of criminal defense experience, Neil Shouse is known as one of the top lawyers in Southern California. Based in Los Angeles, he frequently represents clients facing serious felony charges in Orange County as well. Attorney Shouse is an experienced trial lawyer who handles complex, high profile cases. He has successfully defended clients including celebrities, professionals, and corporate executives against charges ranging from DUI to sex crimes and homicide. Attorney Shouse leaves no stone unturned in investigation, research, and preparation of a meticulous defense. His experience, tenacity and trial skills achieve outstanding results for clients facing the most serious criminal allegations.
Finding the Right Attorney for Your Case
The criminal defense lawyers profiled here are among the top-rated in Orange County, CA, each with their own strengths and areas of expertise. When researching potential attorneys, look for someone who has substantial experience with your specific criminal charges. Schedule consultations with a few top lawyers to find the one whose personality, communication style and approach to your defense make you feel most confident. The right lawyer for your case could make all the difference in the outcome.
What to Expect When Meeting With a Criminal Lawyer
Once you’ve identified some top criminal defense lawyers to potentially represent you, schedule initial consultations with them. This first meeting is an opportunity to present the details of your case, assess the attorney, and determine if you want to move forward with them.
The lawyer will ask questions to understand exactly what happened and what you’ve been charged with. They will evaluate the strength of the prosecution’s case and start identifying potential defenses. It’s important to give the attorney all the relevant facts, even embarrassing or negative details, so they can provide accurate advice. Your communications are confidential under attorney-client privilege.
During the meeting, assess how comfortable you feel with the lawyer’s personality and communication style. Observe their listening skills, compassion, experience with similar cases, and confidence discussing defense strategy. A good attorney will explain your options, the risks and benefits of different approaches, and what to expect moving forward.
Don’t hesitate to ask questions about their background, track record with similar cases, resources they can access to build your defense, and what they think your odds are of a favorable outcome. Feeling confident in your lawyer is critical, so make sure the attorney is someone you trust completely and feel comfortable confiding in.
Conclusion
Facing criminal prosecution can be an extremely stressful and frightening experience. The consequences of a conviction can haunt someone for a lifetime. That’s why having the absolute best legal representation to fight the charges is critical.
For residents of Orange County, California who find themselves charged with a crime, the criminal defense lawyers profiled here are among the top legal advocates you can have on your side. Do your research to find the right attorney for your specific situation. Schedule initial consultations so you can make an informed choice. An experienced and dedicated criminal lawyer can make the difference between a guilty verdict or exoneration. With the right legal skills and determination fighting for you, the best possible outcome could be achieved.