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Best Criminal Defense Attorneys in Santa Barbara

2023

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Website
140 East Figueroa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Why choose this provider?

Law Offices of William C. Makler PC is a firm serving clients charged with criminal offenses in Santa Barbara and the surrounding areas. The firm represents clients accused of being involved in matters including assault and battery, theft crimes, drug offenses, and financial crimes. Its team also assists clients with previous convictions clean up their criminal records through expungement. Attorney William C. Makler has over 20 years of experience practicing law.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
William Makler - Principal27 yrs
William Makler - Principal27 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (182)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (36)
FindLaw
0.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
3463 State Street, #439, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
  • DWI/DUI

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Kenneth M. Hallum is a criminal defense firm that operates in the Santa Barbara area. As a 22-year police force veteran, Kenneth Hallum has an in-depth understanding of both sides of the law. He and his team handle cases involving traffic law and a variety of DUI, including those that involve underage drivers, major DUI infractions, and field sobriety tests. Hallum has been in practice since 2004 and also served as a conflict public defender and court-appointed criminal defense attorney.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (52)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (41)
Google
5.0 / 5 (40)

(+1 additional source)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.3
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
225 East Carrillo Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Why choose this provider?

Lytel & Lytel LLP is a firm representing clients involved in criminal law matters in Santa Barbara and the surrounding areas. As a results-oriented firm, it maintains local court system knowledge and has obtained several thousand acquittals and dismissals for clients. Its skilled team of attorneys help clients avoid wrongful conviction and assists them with filing appeals with appellate level courts when necessary. Attorney Roger Burton Lytel is a member of the California Public Defenders Association.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Diana Lytel - Partner17 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
1.7
FindLaw
0.0 / 5 (2)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
1220 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of J'Aimee L. Oxton, A Professional Corporation, offers a host of legal services in the Santa Barbara area. The main areas of practice of the law firm include juvenile, family, and criminal law. Its criminal law practice focuses on drug and gang-related cases, DUI (driving under influence) offenses, and domestic violence cases. The Law Office of J'Aimee L. Oxton also handles misdemeanors, felonies, and assault and battery cases.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
J'aimee Oxton - Principal12 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (16)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (15)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (6)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
924 Anacapa Street, Suite 1-T, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
  • Drug Crimes
  • Domestic Violence
  • DWI/DUI

Why choose this provider?

RBX Law has been utilizing a custom-designed approach in providing criminal defense to clients in Santa Barbara since 2022. It defends the rights of people arrested or charged with a crime and strives to reduce charges and mitigate the punishment. It handles various cases, such as DUI, domestic violence, assault, expungement, and drug charges. Russel Brown, the founding lawyer, started his criminal defense practice in 2016. He serves as a staff attorney for the Committee for Social Justice as part of his non-profit work.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (30)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
836 Anacapa St #269, Santa Barbara, CA 93102
  • DWI/DUI

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Tristan Verburgt is a multi-practice firm representing clients in Santa Barbara. It provides legal services for people charged with felonies and misdemeanors, including DUI, drug offenses, theft, and resisting arrest. The founder, Tristan Verburgt, leverages his previous experience as a prosecutor to uphold his clients' legal rights and liberties. He also protects the rights of those subjected to unfair employment practices and assists the injured in obtaining compensatory damages against negligent parties. The firm offers a Misdemeanor Military Diversion program for veterans.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.9
Google
4.9 / 5 (12)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
928 Garden St Suite 3, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
  • DWI/DUI
  • Domestic Violence
  • Drug Crimes
  • Juvenile Crimes
  • Theft & Burglary

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Allen A. Bifano offers criminal defense representation for clients throughout Santa Barbara and the neighboring areas. The firm advocates for clients in state and federal courts, handling a broad range of crimes from simple misdemeanors to serious felonies. The firm routinely handles cases involving traffic violations, assault and battery, theft and larceny, sex crimes, domestic violence, and murder. The firm also assists in expunging records for clients or representing them in appellate proceedings. Bifano has been in practice since 2000.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.5
Google
4.5 / 5 (2)

Website
228 East Anapamu Street Suite 101, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
  • DWI/DUI

Why choose this provider?

844-TRAFIXX is a network of traffic ticket attorneys that serves individuals and families in Santa Barbara and the surrounding areas. It provides criminal defense services for both commercial and non-commercial drivers. Types of charges it handles include drunk driving, driving while suspended, reckless driving, and speeding. In addition, 844-TRAFIXX assists with releasing holds on drivers’ licenses and removing points from drivers’ records. Founding attorney Michael Terence Lyons has been practicing law for more than 18 years.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (2)

Website
104 W. Anapamu Street, Suite D, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
  • DWI/DUI

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Juan J. Huerta, APC, Attorney at Law, represents individuals in Santa Barbara who have been accused of committing criminal offenses. The firm handles cases related to drunk driving, drug abuse, domestic violence, and weapon violations. It arranges for alternate sentencing options and contests restraining orders obtained under false pretenses. The office also tackles personal injury suits. It was established in 2005 by Juan J. Huerta, who has more than two decades of experience in penal law practice.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.0
Google
4.0 / 5 (5)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
1032 Santa Barbara Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Ganschow & Horowitz is led by Hogan Ganschow and Christy Horowitz, former rivals in the court who now collaborate to serve individuals in Santa Barbara. They represent people who have been accused of domestic violence, theft, sex offenses, battery, and assault. Besides serious felonies, the law firm handles vandalism charges in which it intends to settle with the plaintiff to clear the clients' records. Other practice areas of the firm include cannabis compliance and driving under the influence.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Christy Horowitz - Founding Member16 yrs

License Verified:

License: 256137

State Bar of California

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (12)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (12)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
15 West Carrillo Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Why choose this provider?

The Aron Law Firm offers a host of legal services to guide clients involved in criminal cases. The main areas of practice of this Santa Barbara-based law firm are criminal defense and investor protection. For criminal defense cases, the Aron Law Firm assists clients in a variety of cases, including burglary, fraud, larceny, and white-collar crimes. Its founder, William M. Aron, is a former deputy district attorney who leverages his legal experience to help the law firm's clients.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
William Aron - Managing Attorney19 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.9
Avvo
4.9 / 5 (61)
Google
5.0 / 5 (41)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (3)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
140 E Figueroa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
  • DWI/DUI

Why choose this provider?

J. Jeff Chambliss, Esq. is an attorney who has been representing Santa Barbara clients for more than 26 years. Focusing on criminal defense, he has tried over 55 cases before a jury, including domestic violence, rape, homicide, assault, and DUI. He assists those who face Judicial Affairs investigations, juvenile crime accusations, and federal charges, and files for record expungements to help past offenders start new lives. In 2018, Chambliss served as president of the Santa Barbara County Bar Association.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.9
Avvo
4.9 / 5 (57)
Google
5.0 / 5 (3)

Website
924 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Robert F. Landheer has more than three decades of criminal defense experience in the Santa Barbara area. It helps clients involved in a variety of criminal cases, including driving under the influence (DUI), drug possession, misdemeanors, felonies, and theft. The Law Office of Robert F. Landheer has a strong focus on honesty, professionalism, and reliability. Moreover, it handles matters involving mental illness and post-conviction relief issues.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Robert Landheer - Principal42 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (8)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (1)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
1032 Santa Barbara Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
  • DWI/DUI
  • Drug Crimes

Why choose this provider?

Christy Horowitz Criminal Defense is a firm that serves individuals in the Santa Barbara metro and surrounding locations. It represents clients charged with crimes such as DUI, domestic violence, vehicular manslaughter, and drug offenses. Its lawyer, Christy Horowitz, has more than 13 years of experience in criminal defense. Over the course of her prosecutorial career, she has handled thousands of misdemeanor and felony cases. She solves clients' legal charges by considering various opportunities, including plea bargains, rehabilitation, and negotiation.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (20)
Google
5.0 / 5 (13)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
3 West Carrillo Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Why choose this provider?

Exclusive DUI Defense Inc. is a Santa Barbara-based law firm offering a variety of legal services. It focuses mainly on the criminal defense area of practice. It uses science-based methods in helping clients with criminal cases, particularly those involving DUI. Its firm understanding of forensic toxicology and standardized field sobriety tests allows it to defend its clients from DUI charges. It also uses expert witnesses in different fields to help defend the rights of its clients.

License Verified:

License: 93806

State Bar of California

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Avvo
4.8 / 5 (145)
Google
4.6 / 5 (11)
Yelp
4.5 / 5 (11)

(+1 additional source)

Website
735 State Street Suite 408, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
  • DWI/DUI

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Adam L. Pearlman has represented over 1,000 criminal defendants throughout the Santa Barbara metro. The firm fights and advocates for the rights of clients facing a wide variety of criminal charges, such as domestic violence, drug crimes, restraining orders, attempted murder, DUI defense, and sexual assault. Founder Adam Pearlman has been dedicating his private practice to handling criminal cases for more than 25 years. He is a certified criminal law specialist that also assists in expunging criminal records.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.0
Avvo
4.3 / 5 (16)
Yelp
4.0 / 5 (7)
Google
2.3 / 5 (3)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
7 West Figueroa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Why choose this provider?

Ridley Defense offers legal representation for Santa Barbara residents looking to protect their rights in criminal defense cases. The firm focuses on various types of criminal charges including drugs and narcotics, juvenile crimes, theft, domestic violence, and firearms-related offenses. Ridley Defense's legal team works to guide clients through criminal court procedures to help them identify legal options such as alternative sentencing and diversion programs. The firm is headed by Doug Ridley, whose Southern California legal experience includes time as a prosecutor at the district attorney's office.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Michelle Silva - Associate Attorney9 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.1
Facebook
4.9 / 5 (15)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (9)
Google
5.0 / 5 (2)

(+1 additional source)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
4.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services withExpertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Santa Barbara, California?

    The non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Santa Barbara, California, is (805) 882-8900.

  • What is the function of a defense counsel in a criminal case in Santa Barbara, California?

    A defense counsel's function or responsibility in a criminal case is to make sure that your rights are protected. Your counsel should be able to take all necessary notes regarding your case and should be able to make a sound judgment on the steps and defense strategy you have to make.

  • Is a DUI charge considered a felony offense in Santa Barbara, California?

    In Santa Barbara, as with the rest of the state of California, a DUI can either be prosecuted as a misdemeanor or felony offense depending on the surrounding circumstances of the case. If you had three or more DUI cases in the last 10 years, you could be charged with a felony case. The most serious DUI cases will be considered felonies if it results in injuries or death.

  • What is the common defense strategy for an assault charge in Santa Barbara, California?

    The most common defense strategy you and your lawyer can have against an assault charge in Santa Barbara's that you acted in self-defense. You can also state that you did not willfully act to hurt the other party and that you do not have the ability to inflict major injuries. You can also claim that you were wrongfully accused of committing such a crime.

  • What are the three types of felony charges in Santa Barbara, California?

    The lowest level charge you can have is an infraction, which is only met with fines and traffic tickets. The higher type of charge you can have is a misdemeanor, where you can be given a fine plus imprisonment not exceeding one year. The highest among the three is a felony charge which is for the most serious crimes where you can be convicted with fine, lifetime imprisonment, and in some cases, execution.

  • What are the consequences of not posting bail in a murder case in Santa Barbara?

    It is highly unlikely for the court to allow you to post bail in a murder case in Santa Barbara. However, if you are charged with a lesser crime such as in homicide cases, and cannot or choose not to post bail, you will be held in custody until the conclusion of the legal proceedings. However, the judge has the power to release a defendant according to Own Recognizance (OR), which means without posting bail.

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