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Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Bakersfield, CA

Our Recommended Best Bakersfield Criminal Defense Lawyers

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Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Bakersfield criminal defense lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

240Reviewed

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9Top Picks

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Providers

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Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Bakersfield
1712 19th St., Suite 211, Bakersfield, CA 93301

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (18)
Avvo
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Led by an attorney with over two decades of legal experience — including in criminal defense — the Law Offices of Tony V. Lidgett takes on different types of cases in Bakersfield and across California. The firm defends individuals accused or arrested for violent and serious felonies, misdemeanors, and murders. Its team also works with clients facing charges for domestic violence and narcotics-related offenses. Tony V. Lidgett's record of successful murder defense cases includes more than 90 defendants being acquitted of first- or second-degree murder.

Tony V. Lidgett obtained his J.D. from the California Pacific School of Law and was given the West Law Scholar Award. As a criminal defense lawyer, he has tried more than 100 murder cases. He also serves clients in Wasco, Delano, Arvin, Ridgecrest, and McFarland.

  • DWI/DUI
  • Domestic Violence

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Bakersfield
1670 M St, Bakersfield, CA 93301

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.8 (62)
Avvo
5.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Led by a lawyer who has been in the criminal defense field for more than a decade, the Law Office of Monica L. Bermudez has successfully dismissed a second-degree robbery case for a former client. Serving Bakersfield and the rest of California, the firm handles the legal needs of individuals facing charges for various types of criminal violations. It takes on felony and misdemeanor cases, including manslaughter, robbery, fraud, public intoxication, battery, and vandalism. It aggressively represents defendants and helps them develop strategies to prevent mandatory penalties, such as possible jail time and significant fines.

Criminal defense attorney Monica Bermudez received her J.D. from the San Joaquin College of Law. She previously served at the Tulare County Public Defender's Office. Bermudez was also the former president of the Kern County Women Lawyers Section and a past board member of the Kern County Young Lawyers Section.

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Bakersfield
1701 Westwind Dr Ste 203, Bakersfield, CA 93301

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (754)
Yelp
4.9 (247)
Avvo
4.9 (121)

Why choose this provider?

With a focus on traffic defense, Bigger & Harman, APC, serves people in Bakersfield. Its attorneys use their knowledge of the California justice system in handling traffic criminal defense. The firm assists its clients in navigating through their charges, such as driving without a license, speeding, stop sign tickets, violations by commercial entities, and other misdemeanors. It devises various legal strategies and assesses the best-case scenario for each client so that they can avoid or reduce their charges. The law firm also represents defendants before the DMV.

Mark J. Bigger has dealt with more than 2,000 traffic cases in Central California. He was responsible for passing a law in Oregon that would raise the state’s speed limit to match engineering traffic safety standards. Mark worked for Gary George, a member of the Oregon Senate Transportation Committee.

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Bakersfield
1412 17th St. Ste 313, Bakersfield, CA 93301

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (38)
Avvo
5.0 (4)
Yelp
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

Due to its expertise in criminal defense, Gereis Law has been featured in various media outlets, including Disrupt, Yahoo Finance, Digital Journal, and Influencive. The firm delivers legal representation for individuals facing charges in California, including in Bakersfield. Exclusively focused on criminal law, it safeguards its clients' rights and liberties, handling cases with a client-centered approach. Gereis Law deals with a broad spectrum of criminal matters, such as statutory crimes, traffic violations, and financial crimes, while emphasizing advocacy and a thorough defense strategy at every stage of litigation.

Henry G. Gereis earned his Juris Doctor and master’s in dispute resolution through a joint program at the Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law, a leading institution in dispute resolution. He began his career doing volunteer work at the Santa Barbara Public Defender’s Office before serving as a deputy public defender in Kern County.

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Bakersfield
8501 Brimhall Rd Ste 404 Bldg 400, Bakersfield, CA 93312

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
4.9 (81)
Google
4.6 (55)
Yelp
4.6 (18)

Why choose this provider?

With a 97.4% trial success rate, Middlebrook & Associates provides criminal defense services to people in Bakersfield, California. Its principal attorney, Richard Middlebrook, has handled thousands of DUI cases and has worked on over 250 DUI trials. The legal practice handles first-time DUI, felony DUI, underage DUI, out-of-state DUI, and DUI with injury. It also checks the validity of breath and blood tests used as evidence in DUI charges and helps clients with driver’s license restoration.

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Bakersfield
3200 21st Street Suite #103, Bakersfield, CA 93301

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (136)
Avvo
4.9 (57)

Why choose this provider?

Bakersfield DUI Attorneys upholds the rights of people facing charges in the metro and across California. It assists its clients in navigating the legal process and understanding the options available to them as they face a DUI charge. The firm applies a case-to-case approach to matters involving aggravated DUI, drugs, hit-and-run, excessive BAC, homicide, and vehicular manslaughter. It represents people during DMV hearings and mobilizes various tools and resources to execute legal strategies. The practice maintains an affiliation with the California DUI Lawyers Association.

Patrick Bowers is a criminal defense lawyer who obtained his J.D. from the Boston University School of Law. He is admitted to practice in the Eastern and Central Districts of California. He is also part of the team that successfully argued the cases Department of Motor Vehicles v. Najera and Department of Motor Vehicles v. Bouton.

  • DWI/DUI

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Bakersfield
651 H St Ste 200, Bakersfield, CA 93304

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (209)
Avvo
5.0 (52)
Yelp
5.0 (5)

Why choose this provider?

Led by an attorney who has successfully handled more than 125 criminal jury trials and over 6,000 criminal cases, the Law Offices of Mark Anthony Raimondo, PC, addresses the needs of individuals seeking criminal defense services in Bakersfield and throughout California. It represents those accused of felony or misdemeanor charges, such as domestic violence, DUI, drug and sex crimes, and murder. It also handles white-collar crimes, including embezzlement, theft, and fraud. Principal attorney Mark Anthony Raimondo has been practicing law for more than two decades.

Mark Anthony Raimondo obtained his J.D. from the Pepperdine University School of Law. He has been included in the Nation's Top One Percent by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel from 2015 to 2024. He also served as a member of the board of directors for the Kern County Bar Association.

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Bakersfield
1226 L Street, Bakersfield, CA 93301

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (4)
Avvo
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Led by its founder who serves as the vice president of the Kern County Bar Association-Criminal Defense Section, The Law Office of Victor Nasser focuses on providing legal representation in criminal cases in California. The Bakersfield-based firm handles an array of charges, including DUI, domestic violence, drug possession, and other misdemeanor or felony offenses. It prioritizes protecting its clients' rights and achieving favorable outcomes within the justice system, utilizing its strong background in negotiation and trial advocacy.

Founding attorney Victor Nasser leverages his experience as a former deputy public defender to help his clients navigate complex legal situations. Licensed to practice in California and Arizona, he negotiates with prosecutors and speaks with judges on his clients' behalf. Nasser reaches a wider community by also offering services in Spanish and Arabic.

  • DWI/DUI

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Bakersfield
641 H Street, Bakersfield, CA 93304

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.1 (13)
Avvo
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Elliott B. Magnus, based in Bakersfield, California, provides comprehensive criminal defense services. It represents individuals facing a criminal charge, which can range from violent crimes and property offenses to drug-related charges, DUI/DWI, and white-collar crimes. The firm is dedicated to achieving favorable outcomes for defendants, whether by obtaining a dismissal of charges, a reduced sentence using a plea agreement, or exoneration in trial. Its founding attorney, Elliott Magnus, has been in legal practice since 2010.

Elliott B. Magnus is a criminal defense attorney who is admitted to practice in the state of California. Magnus has extensive experience handling various criminal cases, ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies. His practice emphasizes legal advocacy within Kern County and the surrounding areas, offering representation across multiple areas of criminal law.

Compare Best Bakersfield Criminal Defense Lawyers

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
Tony V. Lidgett
1712 19th St., Suite 211, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Law Office of Monica L. Bermudez
1670 M St, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Bigger & Harman, APC
1701 Westwind Dr Ste 203, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Gereis Law
1412 17th St. Ste 313, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Middlebrook & Associates
8501 Brimhall Rd Ste 404 Bldg 400, Bakersfield, CA 93312
Bakersfield DUI Attorneys
3200 21st Street Suite #103, Bakersfield, CA 93301
The Law Offices of Mark Anthony Raimondo, PC
651 H St Ste 200, Bakersfield, CA 93304
The Law Office of Victor Nasser
1226 L Street, Bakersfield, CA 93301
The Law Office of Elliott B. Magnus
641 H Street, Bakersfield, CA 93304

Disclaimer:  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 with Expertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Bakersfield, CA Criminal Defense FAQs

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

    661-327-7111 is the non-emergency contact number of the local police station in Bakersfield.

  • Where can I get a copy of police reports for incidents related to my case in Bakersfield, California?

    To obtain reports from the Bakersfield Police Department, one can send a written request by mail to their address at 1601 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301. The required details to be included in the request are the case number, date of the reported incident, names of the involved party(s), and the requester's phone number. These reports can also be obtained in person at the Police Department during their working hours from Monday to Friday, between 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

  • What is the eligibility for clearing one's criminal record in Bakersfield?

    To be eligible for expungement in Bakersfield, one must meet certain criteria, including the lack of formal accusations filed, having charges dismissed or being acquitted, completing a pre-filing diversion program or drug diversion program, being under 18 years old and convicted of a misdemeanor, or completing probation for certain misdemeanor or "wobbler" offenses. However, eligibility depends on individual circumstances, and it's best to consult an experienced expungement attorney to understand your legal options fully.

  • Why is clearing your criminal record in Bakersfield important?

    It's crucial to seal your record to avoid its negative impacts. Your arrest record can damage your reputation as it can be accessed in background checks and used by various agencies. This information may be used against you when it comes to housing, schooling, professional licensing, and more. Your arrest record is available to the public and can be viewed by anyone with an internet connection. Sealing or destroying your arrest record in Bakersfield can also help protect your privacy.

  • Should you retain a local criminal defense attorney in Bakersfield?

    Having a local attorney in Bakersfield is advantageous because they are well-versed in the procedures and protocols followed by local judges who will preside over your case. Additionally, they carry experience litigating against local prosecutors and have built a positive reputation with their office. This "hometown advantage" can greatly benefit your case and make a local criminal defense attorney highly effective in representing you in court.

  • In what situations would an arrest warrant be used in Bakersfield?

    In Bakersfield, an arrest warrant should be endorsed by a judge or magistrate who concludes there is a likelihood that a crime has been committed. Ordinarily, a warrant is necessary before arresting an individual in their residence. Nonetheless, an arrest may take place without a warrant if the suspect poses a hazard to others or destroys the evidence. Upon the issuance of a warrant, any officer can apprehend the individual, even without possessing a copy of the warrant.

  • What is the crime rate in Bakersfield?

    Bakersfield's crime rate is 48 per 1,000 residents, with a resident having a 1 in 21 chance of becoming a victim of violent or property crime. Its violent crime rate ranks higher than most US communities, with a 1 in 203 chance of a person becoming a victim. Property crimes are also common, with a citizen having a 1 in 23 chance of someone becoming a victim. Among these property crimes, a high rate of motor vehicle theft is seen at 1 in 89.