Education

Law School/Year: J.D., University of Santa Clara, 1969

Other Graduate School/Year: LLM, George Washington University, 1971

College/Year: San Jose State University, 1966

Bar Admissions

California, 1970; Washington, D.C., 1970

Practice Areas

Appellate, Criminal Law

Major Cases

Charles Sevilla has argued three cases in the U.S. Supreme Court, a dozen or more in the California Supreme Court, and scores more in the Ninth Circuit and California Courts of Appeal, e.g., United States v. Ortiz, 442 U.S. 891 (1975); Chein v. Shumsky, 373 F.3d 978 (9th Cir. en banc 2004), cert. denied 125 S. Ct. 415 (2004) ; United States v. Rutgard, 116 F.3d 1270 (9th Cir. 1997); People v. Ault (2004) 33 Cal. 4th 1250; People v. Hedgecock (1990) 51 Cal.3d 395; People v. Basuta (2001) 94 Cal. App. 4th 370.

Professional Background

Sevilla has been a criminal defense lawyer since his days at Federal Defenders of San Diego (1971-1976), then with the California State Public Defender, followed by 21 years as a partner in Cleary & Sevilla. Since 2004, he has been in solo practice defending state and federal cases, often on appeal. He is a frequent speaker and presenter at legal conferences.

Professional Affiliations

Sevilla has served on California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (president 1979-1980); San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyer's Club (president 1988); San Diego Criminal Defense Bar Association (board of directors, presently); San Diego Defenders Board (member, board of directors 1994-2009); Ninth Circuit Advisory Committee on Rules of Court & Internal Procedures (member 1996-2002); Committee on Standard Jury Instructions, Criminal (CALJIC) (member 1976-1983); California Public Defenders Association (board of governors 1978-1980); National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys (member).

Personal Background

Sevilla has published books on legal humor and two novels about a fictional New York City defense lawyer, John Wilkes. He has authored numerous law review articles and is the co-author of a legal text, California Criminal Defense Practice, used by lawyers and in law schools throughout the country.