Education

Law School/Year: Stanford, 1953

College/Year: Stanford, 1951

Bar Admissions

California, 1953; U.S. Supreme Court, 1957; Ninth Circuit, 1957

Practice Areas

Criminal Law

Major Cases

People v. Ireland, California Supreme Court (1969). Still an important rule of law in California homicide prosecutions when a firearm is used.

Professional Background

Active duty, U.S. Army (Nov. 1953 - Feb. 1957) (JAG Corps three years); Assistant U.S. Attorney (Feb. 1957 - Sept. 1959). Private practice, defending criminal cases (1959 –present). California State Bar Board of Governors (1976-1979). Judicial Council (1981-1983). Ethics Committee, San Diego County Bar Association (2001-present). Master, Louis M. Welch American Inns of Court. Criminal Law Specialist, California Board of Legal Specialization (inception of program to present). Recipient, E. Stanley Conant Award, Defender Programs of San Diego County (1997). Recipient, Lifetime Achievement Award, Defender Organizations of San Diego (2008).

Professional Affiliations

Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers; advocate, American Board of Trial Advocates; diplomat in Criminal Law, National Board of Trial Advocacy; member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; member, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice; member, Criminal Defense Lawyers Club (president 1976); member, Criminal Defense Bar Association (Board of Directors, 1992 – present); Consumer Attorneys of San Diego (inducted into Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame, 2005).

Personal Affiliations

University of San Diego, Board of Trustees (1973-present; chair 1996-1999). University of San Diego School of Law Board of Visitors (1974-present). Stanford Law School Board of Visitors (1984-1986). Thomas More Society (Lifetime Achievement Award, 1998).

Personal Background

Married to Doris Hughes; four adult children and nine grandchildren. My great-grandfather was under-sheriff in Santa Barbara County at the turn of the last century.