I've worked on cases with this firm's partners for nearly a decade and there's no one I would trust more for good advice or for my own family and friends if they were ever accused of a crime.
They both graduated from UC Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall) and have experience at three public defender offices acorss California where Judges, DAs, and the other defense attorneys universally respect (and sometimes fear) them. In Napa and Solano they've tried every type of criminal case with success at trial and, often more importantly, before trial by getting charges dismissed and with motions to suppress illegally obtained evidence.
Francisco has written the most detailed and successful motions and appeals of any attorney in the region. And he's the calm, confident attorney judge's look to for answers in the courtroom. Cate has changed judges' and DAs' minds about what the laws mean and what justice demands. They both have many jury trial wins and have gotten cases overturned on appeal or writ. When other attorneys tell their clients to plead out, these guys will tell them to stand and fight the system whenever there's a chance.
If you've been accused you'll be confident with them at your side, if the DA sees their names they will know they're in for a fight, if the judge sees them in court they will know Cate and Francisco came better prepared than anyone else in the room. And that they came to win! read more