Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc., is a private, non-profit corporation based in San Diego with a branch office in El Centro, California, representing indigent persons accused of federal criminal offenses. A thirteen-member Board of Directors oversees our daily operation. We are independent from the local federal judiciary and funded by a sustaining grant awarded by Congress under the Criminal Justice Act.

We are located in the Southern District of California. Our close proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border has a strong influence on our caseload. The majority of our clients are charged with drug and immigration related offenses. Our attorneys also have the opportunity to represent clients facing a wide variety of federal charges, including bank robbery, fraud, counterfeiting, pornography, assault, and firearms offenses.

Our staff currently consists of over thirty trial attorneys and fifty support personnel, many of whom are bilingual and bicultural. We have an aggressive and distinguished appellate department. Our attorneys are assisted by highly trained and dedicated investigators and have the benefit of in-house interpreter and bond departments.

Our Philosophy

Members of the Federal Defenders team share a commitment to excellence and a passion for justice in representing indigent people accused of myriad federal criminal offenses. We combine hard work, constant training and intense dedication in the defense of each of our clients.