February 4, 2010 San Diego

Kerry Steigerwalt has often been seen on TV commercials urging people to contact his law office if they encounter any legal problems. He serves as a legal commentator on both local and national news programs. Kerry Steigerwalt may be the most known criminal defense attorney in San Diego.

Steigerwalt grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania and came to California to attend San Diego’s Thomas Jefferson Law School. He wanted to practice law back home but fell in love with San Diego and decided to stay. Kerry passed the state bar exam in 1984 on his first try and was hired by Defenders Inc. to represent indigent clients for $18,000 a year. “I loved it. I learned how to represent the underdog,” he says. He later moved to the county Public Defenders office before entering private practice in 1990.

San Diego County district attorney Wendy Patrick says, “He really gets along with everyone.” Superior Court Judge Frank Brown who is a 21-year-old veteran of the bench as well as a former prosecutor and police officer says, “He’s one of the premier defense attorneys in San Diego clearly, in my opinion. I try cases. I see lots of lawyers and he’s one of the best. He is always prepared and he’s tenacious. Whenever he walks through the door into my courtroom, I’m happy to see him because I know that he knows what he’s doing.” Story here.

One of his first cases in private practice was defending a North Park jazz musician by the name of Billy Elias. He was charged with stabbing a female hitchhiker to death. Police found the bloody knife in Elias’ car and bloodstains on his hands and pants when he was arrested. In Steigerwalt’s opening statement he told the jury “I am going to prove to you that Billy Elias is innocent,” according to a newspaper account of the trial. Steigerwalt argued that the true killer was a man who had been hitchhiking with the victim. The jury acquitted Elias and he walked out of the courtroom a free man. This case got a lot of publicity and the phones started ringing.

Since taking over, Kerry has replaced all but one of the firm’s criminal attorneys and has instituted policies to ensure complaints are handled properly. Right now he is in the process of hiring someone to monitor the quality of the firms customer satisfaction. He is currently in the process of installing new software where clients can track their cases online.

“I’m awfully proud of being a lawyer, I think it’s one of the most honorable professions you can have,” he says. “I’d like every client knowing when they leave here they’d refer their brother or sister to us,” says Kerry.

San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyer

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