Joseph Shemaria

Attorney

Location:

Los Angeles, CA

Phone:

(424)285-5988

Fax:

310-988-2627

Email:

Email me

Joseph Shemaria graduated from UCLA Law School in 1969, with the most prestigious academic honors. He was also a Senior Editor of UCLA Law Review and graduated "Order of the Coif," the highest academic award. Mr. Shemaria started specializing in criminal defense in June 1970 and has tried cases in both state and federal courts from coast to coast. He has also handled over 1,000 state and federal appeals and writs, 30 of which were published in the permanent, official law books.

Mr. Shemaria has spent virtually his entire professional life, on a daily basis, defending those accused of crimes. A wise judge said, and Mr. Shemaria believes, the criminal justice system can be like a fast-moving freight train — the only justice you can hope to get is the justice your attorney gets for you. You must pick your lawyer very carefully. There is no room for another error in judgment! Mr. Shemaria's entire focus will be to get you "off the train," with the least, or no, damage.

Areas Of Practice

White Collar Offenses
Child Pornography
Drug Crimes
Crimes of Violence
Sex Offense Crimes
Federal Crimes
United States Sentencing Guidelines
Criminal Defense, State and Federal, both Trial and Appellate

Bar Admissions

California, 1970
U.S. District Court Northern District of California, 1970
U.S. District Court Southern District of California, 1970
U.S. District Court Eastern District of California, 1970
U.S. District Court Western District of North Carolina, 1970
U.S. District Court Central District of California, 1970
U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1970
U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit, 1970
U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1970
U.S. Supreme Court, 1970
U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit, 1970

Education

University of California at Los Angeles School of Law, Los Angeles, California
- J.D. - 1969
- Honors: Order of the Coif
University of Arizona
- B.A. - 1966

Published Works

"Res Judicata in a Bifurcated Trial", 15 University of California at Los Angeles Law Review
Co-Author: “Harmless Error Review by the California Supreme Court in Capital Appeals”, 1990-1992, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice “Forum”

Representative Cases

In re Jackson, 3 Cal.4th 578, 583-584 , 1992
Crane v. State Bar, 30 Cal.3d 117, 119-120 , 1981, 1981145367
People v. Haskett, 30 Cal.3d 841, 847 , 1982, 1982107614
People v. Jackson, 28 Cal.3d 264, 281-282 , 1980, 1980143132
People v. Harris, 15 Cal.3d 384, 386 , 1975, 1975128224
People v. Humphries, 185 Cal.App.3d 1315, 1321 , 1986, 1986148916
LAX v. Board of Medical Quality Assurance, 116 Cal.App.3d 669, 671-672 , 1981, 1981110266
People v. Haybron, 108 Cal.App.3d 31, 34 , 1980, 1980117735
People v. Willis, 104 Cal.App.3d 433, 436 , 1980, 1980106570
People v. Hernandez, 96 Cal.App.3d 856, 858-859, 1979, 1979111697
People v. Hall, 95 Cal.App.3d 299, 302 , 1979, 1979111542
Community Release Bd. v. Superior Court, 91 Cal.App.3d 814, 815 , 1979, 1979101269
People v. Goodson, 80 Cal.App.3d 290, 291-292 , 1978, 1978101866
People v. Blair, 51 Cal. App. 3d 480, 481-482, 1975, 1975104531
People v. Lacey, 30 Cal.App.3d 170, 171-172 , 1973, 1973103243
People v. Rand, 23 Cal.App.3d 579, 581 , 1972, 1972102859
(Arizona) State v. Sardo & Mandell, 112 Ariz. 509, 543 P.2d 1138 , 1975, 1975129414
USA v. Kapperman, 764F.2d 786 , 1985, 11th Cir., 1985130231
Maxwell v. Sumner, 673 F.2d 1031 , 1981, 9th Cir., 1982106059
USA v. Gonzalez, 617 F.2d 1358 , 1980, 9th Cir., 1980112559
USA v. Montellano, 633 F.2d 1313 , 1980, 9th Cir., 1980150078
USA v. Jacobson, 578 F.2d 863 , 1978, 10th Cir., 1978119226
USA v. Palmer, 575 F.2d 721 , 1978, 9th Cir., 1978118509
USA v. Payseur, 501 F.2d 966 , 1974, 9th Cir., 1974111691
Tellez v. Chaffee, 467 F.2d 218 , 1972, 9th Cir., 1972112125

Professional Associations and Memberships

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member
Federal Indigent Defense Panel, Member, 1973 to 1979
State Bar of California

Languages

Spanish