When the weight of a criminal charge settles in, the first thing most people want is someone who will listen carefully and tell them the truth about what they're facing. Not a sales pitch. Not empty reassurance. An honest read of the case, the stakes, and the best path forward. That's what a local criminal defense lawyer should deliver, and it's what our team has built our practice around for Cortez Park residents and others throughout Los Angeles County. We represent people charged with everything from first-offense DUIs to capital cases, and we bring the same level of preparation to each one.
Criminal defense in Los Angeles County is a crowded field, and plenty of firms compete on advertising budgets rather than courtroom results. We do things differently. Every case we take gets direct attention from our founding attorney, who personally handles investigation, motion practice, and trial work. Former senior prosecutors round out the team, which gives us direct insight into how the state builds its cases and where those cases tend to fall apart. That combination matters once your file lands on a prosecutor's desk.
Tammy Higgins founded SoCal Defense Lawyer after 16 years as a Public Defender serving Orange, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino counties. Her final posting placed her in the homicide defense unit, where she defended clients facing charges that carried the maximum penalty California allows. She has tried more than 100 cases to jury verdict, including over a dozen homicides, and she is death penalty-qualified by court recognition. That qualification is granted only to attorneys who are clear for capital representation. She is also admitted to practice in the Central and Southern Districts of California federal courts.
Our practice covers the full range of California criminal law. We defend DUI charges, domestic violence allegations, drug cases, gun charges, assault, theft, sexual offenses, and homicide. We also take on post-conviction work, including expungement under Penal Code 1203.4, mental health diversion under PC 1001.36, veteran diversion, Racial Justice Act petitions under AB 256, and re-sentencing petitions for clients serving time under outdated laws. Restraining order defense and federal financial crime matters also fall within our scope.
We've secured not guilty jury verdicts on murder, gun, child molestation, and assault with a deadly weapon charges. Rape and sexual assault cases have been dismissed at preliminary hearings, domestic violence charges dropped, and $250,000 in seized assets returned to a client. Past results never promise future outcomes, but they show what focused defense work can achieve. ThreeBestRated.com named our firm one of the 3 Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in West Covina for 2026.
Cortez Park is a residential California neighborhood known for its quiet streets, family-oriented character, and close-knit community feel. Residents enjoy nearby parks, local schools, and convenient access to regional roadways that connect them across the greater Los Angeles area.
Reach out today for a free confidential consultation, and let's talk through what's really happening in your case.
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