Bay Area Criminal Defense Law Firm 

Jeffrey B. Hayden

Since establishing the Law Offices of Jeffrey B. Hayden in 1997, criminal defense attorney Jeffrey B. Hayden has successfully represented individuals accused of a wide range of criminal matters, including drug crimes, DUIs, traffic offenses, three-strike cases, violent crimes, theft-related offenses, sex offenses, and juvenile crimes. He also assists clients in conservatorship cases arising under the Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act.

Mr. Hayden frequently serves as a court-appointed attorney to represent legally indigent defendants, and has been certified as a Criminal Law Specialist by the California Board of Legal Specialization (CBLS).  To receive this certification, attorneys "must have taken and passed a written examination in their specialty field, demonstrated a high level of experience in the field, fulfilled ongoing education requirements, and been favorably evaluated by other attorneys and judges familiar with their work." 

Mr. Hayden is the recipient of Martindale-Hubbell's "AV" peer rating, indicating preeminent legal ability and the highest standard of ethics, and he is listed in Martindale Hubbell's "Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers," which is limited to the top five percent of rated attorneys.  Other honors he has received include being named a "Northern California Super Lawyer" for 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2009-- a distinction signifying that he is rated among the top five percent of Northern California lawyers by Super Lawyers Magazine.  He has serves as a paid Legal Analyst and has appeared on numerous local, regional, and national television news programs. 

Mr. Hayden is a former Deputy Public Defender of the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office, where he litigated 300 juvenile trials and as many as 15 jury trials, including numerous preliminary hearings and pre-trial motions.  Prior to joining the public defender's office, Mr. Hayden was a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Robert P. Aguilar and Honorable James Ware of the United States District Court, where he gained experience in a range of criminal and complex civil matters. 

Mr. Hayden received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1986, and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law in 1989.  He is admitted to practice law in all California state courts, including the Supreme Court of California.

Education

• J.D., University of Southern California Gould School of Law, 1989
  • Activities:  Judicial Externship with Honorable Robert M. Takasugi, United States District Court, Central District of California; Director & Founder of the Public Interest Law Foundation at U.S.C.; Member of the American Bar Association and Phi Alpha Delta
  • Awards & Scholarships:  Legion Lex Scholarship; Miller-Johnson Equal Justice Award
• B.A. in Economics, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1986

Admissions

• State Bar of California, 1990

Honors & Distinctions

• Certified Specialist in Criminal Law by the California Board of Legal Specialization
• Rated "AV" by Martindale Hubbell& Listed in Martindale Hubbell's "Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers"
• Named a "Northern California Super Lawyer" by Super Lawyers Magazine for 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2009

Previous Experience

• Deputy Public Defender, Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office
• Judicial Law Clerk to Honorable Robert P. Aguilar & Honorable James Ware of the United States District Court in San Jose, California
• Associate Attorney, Kroff and Associates
• Summer Associate, Nasatir & Hirsch
• Judicial Extern for Honorable Robert M. Takasugi of the United States District Court in Los Angeles, California
• Law Clerk, Bet Tzedek Legal Services & the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles

Media & Television Experience

• Paid Legal Analyst for local, regional, and nationally broadcasted television news programs

Professional Associations & Memberships

• State Bar of California
  • Commissioner, Criminal Law Advisory Commission, 2008 to Present
  • Criminal Justice Section Member
• San Mateo County Bar Association
  • Member, Board of Directors, 2008 to Present
  • Private Defender Program Panel Attorney, 1997 to Present
  • PDP Committee, overseeing Private Defender Program, Member 1999-2000, 2002-2003, and 2007-2008
  • Conference of Delegates, Member, 2001-Present; Delegation Chairman, 2006
  • Bench and Bar Committee, Member 2003-2005
  • Special Technology Advisory Committee, Member 2007 to Present
  • LRS Committee, overseeing Lawyer Referral Service, Chair in 2008, Co-Chair in 2009
  • Operations Task Force, Member 2009 to Present
• San Mateo County Superior Court
  • Judge Pro Tem, Traffic & Small Claims, 2006 to Present
  • Animal Cruelty Task Force, Member 2007 to Present
• Conference of California Bar Associations
  • Member, Board of Directors, 2007 to Present
  • San Mateo County Delegation Chairman, 2006
  • Resolutions Committee, Member 2007
• California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, Member
• California Public Defenders Association, Member