Criminal Defense: General Practice Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Ezekiel E. Cortez
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2001 Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
A National Practice Devoted To Complex Federal Criminal Defense, Federal and State Habeas Litigation And Other Federal Matters.
Ezekiel E. Cortez is a Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist, California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization after passing the federal specialist examination.
As a devoted career criminal defense attorney, Mr. Cortez has unwaveringly devoted his practice to the defense of federal criminal cases and other federal matters since 1984. Since 1988 Mr. Cortez has also engaged in Habeas Corpus Litigation of selected federal and state cases.
Mr. Cortez's legal ability and ethical conduct have earned the highest peer-review rating available from Martindale-Hubbell - an AV rating.
For over two decades now, Mr. Cortez has been continuously listed in The Best Lawyers In America. Mr. Cortez has also been listed in San Diego Magazine's "Best Lawyers In San Diego" in 2001 and 2005-2009 as one of only a handful of elite criminal defense lawyers described by the magazine as the type of lawyer that other "attorneys would go to if they needed a [federal criminal defense] lawyer." Mr. Cortez was also listed in Super Lawyers since the 2007 edition of California: San Diego, Criminal Defense: White Collar category as one of the "Seriously Outstanding Top 5%" in his field.
Cordialmente invitamos a clientes de habla hispana.
Ezekiel E. Cortez is a Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist, California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization after passing the federal specialist examination.
As a devoted career criminal defense attorney, Mr. Cortez has unwaveringly devoted his practice to the defense of federal criminal cases and other federal matters since 1984. Since 1988 Mr. Cortez has also engaged in Habeas Corpus Litigation of selected federal and state cases.
Mr. Cortez's legal ability and ethical conduct have earned the highest peer-review rating available from Martindale-Hubbell - an AV rating.
For over two decades now, Mr. Cortez has been continuously listed in The Best Lawyers In America. Mr. Cortez has also been listed in San Diego Magazine's "Best Lawyers In San Diego" in 2001 and 2005-2009 as one of only a handful of elite criminal defense lawyers described by the magazine as the type of lawyer that other "attorneys would go to if they needed a [federal criminal defense] lawyer." Mr. Cortez was also listed in Super Lawyers since the 2007 edition of California: San Diego, Criminal Defense: White Collar category as one of the "Seriously Outstanding Top 5%" in his field.
Cordialmente invitamos a clientes de habla hispana.
Overview
- Spanish
- Ethnicity: Hispanic or Latino
- University of San Diego, J.D., graduated 1983
- California, The State Bar of California
- United States, The State Bar of California
- NACDL - Member
- Spanish
- California, The State Bar of California
- United States, The State Bar of California
- NACDL - Member
- University of San Diego, J.D., graduated 1983
- Ethnicity: Hispanic or Latino
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Criminal Defense: General Practice
- Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Special Focus:
- COVID-19
- Criminal Defense
- Federal
- White-Collar Criminal Defense
News & Media
Case History
Cases
- U S v. Bagdasarian 652 F.3d 1113 (2011) rehearing denied 12/02/2011.
This was a highly-controversial, heated fight led to a defense win at the 9th Circuit when the court applied U S v Black 538 US 343 (2003)and clarified the definition of a "threat" in a political context. First amendment vindicated througth the persisten defense in a criminal case. Case analyzed by the media, academia and profession widely.
- U S v. Perlaza, et al, 439 F3d 1149 (9th Cir 2006)
This case testing the reaches of the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act ("MDLEA"), 46 App. U.S.C. § 1903(a), (c), and (j) led to a reversal by the 9th Circuit finding lack of jurisdiction over the fishing boats seized by the U S Coast Guard and federal authorities off the cost of Colombia. Upon remand, case resolved in client's favor with a sentence of time served.
- U S v. Theresa Erickson Case No. 11CR3372-AB
This case in the U S District Court, Southern District of California involved the rare prosecution of one of the nation's legal authorities in the fertility and reproduction and an internationally renowned lawyer in this area. The case resulted in a fair and just outcome for our client, provoking a massive backlash in the media and internet blogs from those lacking the understanding of the subtle legal issues ni this unusual case.
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