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Lawyer Profile

Image of Ezekiel E. Cortez

Ezekiel E. Cortez

Law Offices of Ezekiel E. Cortez
  • Recognized Since:
    2001
  • Recognized in:
    Criminal Defense: General Practice
    Criminal Defense: White-Collar
  • Law School:
    University of San Diego
  • Website:
    http://www.ezekielecortez.com
  • Firm's Phone Number:
    (619) 237.0309
  • Languages:
    French, Spanish
  • Ethnicity:
    Hispanic or Latino
  • Location:
    550 West C Street, Suite 620
    San Diego, CA 92101
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 a decade, Mr. Cortez has been continuously listed in The Best Lawyers In America. Mr. Cortez has 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 for the 2009, 2008 and 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.
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  • Lawyer Bio
  • Client Comments
  • Lawyer Practice Areas
  • Firm Details
  • News & Media
  • Case History

Lawyer Bio

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 a decade, Mr. Cortez has been continuously listed in The Best Lawyers In America. Mr. Cortez has 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 for the 2009, 2008 and 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.
Read more on firm website
  • Education
  • Bar Admissions
  • Affiliations
  • Award List
  • Additional Information

Education:

  • University of San Diego , J.D., graduated 1983

Bar Admissions:

  • California, The State Bar of California
  • United States, The State Bar of California

Affiliations:

  • NACDL - Member

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for work in:

  • Criminal Defense: General Practice
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar

Special Focus:

  • COVID-19
  • Criminal Defense
  • Federal
  • White-Collar Criminal Defense
 

Lawyer Client Comments

Lawyer Practice Areas

Key: Awarded in Best Lawyers Not Currently Awarded for this Area in Best Lawyers

Firm Details

Image for Law Offices of Ezekiel E. Cortez View Firm Profile
Law Offices of Ezekiel E. Cortez
http://www.ezekielecortez.com
 
Headquarters

News & Media

Featured Publications

Cover for our Southern California publication

Lawyer Case History

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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