Michael Cardoza Esq.
Mr. Cardoza, a San Francisco native, is a well-known defense attorney with a criminal law background that spans over thirty-five years. Mr. Cardoza graduated from the University of San Francisco and received his Jurist Doctorate from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. Mr. Cardoza spent the first half of his career as a prosecutor in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Alameda counties. Following 14 years as a prosecutor, Mr. Cardoza served as Chief Administration Officer for Continental Savings and Loan and head of the loan department. Following his departure from Continental Savings and Loan, Mr. Cardoza became Chairman of the Board of Premier Title Company. In 1997 he established the criminal defense, personal injury, and business litigation firm, The Cardoza Law Offices, located in Walnut Creek, California.
Mr. Cardoza has been involved in numerous high-profile cases including: the
San Francisco dog mauling case in which Mr. Cardoza represented the surviving partner in a wrongful death suit; the
Marlene Corrigan case, in which he represented the mother of a 680 lb. 13 year old girl
who died in their El Cerrito home where Corrigan was found not guilty
on all felony charges; the
San Francisco Police Department Test Scandal case where an Inspector of the San Francisco Police Department was accused
by the federal government of giving away test questions to the Department's
promotional examination, the inspector was found not guilty; and the
San Mateo County Murder case in which Mr. Cardoza's client was accused of capital murder,
the defendant was found not guilty. It was the first not guilty verdict
in a murder trial in San Mateo County in over 20 years.
In addition to his law practice, Mr. Cardoza is currently a leading legal
analyst for television and radio programs commenting on such cases as
Scott Peterson, Michael Jackson, Robert Blake & JonBenet Ramsey among
others. His legal commentary credits include: CNN's
Larry King Live panel, NBC's
Today Show, MSNBC, Fox News and Court TV. Cases that Mr. Cardoza have been involved
in such as the San Francisco Dog Mauling and Barry Bonds steroid scandal
have been featured on the
Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, 60 Minutes, HBO, and 48 Hours as well as in print in such publications as
Time magazine and
Sports Illustrated.
Mr. Cardoza volunteers his time as an instructor for the trial advocacy
program at Stanford University Law School as well as Golden Gate law school. He also volunteers his time
as a Judge Pro Tem in Santa Clara County, and acts as an appointed arbitrator
for the Superior Court of the City and County of San Francisco. Further,
he guest lectures at the San Francisco District Attorney's Office,
numerous District Attorney's Associations and private firms.
Areas of Practice:
Litigation Percentage:
- 95% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions:
- California, 1971
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of California, 1971
- U.S. District Court Northern District of California, 1971
- U.S. District Court Southern District of California, 1971
Education:
-
McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, Sacramento, California
-
University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California, 1966
- B.A.
- Major: Political Science
- Minor: Philosophy
- Minor: English
Teaching Positions:
- Instructor, Trial Advocacy, Stanford Law School
- Lecturer, District Attorney's Association
- Lecturer, Real Estate Escrow Officers Association
Honors and Awards:
- Northern California Super Lawyer (Criminal Defense) - 2016, 2015, 2014,
2009, 2008, 2005, 2004
- District Attorney's Office of Alameda County, Senior Trial Attorney
- District Attorney's Office of San Francisco County, Assistant District Attorney
- District Attorney's Office of Los Angeles County, Deputy District Attorney