Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

I'm in Northern California and can't address your question about rates, but wanted to weigh in with a brief comment about the pardon process.

While a petition for a Certificate of Rehabilitation does, as you point out, also act as a request to the Governor's Office for a pardon, I would be very cautious about paying any attorney to represent you in seeking a pardon.

In the past ten years, California governors have granted exactly three pardons. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger pardoned all three in 2004, and they had nonviolent drug convictions that were decades old. In the five years since, he hadn't pardoned anyone, and his predecessor, Gray Davis, never granted a single pardon. The prior governor, Pete Wilson, served from 1991-1999 and only granted 13 pardons.

While my office handles post-conviction relief matters, I generally won't take cases where the defendant is seeking a pardon simply because the process is complicated and expensive, and the chance of success is so slim in the current political climate.

I'd be happy to meet with you to discuss your needs and the costs. You don't give enough information in your question for me to know what you were convicted of and/or why you want a Certificate of Rehabilitation. There are many situations and reasons, and we should talk about your personal goals. Bob Marshall's comments are correct about pardons. But there are reasons why a Certificate of Rehabilitation is desirable without a pardon. So if you'd like to meet with me, contact me at your earliest convenience. Steve Mandell [email protected]

I have an office on Wilshire Blvd and in San Diego. I can work toward a certificate of rehabilitation which will enable you to apply for a pardon when a new govenor takes office. My hourly is $ 270.00 per hour and estimate that it may take 40 hours. Contact me directly. 619 379-3400.