Credentials

Stephen J. Prekoski

Stephen (Steve) has been a member of the California State Bar Association (#191128) since 1997 and was a dedicated municipal Deputy Public Defender for 20 years, serving in Tulare, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. As a result, Steve has done more jury trials than most lawyers on the Central Coast (80+ and counting).

Steve is a capital-qualified litigator, meaning he meets the state’s requirements to defend death penalty cases. Steve’s experience includes jury trials in homicides, child molests, rapes, carjacks, possession of child pornography, and all variety of violence cases. Steve has also litigated multiple jury trials for DUIs, theft (both grand and petit), embezzlement, check fraud, carjacking, auto theft, receiving stolen property, trespassing, drunk in public, vandalism, drug possession and/or sales, and criminal threat charges.

Resumé

Professional Experience

Deputy Public Defender IV

County of Monterey Office of the Public Defender

County of Santa Cruz Office of the Public Defender

President, Contract Negotiator

Unit D (Non-Management Deputy Public Defenders) Monterey County

Board Member (General Member)

California Public Defenders Association

Deputy Public Defender (I, II, III, IV) V

Tulare County Public Defender, Visalia, California

Founding Member, President, Board Member, Negotiator

Government Lawyers’ Association of Workers (GLAW)

Tulare County Public Defender’s Office

Grader/Tutor/Consultant, Bargraders.com

Review and analyze practice essays of prospective California Bar examinees.

Attorney Recruiter
Grader, General Bar Examination
Associate, Boornazian, Jensen & Garthe

Teaching Experience

Professor of Law, Monterey College of Law,
Constitutional Law, Professional Responsibility

Education

University of San Francisco School of Law

Visited as a Third Year Student

Loyola University Chicago School of Law

Juris Doctor

CALI Award (formerly AmJur) for Outstanding Student

Civil Procedure II

Appellate Advocacy

Dean’s List, Outstanding Academic Performance

Final Grade Point Average: 3.14

San Diego State University

Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Minor in Economics

Professional Affiliations

State Bar of California, Admitted December 1997 (#191128)

California Public Defender Association (CPDA), 2003 – Present

Board Member

Conference Coordinator for CPDA Basic Trial Skills Institute and Annual DUI Advocacy Seminar

Admitted December 1997 (#191128)