Former federal prosecutor John D. Kirby defends federal criminal cases in La Jolla, San Diego County. Cases heard at San Diego Superior Court — Central Division. 25+ years federal trial experience. Confidential consultation available.
1100 Union Street, San Diego, CA 92101
All San Diego County criminal matters
Fraud, embezzlement, insider trading, securities violations, public corruption
Federal trafficking, conspiracy, manufacturing, possession with intent to distribute
Organized crime, conspiracy charges, enterprise corruption, multi-defendant cases
Financial crimes, structuring, asset forfeiture, FinCEN and IRS investigations
IRS criminal investigations, failure to file, tax fraud, offshore account disclosures
2255 motions, direct appeals to the Ninth Circuit, post-conviction relief
All federal criminal cases originating in La Jolla are prosecuted in the Southern District of California, specifically at the San Diego Superior Court — Central Division located at 1100 Union Street. This courthouse serves as the primary venue for arraignments, motions, and trial proceedings. You must appear there for all scheduled hearings unless your attorney arranges a remote appearance.
You will typically appear for your initial appearance and arraignment at the San Diego Superior Court — Central Division within 48 hours of your arrest, excluding weekends and holidays. This deadline applies regardless of whether your arrest occurred in La Jolla or elsewhere in the county. Your defense attorney can request a continuance if more time is needed to prepare.
Yes, an experienced federal defense attorney familiar with La Jolla cases can engage in pretrial negotiations with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which prosecutes cases at the San Diego Superior Court — Central Division. The attorney will evaluate the evidence and leverage local courtroom practices to potentially secure a favorable plea agreement. This process often occurs before a formal trial date is set.
The San Diego Superior Court — Central Division operates under its own local rules, its own judges, and its own assigned federal prosecutors. An attorney who regularly practices in this courthouse understands how specific judges handle suppression motions, what the assigned AUSA typically offers in plea negotiations, and what sentencing outcomes are realistic for cases from the La Jolla area. Do not hire a general practitioner who will be learning the federal system at your expense — your freedom deserves experienced representation that knows this courthouse.
Former federal prosecutor John D. Kirby — 25+ years federal trial experience. Confidential consultation available.
All communications are confidential and protected by attorney-client privilege.