Former federal prosecutor John D. Kirby defends federal criminal cases in Point Loma, 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
No, federal cases involving Point Loma residents are prosecuted in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, not the San Diego Superior Court — Central Division. That state courthouse handles only California state law offenses, so your federal defense attorney must be admitted to practice in federal court.
Your first step is to request a federal public defender or retain private counsel experienced in federal criminal defense, as state-appointed attorneys from San Diego Superior Court — Central Division cannot represent you in federal proceedings. Your lawyer will then arrange your initial appearance before a federal magistrate judge, typically at the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building downtown.
Unlike state cases filed at San Diego Superior Court — Central Division, federal cases rely on grand jury indictments, longer sentencing guidelines, and separate discovery rules under the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Your defense strategy must focus on federal statutes and pre-trial motions filed in U.S. District Court, not the state system.
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 Point Loma 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.