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The criminal justice system is not perfect by any means. Mistakes are made and innocent people are wrongfully convicted. That is why James Lobsenz has devoted himself to appellate work, and the correction of miscarriages of justice.
James Lobsenz
For the past 25 years he has been arguing criminal appeals in Washington State and federal courts. His cases have ranged from less serious offenses to capital murder. He has argued more than 30 criminal appeals in the Washington Supreme Court, and well over 200 in the Washington Court of Appeals. He also represents prisoners in federal habeas corpus proceedings and in state court personal restraint petitions.
Mr. Lobsenz served three years as a deputy prosecuting attorney in King County, and then upon leaving that office became a criminal defense attorney. He has tried cases of all types including charges of rape, robbery, murder, kidnapping, assault, embezzlement, possession of illegal weapons, drug offenses, arson, and perjury.
In addition he served as a law clerk to two different state supreme courts. He worked first for Associate Justice Mathew O. Tobriner of the California Supreme Court, and then for Chief Justice Vincent McKusick of the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine.
Mr. Lobsenz's experience in the courtroom and working for an appellate court have been instrumental in his success as an appellate attorney.
Awards & Achievements
Mr. Lobsenz has regularly been named to Washington State Super Lawyers for over a decade, including 2011, and Seattle Magazine honored him as a "Top Lawyer" for each of the years 2007 and 2005. He was recognized by Seattle Metropolitan Magazine as one of King County's "Top Lawyers" in 2010, and Avvo has recognized Mr. Lobsenz with its highest possible ranking.
He has also won several awards. He received the 2009 William O. Douglas Award, the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers' most prestigious honor given in "recognition of extraordinary courage and dedication to the practice of criminal law." He is the recipient of the 1995 Abolitionist Day Award from the Washington Coalition Against the Death Penalty. In 1991 he received the Civil Libertarian Award from the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington State. The Seattle Chapter of the United Nations Association presented him with its Human Rights Day Award in 1985.
He is the author of several law review articles such as "A Constitutional Right to an Appeal: Guarding Against Unacceptable Risks of Erroneous Conviction," 8 Univ. Puget Sound Law Review 375 (l985), and "Raising & Litigating Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claims," Washington Criminal Defense, Vol. 16, No. 3 (August 2002).
He currently serves on the board of directors of the Stanford Club of Western Washington and the Society of Counsel for the Representation of Accused Persons.
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Introducing
 Overview
James Lobsenz
Appellate Cases
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"The criminal justice system is
not perfect by any means. Mistakes are made
and innocent people are wrongfully convicted.
Trial judges make serious errors, and
prosecutors and police sometimes engage in unfair
and illegal conduct in a misguided zealous effort
to punish the bad guy.”
— James Lobsenz
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