Law Office of John C. Lemon—Criminal Trial Specialist

A board-certified trial specialist with an emphasis on complex criminal cases.

The Law Offices of John C. Lemon^APC is a firm dedicated to defending persons charged in serious and complex cases in federal and California trial courts and in federal appellate courts.

The firm consistently and successfully represents defendants, potential witnesses, and subjects of investigations in high-stakes and high-profile criminal cases, with an emphasis on white-collar crimes, drug-trafficking, and money laundering.

Regardless of the type of case – or whether it is resolved by jury trial, dismissal, plea bargain, or by avoiding charges altogether – the firm is committed to providing aggressive, intelligent, and focused representation, the touchstones of which are thorough preparation and incisive judgment.

Practice Areas

RICO, Murder, and Other Serious Federal Crimes

The federal RICO statute (Racketeering-Influenced Corrupt Organizations) and its companion, VCAR (Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering), were enacted in the 1950s to give federal prosecutors sweeping powers to target organized crime. In Southern California, those prosecutors now heavily rely upon RICO to prosecute prison gangs, street gangs, and motorcycle clubs, as well as organizations […]

Grand Jury Witnesses and Targets of Investigations

The firm’s expertise in complex cases is not limited to charged defendants. During preindictment investigations of white-collar, drug trafficking, and other serious cases, law enforcement officers will frequently contact and attempt to interview “persons of interest.” Similarly, individuals and corporations will often receive grand-jury subpoenas, which may also be accompanied by an offer to sit down with agents for a “free […]

White Collar

One of the firm’s core practice areas is the defense of persons and corporate entities charged with white-collar (or economic) crimes. Mr. Lemon’s white-collar expertise has been recognized by the SuperLawyers and Best Lawyers in America publications, both of which consistently rank him as a “top-rated” San Diego lawyer in this practice area (which includes […]

Drug-Trafficking Offenses

For the last 15 years, Mr. Lemon has been on the front lines of the resistance to the federal war on drugs, winning numerous acquittals, hung juries, motions to suppress evidence, and appeals in serious drug-trafficking cases. While some of these cases are relatively straightforward (a large seizure of narcotics at the border, for example) […]

Appeals

The firm regularly represents defendants on appeal, primarily (but not exclusively) in federal court. Despite the fact that typically only 4% of criminal defendants on appeal obtain reversals of their convictions or sentences, Mr. Lemon…

State-Court Offenses

Serious and complex cases are not exclusive to federal court. The firm has represented defendants in significant state-court cases, including attempted murder, home-invasion robbery, kidnapping, mayhem, and drug-trafficking. Most misdemeanors, traffic, and other less-serious offenses are also usually prosecuted in state court, and the firm regularly represents persons charged with such offenses – including simple […]

Cannabis

Cannabis prohibition is ending. The question is not “if,” but “when.” But these are uncertain times, especially for small businesses. Although cannabis is now legal under California law, it remains classified by the DEA as a Schedule I controlled substance with no redeeming medical or other value, and is still completely banned by the federal government. And while the […]

Practice Areas

White Collar

One of the firm’s core practice areas is the defense of persons and corporate entities charged with white-collar (or economic) crimes. Mr. Lemon’s white-collar expertise has been recognized by the SuperLawyers and Best Lawyers in America publications, both of which consistently rank him as a “top-rated” San Diego lawyer in this practice area (which includes […]

Drug-Trafficking Offenses

For the last 15 years, Mr. Lemon has been on the front lines of the resistance to the federal war on drugs, winning numerous acquittals, hung juries, motions to suppress evidence, and appeals in serious drug-trafficking cases. While some of these cases are relatively straightforward (a large seizure of narcotics at the border, for example) […]

Cannabis

Cannabis prohibition is ending. The question is not “if,” but “when.” But these are uncertain times, especially for small businesses. Although cannabis is now legal under California law, it remains classified by the DEA as a Schedule I controlled substance with no redeeming medical or other value, and is still completely banned by the federal government. And while the […]

RICO, Murder, and Other Serious Federal Crimes

The federal RICO statute (Racketeering-Influenced Corrupt Organizations) and its companion, VCAR (Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering), were enacted in the 1950s to give federal prosecutors sweeping powers to target organized crime. In Southern California, those prosecutors now heavily rely upon RICO to prosecute prison gangs, street gangs, and motorcycle clubs, as well as organizations […]

Grand Jury Witnesses and Targets of Investigations

The firm’s expertise in complex cases is not limited to charged defendants. During preindictment investigations of white-collar, drug trafficking, and other serious cases, law enforcement officers will frequently contact and attempt to interview “persons of interest.” Similarly, individuals and corporations will often receive grand-jury subpoenas, which may also be accompanied by an offer to sit down with agents for a “free […]

Appeals

The firm regularly represents defendants on appeal, primarily (but not exclusively) in federal court. Despite the fact that typically only 4% of criminal defendants on appeal obtain reversals of their convictions or sentences, Mr. Lemon…

State-Court Offenses

Serious and complex cases are not exclusive to federal court. The firm has represented defendants in significant state-court cases, including attempted murder, home-invasion robbery, kidnapping, mayhem, and drug-trafficking. Most misdemeanors, traffic, and other less-serious offenses are also usually prosecuted in state court, and the firm regularly represents persons charged with such offenses – including simple […]

Biography

Since graduating from law school in 1994, Mr. Lemon has dedicated his practice of law to the representation of the accused. First working exclusively for indigent defendants as a Deputy Public Defender in San Diego County, then as a trial attorney at Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc., he now maintains his criminal-defense practice through The Law Offices of John C. Lemon^APC.

Mr. Lemon’s practice is oriented toward complex felony cases, with an emphasis on large, multidefendant, conspiracy indictments alleging white-collar and drug-trafficking offenses. He has won acquittals and hung juries in many serious cases, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, and murder… Read More

Education

Juris Doctorate

Stanford Law School – ‘94

B.A. in Letters with Distinction

University of Oklahoma
Phi Beta Kappa – ‘90

Admitted

State Bar of California

Central District of California

Southern District of California

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

United States Supreme Court

Certification & Recognition

Certified Specialist in Criminal Trial Advocacy (State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, National Board of Trial Advocacy)
“AV” Peer Review Rated (Martindale-Hubbell)
Recognized in 2008 – 2017 editions of San Diego Super Lawyers (Law & Politics)
Recognized in the 2014 – 2017 editions of The Best Lawyers in America.
Recognized in the San Diego Daily Transcript’s “Top Attorneys of 2009”