Douglas I. Horngrad

At the Law Offices of Douglas Horngrad and Sam O'Keefe in San Francisco, California, Douglas I. Horngrad stands out as a brilliant criminal defense attorney in the Bay Area. He recognizes that facing criminal charges can be an incredibly challenging chapter in a person's life. He is here to illuminate the complexities, address any inquiries his clients may have and passionately advocate for their best possible resolution, regardless of the case's magnitude. His legal prowess covers a wide range of areas, including:

• Criminal trials
• DUI cases
• DMV administrative hearings
• Violent crimes such as assault and battery
• Domestic violence
• Sex crimes
• White collar crimes, like financial fraud
• Post-conviction relief, including expungements and certificates of rehabilitation
• Drug offenses
• Firearms-related crimes
• Theft
• Elder abuse
• Conspiracy
• Federal criminal defense
• Juvenile cases
• Traffic violations
• Petitions for factual innocence
• Appeals
• Restraining orders
• Representation of public employees, police officers, firefighters and sheriff deputies
• Witness and victim advocacy

Mr. Horngrad embarked on his legal journey at the Office of the Marin County Public Defender in 1979, eventually rising to chief deputy public defender over a nine-year period. Since 1989, he has helmed his own practice, dealing with numerous high-profile cases and clients. With over 75 trials under his belt, he has defended more than fifty individuals accused of murder and over a hundred facing life sentences. Remarkably, only four of those life sentences were imposed, with one overturned on appeal, leading to case dismissal. Beyond his client work, he contributes as an instructor and judge in Stanford Law School’s trial advocacy program.

In the early 1990s, Mr. Horngrad gained national recognition for his work on a landmark repressed memory case involving the 1969 murder of Susan Nason in San Mateo County. Representing the defendant from arrest to release, the initial conviction was overturned on appeal, and prosecutors later dropped the retrial due to insufficient evidence. This case inspired a four-part Showtime series, an episode of Law & Order focusing on repressed memory, and several books, including "Once Upon A Time: A True Story of Memory, Murder and the Law" by Harry N. MacLean.

Mr. Horngrad's clientele also includes environmental activists, notably several Oscar nominees, sports figures, politicians, and other prominent individuals. He represented Woody Harrelson, who protested logging by scaling the Golden Gate Bridge. His defense of Earthfirst activists was spotlighted in The New York Times and media outlets worldwide when his client avoided charges in an Oakland car bombing, earning him a feature on the cover of The New York Review of Books.

After completing his undergraduate studies at Suffolk University, Mr. Horngrad earned his J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law, entering the California legal arena in 1980. He holds an AV Preeminent peer-review rating* through Martindale-Hubbell and a “Good” rating on Avvo, reflecting his esteemed standing among peers.

*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.