Jose Garza Badillo obtained his Juris Doctorate from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 1999. Mr. Badillo has clerked for the State Public Defender in San Francisco assisting in the appeal of a man awaiting execution on San Quentin’s Death Row. In 2001 the client’s death sentence was overturned by the California Supreme Court. Mr. Badillo has worked at the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights in the Police Watch Division, providing assistance to victims of police misconduct and abuse. After graduating law school Mr. Badillo was hired as a research attorney for the Criminal Division of the Santa Clara County Superior Court.  As a research attorney, Mr. Badillo performed extensive research in all areas of criminal law. He worked closely with Superior Court Judges and wrote bench briefs with thorough analysis of the issues and ultimately issued recommendations as to their decisions. Thereafter, he began his career as a Deputy Public Defender where he represented indigent clients charged with misdemeanor and felony offenses. Mr. Badillo sharpened his legal skills and gained extensive experience in the trial courts and established an excellent record as a trial advocate. Mr. Badillo then joined an AV rated criminal defense firm in San Francisco as a senior trial attorney where he worked under the tutelage of nationally renowned criminal defense attorney, James Farragher Campbell.

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In 2005, Mr. Badillo relocated to San Diego and opened the Badillo Law Firm, continuing to focus exclusively on criminal defense. 

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As a government attorney and now in private practice, Mr. Badillo has defended virtually every type of case and client, from those facing a charge of special circumstances murder to those faced with driving on a suspended license or DUI. Mr. Badillo has also handled cases involving rape and unlawful sexual intercourse, child molestation, assault, theft and embezzlement of all varieties, robbery, burglary, domestic violence, hit and run involving serious bodily injury and property damage

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Mr. Badillo’s passion and dedication to ensuring the best defense possible to all clients, including those whom are indigent, continues today.  He currently serves as an attorney for the San Diego County Office of Assigned Counsel.  As a Class 7 classification, Mr. Badillo is the youngest private attorney qualified and approved by the San Diego County Superior Court to handle capital murder cases.

Mr. Badillo is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of California, the United States District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of California. His past and present professional affiliations include: the State Bar of California, the Bar Association of San Diego, Criminal Defense Bar Association of San Diegomember of the invitation-only San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyers Club, National College for DUI Defense, Justicia Criminal Defense Attorneys, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, California Public Defenders’ Association, La Raza Lawyers’ Association, Office of Assigned Counsel and the American Civil Liberties Union.  Mr. Badillo has also been awarded membership to the invitation-only San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyers Club and as Barrister of the College of Master Advocates and Barristers—“Which status is conferred consistent with the Common Law Tradition of Honoring Skill and Experience as a Trial Lawyer as well as a demonstrated commitment to promoting Excellence in the Art of Trial Advocacy.”