Russell Sheridan Babcock

Russell S. Babcock
Law Offices Of Russell S. Babcock
1901 First Ave., Suite 138
San Diego, California 92101
Office: 619.531.0887
FAX: 619.531.0918

Education and Honors

University of California, Davis, School of Law

Juris Doctor, May 1981
Class Rank Upper 15%

University of California, Davis

B.A. Degree with Highest Honors, June 1978
Major: Rhetoric
Departmental Honors, Rhetoric
Class Rank Upper 1%
Phi Beta Kappa

Professional Memberships

State Bar Memberships

• Admitted to California Bar (1981)
• Certified Specialist, Criminal Law, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization (1995)
• Admitted to Alaska Bar (1982)
• Admitted to Colorado Bar (1987)

Court Memberships and Activities

• Moot Court Judge, Finals Competition, University of San Diego School of Law (1999-2008).
• Admitted to Practice Central District of California Federal District Court (1999)
• Barrister, William Enright Inn Of Court (1998-2000)
• Member, Central California Appellate Project , Panel Attorney (1999)
• Admitted to Practice United States Supreme Court (1994)
• Admitted to Practice Western District of Michigan Federal Court (1994)
• Admitted to Practice Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals (1994)
• Admitted to Practice Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (1992)
• Member, California Appellate Project, Los Angeles Panel Attorney (1993)
• Member, CJA Panel (federal indigent appointments) Southern District of California (1991-2009)
• Member Appellate Defenders, Inc., San Diego Panel Attorney (1991)

Professional Experience

Attorney, Law Offices of Russell S. Babcock

San Diego, California – February 1990 to Present
Practice emphasizes: State and Federal criminal defense including the defense of death penalty appeals and writs, complex fraud cases, and white collar crime; preparation of appellate briefs; trial advocacy; and personal injury litigation.

Attorney, Rosner & Law

San Diego, California – October 1988 to February 1990
Duties included: criminal defense of federal, state and city charges and general civil practice emphasizing complex business law and general litigation.

Supervising Assistant Attorney General

Anchorage, Alaska – September 1987 to February 1988
Duties included: supervising attorney for welfare fraud civil enforcement and criminal prosecution for entire State of Alaska; supervision of attorneys, investigators and support staff assigned to section; chief counsel to Department of Public Assistance and various State agencies; prosecution and enforcement of complex medicaid provider fraud and welfare benefit cases.

Assistant District Attorney

Anchorage, Alaska – September 1982 to August 1987
Duties included: felony trial attorney, chief intake attorney for misdemeanor division, misdemeanor supervisor, supervisor of federally funded drunk driver prosecution program, prosecution in Alaska bush communities, extensive trial experience (over seventy jury trials). Among my duties, I worked closely with the court system in the implementation of the joint project between the court and the District Attorney’s office in establishing a “fast-track” system for drunk driving cases.

Deputy District Attorney

Sacramento, California – January 1982 to May 1982
Duties included: representation of the State of California in criminal jury trials.

Complex Cases

People v. Covarubbias  (SCD 197098) (San Diego Superior Court, 2007)

I achieved an acquittal in  a first degree murder case.  The client was facing a mandatory life sentence.  The cient was cleared of all charges and freed.

United States v. Chagovic (01CR1652-M) (United States District Court, Southern District of California, 2001-2004)

I achieved an acquittal in the largest drug case in maritime history (ten tons of cocaine) after two jury trials and visiting the countries of Ecuador, Panama, Colombia, and Russia as part of the investigation in this highly complex case involving multiple Russian defendants.

People v. Vargas (S101247) ( California 2006 to present)

I was appointed by the California Supreme Court as counsel for appellant in his appeal from a judgment of death.

People v. Abilez (S066377) (California 2001 to present)

I was appointed by the California Supreme Court as counsel for appellant in his appeal from a judgment of death.

People v. Pena (D031165) (San Diego, California)

I assisted an inmate on appeal in having his thirty three year sentence overturned by the appellate court and negotiating a new disposition where he would only have to spend less than two remaining years in custody.

People v. DePriest (S040527) (California 1998 to present)

I was appointed by the California Supreme Court as counsel for appellant in his appeal from a judgment of death.

People v. Beck (NA031210) (Long Beach, California, 1996)

Defendant was charged with attempted murder which carried a life with parole allegation. I negotiated a disposition resulting in a three year sentence and conviction for a non-serious felony.

People v. Kasim (D021800) (San Diego, California, 1994 – 1995)

Appellant sentenced to life imprisonment for aggravated mayhem conviction stemming from a complex conspiracy allegation involving the Kurdish community and Iraqi politics. I obtained an order to show cause on an evidentiary hearing and reversal of appellant’s conviction. The Deputy District Attorney who prosecuted the case was discharged for job-related misconduct.

People v. Ochoa (S009522) (California, 1991 -1998)

I am counsel for death row inmate on direct appeal and habeas corpus proceedings. The record on appeal consists of more than seven thousand pages.

Wyoming v. Venable (CR62-12-85) (Wyoming, 1991)

I worked as a Special Prosecutor for Teton County in a case involving numerous counts of fraud by an attorney. This case consisted of approximately 50,000 pages of documents.

Community Activities and Awards

The Top Attorneys in San Diego (2008, 2009)

I am honored as one of the top 5% of attorneys in the United States by “Super Lawyers”.

Kudos, 2007

San Diego, California (2007)

I received a “kudos” by the San Diego County Criminal Defense Bar Association for obtaining an acquittal in a first degree murder case.

Special Recognition, 2004

San Diego, California (2004)
I received special recognition from the San Diego County Criminal Defense Bar Association for achieving an acquittal in the largest seizure case of drugs on a boat in United States history, People v. Chagovic. (01CR-1652-JM) in United States District Court, Southern District of California.

Appellate Attorney of the Year, 1998

San Diego, California (1998)
I received the “Appellate Attorney of the Year” awarded by the San Diego County Criminal Defense Bar Association.

Language Proficiency

I am proficient in the Spanish language.