Award Winning Riverside Criminal Defense Attorney

John L. Michels

Personal Attention And Proven Results
John Michels
  1. Home
  2. Attorney Profile for Riverside Defense Lawyer John Michels

Attorney Profile

  • Top 100 Trial Lawyers
  • Past President Leo A. Deegan Inn of Court
  • Recipient of Terry Bridges Outstanding Attorney of the Year
  • NACDL National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • CACJ California Attorneys for Criminal Justice
  • Riverside and San Bernardino County Bar Associations
John L. Michels is an experienced criminal defense attorney who has zealously represented clients in a broad range of criminal matters throughout the Inland Empire for twenty-five years.  Attorney John L. Michels completed his undergraduate education at the University of San Diego where he graduated with honors and completed a prestigious internship with the State of California Department of Justice working in the Criminal Division of the Attorney General’s office.  He received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Notre Dame Law School, graduating with honors in 1998 and winning the award for the top mock trial attorney in his graduating class.

 

As a former Deputy District Attorney with the Riverside County District Attorney’s office, Attorney John L. Michels handled a wide variety of criminal prosecutions including misdemeanors, general felonies, fraud, embezzlement, and major narcotics cases.  He was also assigned to a special juvenile law prosecution unit.  Attorney Michels left the District Attorney’s office in 2001 and opened his own criminal defense firm, The Law Offices of John L. Michels.

 

Having the

right lawyer

makes all

the difference

Attorney John L. Michels is one of the Inland Empire’s most respected and accomplished attorneys with a proven record of success.  He has defended clients accused of all criminal matters, ranging from misdemeanors to murder.  He enjoys a reputation as a skilled and formidable advocate who is respected and well liked by his clients, colleagues, adversaries, and judges.  Attorney John L. Michels is a member of the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, Riverside and San Bernardino County Bar Associations, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.  He is a highly active member of our local legal community having served as a long-time executive board member and past president of the Leo A. Deegan Inn of Court, and as a Judge Pro Tempore for the Riverside County Superior Court.  Attorney John L. Michels has been named one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association and was the recipient of the prestigious Terry Bridges Outstanding Attorney of the Year award in 2017.

Education

Notre Dame Law School – Juris Doctorate with Honors
University of San Diego – Bachelor of Arts with Honors

Bar Admissions

California State Bar Association
United States District Court – Central District of California

Judicial Experience

Former Judge Pro Tempore – Riverside County Superior Court

Call Us For A Consultation (951) 276-8900

Client Reviews

I cannot thank John Michaels enough for what he did for me. Facing felony domestic violence charges was one of the most stressful and terrifying experiences of my life. From the first consultation, John was clear, honest, and fiercely determined to fight for me. He took the time to explain the legal process in detail, answered every question without judgment, and kept me informed every step of the way.

What impressed me most was his strategic approach and his ability to dissect the facts and build a solid defense. He was relentless in his efforts, and thanks to his hard work, expertise, and dedication, my charges were ultimately dismissed.

If you’re facing serious charges and need someone who will truly go to bat for you, John Michaels is that attorney. He gave me my life back.
John Michels totally came through for us! We were dealing with a situation that wasn’t going to be easy with the District Attorney—they were being extremely stubborn. But in the end, Jon fought hard and was able to get the judge to grant a dismissal after delivering a much-needed dose of reality. I can't fully express how much both Daniel in the office and attorney John Michels went above and beyond—not only in fighting for us, but in making me feel at ease throughout the entire process. I wouldn’t consider going to anyone else in all of Riverside County. My family and I can’t thank you enough!
Best lawyer ever.!
On behalf of my family, we express profound gratitude to John L Michels exceptional legal service. My 61 yrs old brother, holding 2 strikes was arrested on a warrant for first degree burglary. He was facing a minimal of 6 years to life in prison due to the 3-strike law. My family knew he needed legal representation & from an attorney with exceptional capabilities and efficiency. An attorney with outstanding knowledge to negotiate a fair outcome. I searched for one with a history of successful resolutions. After researching many attorney's reviews & bios, Attorney John L, Michels stood out to me. I was compelled to hire Mr. Michels. However, I felt I would never be able to afford an attorney of his status. I reached out on a limp and talked to the paralegal Daniel who helped in negotiating a fair flat rate. Once the retainer for Mr. Michels was signed, I knew my brother was in good hands.
Attorney Michels comes with exceptional knowledge; he has been a criminal attorney for many years, he has worked as a D.A, and a judge as well. In addition to being well accomplished in his industry, he has established good relationships with the D.A., opposing counsel, and the judges. This truly helps & is beneficial to gaining favorable outcomes for his clients.
Mr. Michels was hired by us on a Friday, and he immediately put his expertise to work. By The next Thursday Mr. Michel had walked into the courtroom ready to negotiate for his client. His efficiency was unremarkable. In one day, Attorney Michels had my brothers' charges reduced immensely: to 3 months in jail, and 2 years' probation. My brother was facing at a minimal 6 years in prison. We are beyond surprised of this outcome. I am still in disbelief. My brother was given a second chance in life as a free man. We will forever be grateful for Mr. Michels service in helping my brother out in one of his most difficult times in life.
If you are deciding to hire Attorney John Michels, you're diffidently going to receive the best outcome. Mr. Michels history of positive testimonials are true statements of his optimal performances.
I believe Attorney Michels assist in the deliverance of GRACE.
John and his team are the BEST. John is very caring, supportive and a no nonsense attorney. Even his referrals are professional and business oriented. Because of him and the advise he gave me, I got the best outcome anybody could want. If you're in need of a real attorney, John Michels is it.
I had a Pety theft case and John was able to get my case completely dismissed and all charges dropped. Great communication throughout process and highly recommend

JL
My experience with Mr. Michels was nothing short of incredible. I am profoundly grateful for him and his staff. He was very professional and real with me, he laid out all my options and never sugar coated anything or gave false hope. His experience and knowledge shows in and out of the court room and helped me every step of the way. When you see him work its obvious that he is a cut above the rest. He was able to get my felony charge brought down to a misdemeanor which allowed me to get into the military divergent program. I am happy to say I graduated that program today which resulted in my case being sealed and dismissed. As long as he still practices law I will always recommend him to anyone who needs one of the best criminal defense attorney's around.
I hired John Michels to assist a young woman charged with a felony, initially represented by a public defender in Riverside. The case had been open for over a year, and with the felony charge, she could not get a job with a background check. While we appreciate the role of public defenders, this was a serious felony case with significant consequences, and we needed more focused representation.

John was knowledgeable, professional, responsive, and compassionate from the start. He listened, clearly explained our options, and worked hard—without overpromising—to get the best possible outcome, which he did.

His strong relationships within the Riverside court system and his deep understanding of how it works truly set him apart. With John’s involvement, we felt supported and informed and ultimately reached a much better outcome than we expected.

Because of his skill and dedication, this young woman has a second chance—and we are incredibly grateful. I highly recommend John Michels to anyone needing a strong and effective criminal defense attorney in Riverside.
John L. Michels is a great Lawyer and I highly recommend his services, I got accused of 2 charges and John L. Michels got both of my charges dropped, I am truly thankful and greatly appreciate what John and his team has done for me, I'm a freeman again with a clean record... God bless John L. Michels and his team 🙏🫡💯
I highly recommend this law office! Attorney John L. Michels helped my son, who was facing a felony charge and potentially two years in jail. John took the time to understand my son’s situation, and thanks to his hard work and the great relationships he has built over the years, we were able to secure a misdemeanor charge, just one year of informal probation, and a work release program- with NO jail time. Attorney Michels worked directly with the DA’s office outside of court to negotiate a favorable deal, which not only made a significant impact, but also shorten the case timeline. They also helped us set up a payment plan that fit our budget, which was a huge relief. The office was professional, supportive, and compassionate throughout the entire process. I can’t thank them enough for their assistance!

Contact an Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer in Riverside and San Bernardino County

If you have been arrested or are being accused of committing a crime, contact Attorney John L. Michels for a free consultation.  Se Habla Español.

Attorney John L. Michels and his investigative team of former law enforcement officers will fight aggressively to win your case.

Contact Criminal Defense Attorney John L. Michels today by calling (951) 276-8900 to speak directly to one of the region’s most highly respected and accomplished Criminal Defense Attorneys.  You may also contact us online.  All consultations are free and confidential.  We have offices conveniently located in Riverside and Murrieta and represent clients in all Riverside County and San Bernardino County Courts.

Contact Us

Riverside Office

Call 24/7 | Se Habla Español!

7095 Indiana Ave. | Suite 200 | Riverside, CA 92506

Phone: (951) 276-8900 | Fax: (951) 602-8900

Murrieta Office

Call 24/7 | Se Habla Español!

29970 Technology Drive | Suite 103 | Murrieta, CA 92563

Phone: (951) 276-8900| Fax: (951) 602-8900

Riverside Criminal Defense Attorney John L. Michels defends clients in all criminal defense matters throughout Riverside and San Bernardino County, including: Banning, Beaumont, Corona, Hemet, Homeland, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Norco, Nuevo, Perris, Rancho Cucamonga, Romoland, San Bernardino, Sun City, Temecula, Wildomar, Winchester.