Steven M. Cron

Steve Cron has been certified as a Criminal Law Specialist by the State Board of Legal Specialization since 1984. There are only about 300 lawyers in the entire state who can call themselves Certified Criminal Law Specialists. He’s also been recognized by his peers every year since the inception in Los Angeles Magazine’s annual poll of Super Lawyers in Criminal Defense. Steve’s an Adjunct Professor at the Pepperdine University School of Law, and he’s a regular legal commentator for CNN, Fox News, ABC, NBC, CBS, and many other national and local magazines and newspapers. They ask Steve for his opinion, because he’s respected and knowledgeable, and people in the news want to know Steve’s opinions about current legal cases.

Steve Cron was born in 1948, and raised in the San Fernando Valley. He attended North Hollywood High School, UCLA, and Hastings College of the Law, graduating in 1973. He passed the bar on the first try, and began working as a Deputy Public Defender for Los Angeles County. During his six years in the Public Defender’s Office, he handled juvenile cases, misdemeanors and felonies. It was a great place to start, with a high volume of cases ranging from minor misdemeanors to murders, and everything in between.

After six years, in 1980, Steve decided to start his own practice. He loved the practice of law, but wanted the opportunity to be his own boss and to be able to build long-term relationships with his clients.

For 30 years, Steve has been in private practice in Santa Monica, representing those accused of criminal acts. He alone represents each of his clients, and he maintains personal relationships with the clients while representing them, and often, for many years after the attorney/client relationship has ended. When clients hire Steve, they know they’ll get his undivided attention, and that their case won’t be handed off to another lawyer with less experience.

Steve loves being a criminal defense lawyer. Everyday he gets to help people who are often in trouble and experiencing a terrible time in their lives. Being able to help people dig out of those situations is really rewarding. Although being arrested or charged with a crime is a horrible experience, Steve always tries to find a way to make this a positive experience. An arrest is often the result of recurring negative behavior, and sometimes such an experience can cause someone to reevaluate their lives and change negative behavior. For example, someone arrested for a DUI might come to realize that they’ve been drinking too much and take steps to curtail their drinking, or a domestic violence arrest might cause someone to begin anger management classes which help to save a relationship. Many of Steve’s clients keep in touch with him long after their cases are over, often telling him that they hated the experience of being arrested, but it caused them to change some habitually negative behavior which they had overlooked prior to their arrest.

Steve is often the lawyer who judges and prosecutors call when their friends or loved ones are in trouble. He’s credible, respected, and has over 36 years of experience representing people in criminal cases in Los Angeles County.

When a client is innocent, no one will fight harder. He has investigators and experts available to help prove our side of the case. He has an exemplary record as a trial lawyer, at one point winning nine consecutive federal jury trials.

When clients want to settle a case, Steve has the knowledge and experience to know what the issues are and how best to address them. His personal relationship with the clients lets him know what issues are most important to that particular client. His long-standing relationships with prosecutors and judges, give him the opportunity to present his client’s case in the best possible light. His credibility and reputation mean that his words will be taken seriously.

Steve has defended many clients in high profile cases, and is an Adjunct Law Professor at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.

Steve was named one of Los Angeles Magazine's "Super Lawyers" in criminal defense in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Steve Cron is a certified specialist in criminal law. He has been practicing criminal law for 35 years and has represented many celebrities including Paula Poundstone, Scott Weiland of The Stone Temple Pilots, and others in high profile criminal cases. He has been able to resolve most of these cases out of the camera's eye.

Steve won a dismissal for Terry Howard, Ray Charles longtime music producer, who was accused of stealing Mr. Charles' master tapes. Steve also successfully defended recording artist James Blunt who was accused of assaulting a member of the paparazzi. 

Steve is a recognized authority in the criminal defense field, and has served as a legal expert on television, radio, and print media.  He has commented on a wide variety of cases, including the Lindsay Lohan case, the Roman Polanski case, the Paris Hilton case, the Mel Gibson case, the Duke Lacrosse case, the Robert Blake case, Winona Ryder case, Elizabeth Smart and the Samantha Runnion case, the Scott Peterson case, the Kobe Bryant case, the Michael Jackson Case, to name a few.   Steve published an article entitled " Busted," about representing celebrities in high profile criminal prosecutions. The article was published in the American Bar Association's Entertainment and Sports Lawyer.

Steve has been featured on: The Today Show, CNN, CNN Europe, Good Morning America, Fox News Channel, Bill O'Reilly, Court TV, Celebrity Justice, MSNBC, Inside Edition, Associated Press, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Reuters and People, to name a few.

Areas of Practice:

Criminal Defense

Juvenile Law

Felonies

Sexual Assault

Misdemeanors

Driving While Intoxicated

Drug Crimes

Homicide

Assault and Battery

White Collar Crime

Domestic Violence

Weapons Charges

Personal Injury

Certification/Specialties:

Certified Specialist, Criminal Law, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization

Bar Admissions:

California, 1974

Education:

University of California, Hastings College of the Law, San Francisco, California, 1973, J.D.

University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 1970, B.A.

Classes/Seminars Taught:

Adjunct Professor, Pepperdine University School of Law

Legal Commentator, Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, Local Television and Radio Programs, National and Local Newspapers and Magazines

Honors and Awards:

Rated AV

Professional Associations and Memberships:

Santa Monica Bar Association, 1992 - 1993, President

Santa Monica Bar Association, 1987 - 1994, Member, Board of Trustees

Los Angeles County Bar Association, Member

State Bar of California, 1993 - 1996

Member, Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct

National Conference of Bar Presidents, 1993 - 2000, Member

California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, Member

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member

Past Employment Positions:

Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office, Deputy Public Defender, 1974 - 1980

Languages:

Spanish

Fraternities/Sororities:

Zeta Beta Tau