Since joining the front lines of private criminal defense practice in 1993, Amanda Bevins has earned a reputation as a zealous advocate who is fiercely loyal to her clients, their case and their future.  Whether it’s a serious felony or simple misdemeanor, she is always mindful that the person across the desk is facing a stressful, life-altering event.  She practices what she calls “the holistic approach” to criminal defense.  Beyond fighting for the best outcome in every case, she does what it takes to ensure her clients are armed with the resources they need to make this brush with the law their last.

Equal parts advocate and advisor, Ms. Bevins works closely with every client to mitigate, and in some cases eliminate, the case against them.  This often entails getting to the root of the conduct at issue --- a substance abuse problem, mental health issue or special education need gone unmet.  To this end, she works closely with a network of respected and experienced experts, medical professionals and investigators.  Together, they find creative and constructive ways to help clients gain control of their lives and improve the outcome of their case.

By getting into a case early and aggressively, Ms. Bevins positions herself to accurately and effectively educate police and prosecutors about the facts leading up to a client’s arrest.  She has the insight to know when to take a collaborative rather than combative approach.  A skilled negotiator, she has had excellent results in getting charges reduced and cases dropped.  As Ms. Bevins says, “Sometimes the most satisfying victory is not in the courtroom. It’s keeping the case from getting there in the first place.”

When the case calls for it, Ms. Bevins is a fierce litigator with a knack for zeroing in on the prosecution’s weaknesses and winning over juries.  She has a particular affinity for juvenile cases, which require a special combination of compassion, advocacy and knowledge of the rehabilitative services available to put a young person back on the right track.  No matter how minor or serious the offense, she will fight for every client until justice is done, including taking the case to the courts of appeal when necessary.  Among her more recent success stories, she won an acquittal for a Navy Seal accused of Assault with a Deadly Weapon.  She convinced the district attorney to reduce a murder charge to an 11-year manslaughter sentence for a man facing life in prison for the killing of his wife.  On a Petition for Habeas Corpus, she successfully helped a prisoner obtain years-worth of custody credits that had been promised to him by the trial court, but not authorized by law.

Ms. Bevins remains committed to the idea that everyone deserves the best defense, regardless of ability to pay.  She accepts numerous appointments to represent indigent criminal defendants in Contra Costa County.  These cases allow her to use her experience on behalf of criminal defendants from all walks of life and socio-economic backgrounds. Under this program, she has obtained excellent results for people accused of gang violence, sex crimes and drug-related offenses.

Professional Activities

Ms. Bevins is a director of the Contra Costa County Bar Association Board of Directors.  In addition, she is a member of the California State Bar Association, the Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the California Public Defenders Association, Women Defenders and California Deuce Defenders.

Background

Ms. Bevins attended New York University and San Francisco State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with departmental honors in Philosophy. She obtained her juris doctor from Golden Gate University in 1993 and joined the California Bar the same year.  She is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Northern District, as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth District.

She lives in Napa with her husband and son.