J. Tony Serra

Graduate Stanford University, Philosophy
Graduate Boalt Hall, Law Review
Has practiced criminal defense for over forty years,
specializing in jury trials.

Tony Serra has spent his life defending society's outcasts. He began his practice in the 1960's, an era he calls the golden age of law. Perceiving himself in the role of a warrior, Mr. Serra has continued to battle for more freedom for more people through law. His role in the Chol Soo Lee case was depicted in the film True Believer. Tony Serra has always known how to express the poetry of the law, while fighting in the ditches and dark alleys of legal practice. He has gained national prominence for his closing argument techniques.

Over the past 30 years Mr. Serra has spoken to hundreds of professional organizations on various legal issues in multiple forums in 14 different states

Awards:
Runner-up, “Best Lawyer in America”,
American Lawyer Magazine, 1982
Drug Policy Foundation
Achievement in the Field of Law, 1992
Boalt Hall “Alumnus of the Year”, approx. 1993
Charles Garry Award, 1994
ACLU Benjamin Dreyfus Civil Liberties Award, 1997
Lifetime Achievement Award, 2003
McFetridge-American Inn of Court
Co-Awardee, “2003 Trial Lawyer of the Year”
Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
Certificate of Honor, December 1, 2005
Board of Supervisors
City & County of San Francisco
Lawyer of the Year, 2005
Criminal Trial Lawyers Association
of Northern California
2005 Gideon Equal Justice Award
San Francisco Public Defender’s Office
and the SF Private Defense Bar
2008 NORML “Lester Grinspoon Award” for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Marijuana Law Reform.

Noteworthy cases:
Huey Newton - Black Panthers
White Panthers
Russell Little - SLA
NWLF
Hell's Angels
Chol Soo Lee
Hooty Croy
Ellie Nesler
Bear Lincoln
Kathleen Soliah - SLA
Judi Bari & Darryl Cherney v. FBI
Michael Bortin - SLA
Rick Tabish (Las Vegas "Binion" case)