Criminal cases arising in Richmond are prosecuted by the Contra Costa County District Attorney and heard in Contra Costa County Superior Court. Which courthouse hears your case depends on where the arrest happened, and that choice affects the calendar you are on, the prosecutors who appear, and how pretrial motions are handled. You can look up the courthouses we appear in on our courts directory.
The Window Before Charges Are Filed
Most people contact us after an arrest but before anything has been filed, and that is the most useful moment to bring in a defence lawyer. In the gap between arrest and arraignment the prosecutor has not yet committed to a charging decision. Evidence, witness accounts and context provided during that window can change what gets filed — and sometimes whether anything is filed at all.
Once a case has been charged, the work changes. The questions become whether the stop was lawful, whether the search held up, whether the identification is reliable, and whether the evidence actually supports the charge as written. Being arraigned already does not mean the outcome is set — we regularly take over cases mid-stream, including from previous counsel.
Charges We Defend in Richmond
If the charge you are facing is not listed here, we still handle it. This page links to the areas we write about most often for Richmond; our practice covers the full range of misdemeanour and felony matters.
If Your Case Has Already Closed
A conviction from years ago can still be costing you a job, a professional licence or a tenancy. California offers several routes to clean that up, including expungement, felony reduction, certificates of rehabilitation and motions to vacate. If your Richmond case is long finished and still following you, it is worth a conversation.
Talk to a Richmond Criminal Defence Lawyer
The Nieves Law Firm defends working professionals across the Bay Area. Our attorneys and staff are bilingual, and consultations are confidential. Tell us what happened and we will tell you honestly what the case looks like from here.
