Attorney Profiles

Jeffrey T. Hammerschmidt is a Fresno County criminal defense attorney who represents men and women in criminal matters in state and federal courts. He has been a licensed attorney for the past 21 years and has practiced in criminal law for 16 years. For more than 12 years Mr. Hammerschmidt worked as a Deputy District Attorney for the County of Fresno, where he served as President of the Fresno County Prosecutors Association. He also served as senior legal advisor to the Fresno Police Department, an agency of more than 800 officers, where he advised the Chief of Police's executive staff on various legal issues.

Mr. Hammerschmidt is certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization as a Criminal Law Specialist. He obtained this distinction in 1998. Less than 400 lawyers statewide are certified as Criminal Law Specialists.

Mr. Hammerschmidt served as a contributing author to California Criminal Law Procedure and Practice, commonly referred to as the Bible of Criminal Law. He also served as an instructor of Evidence and Criminal Law at San Joaquin College of Law.

Mr. Hammerschmidt has a strong reputation in the Fresno community for his knowledge of the law. He has also been featured in prominent media publications and interviewed by Court TV for his role in prosecuting a high profile triple homicide case, People v. Dana Ewell. Mr. Hammerschmidt has appeared on American Justice, Court TV's Forensic Files, and Court TV's Dominick Dunne's Power, Privilege, Justice and most recently he was featured on The Discovery Channel's, Solved.

Martindale Hubbell recognizes Mr. Hammerschmidt as an AV rated attorney, the highest rating available to any individual attorney.  Mr. Hammerschmidt is also listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Attorneys, an honor limited to the top five percent of attorneys nationwide.  He has received a rating of 10.0 out of a possible 10.0 from AVVO, a respected attorney rating firm.

Mr. Hammerschmidt served for the past 19 years as a volunteer for VIP Mentors, formerly known as Volunteers in Parole, an organization which provides attorney mentors to parolees looking to make positive changes in their lives.  Mr. Hammerschmidt is a past-Chair of VIP Mentors.  He is also a graduate of Leadership Fresno, and served as class Vice-President.