38+ years of experience | 150+ trials | 100+ media mentions
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Facing a criminal charge can change your life, but legal representation can minimize or completely alleviate the damage that it has already done.

Kerry L. Armstrong is certified by the State Bar of California’s Board of Legal Specialization for criminal law, making him one of the few criminal defense attorneys with a criminal law legal specialization certificate in San Diego County.

Kerry was named 2026 Trial Lawyer of the Year by San Diego County Criminal Defense Bar Association. He also won that same award in 2013. He has also won the elite distinction of Best Lawyers® and Best Law Firms® for 2024. He was named a Top 50 San Diego Super Lawyers for 2025 and 2026, and was the only criminal defense attorney in the entire county who made the top 50 in both of those years.  He has also been awarded a San Diego Super Lawyer distinction for every year from 2014-2026. 

Kerry has tried over 110 cases to jury trial, and we are ready to offer you the emotional support and advocacy that you deserve.

Kerry L. Armstrong

Rated by Super Lawyers

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Board-certified by the State Bar of CA legal specialist in criminal law

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Our Criminal Defense Team

  • I did my fair share of research trying to find an attorney to handle a very serious criminal matter of mine. Of all the offices I visited, this firm was by far the most informative of them all. From the beginning, they were on top of communication and very proactive with my case the entire way. They live up to their reputation of being some of the top trial attorneys in San Diego. Attorney Kerry Armstrong handled my case. He is very dedicated to his profession and serving his clients. In the time that I spent with him, I can tell that he really cared about getting me the best outcome possible.

    - Charlie M.
  • Mr. Armstrong is a one of a kind exceptional criminal defense attorney He is always patient, positive, honest and upfront with you on his opinion of your case. Always committed and diligent in his work ethics. He is highly respected in and out of the courtroom, went above and beyond for my husband on his case and has a great sense of humor that puts you at ease. Would recommend him to anyone in need of a top criminal defense attorney.

    - Melissa S.
  • Vanessa is very knowledgeable in what she does. Her professionalism and passion made this extremely tough time for me remarkably smooth. She was always able to give me all the information I needed and made very clear of the possible outcomes. Communication with her was open at all times and if she was busy, she would make sure to get back to you as soon as she could. I had 4 misdemeanors charged against me with 60 days custody over my head. With a couple of months of negotiating, I get a call with great news. 60-day custody was dropped and 3 of 4 misdemeanors were dropped. The outcome was truly more than I can ask for.

    - Jonathon
  • I was facing LIFE in prison and the prospect of never seeing my family again for a crime I did not commit. Dan Greene took my case and fought for me every step of the way. Against all odds, a corrupt system, a ruthless prosecution and a hanging judge, my lawyer defended me and proved to the world that I had been falsely accused. I owe this man my life. Dan wasn't my first lawyer, but he is definitely my last. I would recommend Dan Greene to everyone. If you are in trouble, you MUST call Dan!

    - Steven P.

Recent Blog Posts

How to Get a Job with a Domestic Violence Charge in California

| Read Time: 4 minutes

Quick answer: Yes, you can get a job with a domestic violence charge in California. A conviction can make some jobs harder to get and rule out others, especially any job that requires carrying a gun. But California law limits what most employers can ask and when: employers with five or more employees cannot ask about convictions until after...

Parole vs Probation in California: What Is the Difference?

| Read Time: 7 minutes

What is the difference between parole and probation? While both allow you to serve part or all of your sentence outside of jail or prison, they apply at different stages of the criminal justice process and carry different rules, supervision levels, and consequences for violations. Quick answer: Probation is a sentence a judge orders instead of, or alongside, county...

Ignoring a Jury Summons: What Happens If You Don’t Go To Jury Duty In California?

| Read Time: 4 minutes

What happens if you don’t go to jury duty in California? Ignoring jury duty summonses may result in contempt of court, punishable by a fine up to $1,000 or a jail term up to five days. The criminal defense lawyers at The Law Offices of Kerry L. Armstrong, APLC, have extensive experience representing clients facing a wide range of criminal...