Morris Law is a criminal defense law firm serving Emeryville. Call (510) 824-8831 for a free case review. Our Oakland office at 2744 E 11th St is about 5 miles northwest of our Oakland office at 2744 E 11th St, via I-580 or Highway 13, and our attorneys appear at the Alameda County courthouses in Downtown Oakland — Wiley W. Manuel and René C. Davidson — every week. That is where every Emeryville criminal case is heard.

Emeryville case landscape — what our practice sees most

Emeryville criminal defense — Morris Law

Emeryville’s concentration of tech and biotech employers (Pixar, Peet’s Coffee, Novartis, Grifols) generates unusually high volume of white-collar and identity-theft cases relative to population. DUI enforcement is concentrated on the Bay Bridge approach (I-80) and I-580. Federal cases involving Emeryville businesses often go to the Northern District of California courthouses in Oakland or San Francisco.

Key streets and landmarks: San Pablo Avenue, Powell Street, Christie Avenue, 40th Street, Shellmound Street, Hollis Street. Notable places include Bay Street, the Public Market, Pixar, and the Bay Bridge approach. The nearest BART is MacArthur BART (Oakland side) is closest at 40th and Telegraph — about a half-mile walk into Emeryville. Freeway access: I-80, I-580, and I-880 all border Emeryville; the Bay Bridge is one exit away.

Criminal charges we defend for Emeryville residents

Emeryville arrests can involve state charges, federal charges, or both. The list below covers the categories we handle most often. Each link opens a page with the specific statutes, penalties, defenses, and how Seth Morris has approached similar cases at trial.

Which courthouse handles Emeryville criminal cases?

All Emeryville criminal cases are heard at the Alameda County Superior Court in Downtown Oakland. Misdemeanors are handled at the Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse; felony matters proceed at the René C. Davidson Courthouse. Both are within one mile of each other in Downtown Oakland. Seth Morris spent years in both courthouses as a Deputy Public Defender, and our attorneys appear there every week.

Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse (misdemeanors)

Address: 661 Washington St, Oakland, CA 94607
What routes here: misdemeanor arraignments, traffic, small-claims, and preliminary matters
Nearest BART: 12th Street / Oakland City Center (two blocks north)

René C. Davidson Courthouse (felonies)

Address: 1225 Fallon St, Oakland, CA 94612
What routes here: felony arraignments, preliminary hearings, jury trials, and sentencing
Nearest BART: Lake Merritt BART (three blocks south)

Juvenile cases (defendant under 18)

Address: 2500 Fairmont Dr, San Leandro, CA 94578
What routes here: WIC 602 petitions and juvenile-court matters

What to expect at your first hearing: the arraignment is a short hearing — usually 5 to 15 minutes — where the judge reads the charges, sets bail or grants own-recognizance release, and asks how you plead. This is the moment to have counsel present. Never plead guilty at arraignment without talking to a lawyer first.

What to do if you are arrested in Emeryville

Stay calm and speak as little as possible. In Emeryville, most arrests are made by the Emeryville Police Department (EPD). Take these steps immediately:

  1. Ask for a lawyer, then stop talking. Under Miranda v. Arizona, anything you say can and will be used against you at trial. Invoke your right to counsel out loud and clearly.
  2. Do not consent to a search. Officers must have a warrant, probable cause, or your consent to search you, your car, or your home. Refuse politely — refusal is not an admission of guilt.
  3. Call Morris Law. Our line is (510) 824-8831, answered 24 hours a day. If you are in custody, ask family to call on your behalf.
  4. Preserve evidence. Photograph any injuries, torn clothing, damaged doors, or property damage. Note the time of the arrest, the officers’ names and badge numbers, and any witnesses.
  5. Stay off social media. Prosecutors, judges setting bail, and probation officers all read social media. Anything posted becomes evidence.
  6. Write down your account. While the events are fresh, record what happened in your own words. Share only with your attorney.

The first 48 hours matter. Bail is set at the arraignment, and if you are in custody, a felony preliminary hearing must occur within 10 court days. Delaying the call to counsel narrows your options.

Why Emeryville residents call Morris Law

Morris Law was founded by Seth Morris, a former Alameda County Deputy Public Defender who spent years defending clients in the exact courthouses where Emeryville cases go. Here is what we bring to every case:

  • Seth Morris was a Deputy Public Defender in Alameda County. He defended clients at the Wiley W. Manuel and René C. Davidson courthouses regularly. He knows the assigned judges, the deputy district attorneys, and the informal practices that shape outcomes.
  • More than 25 jury trials, including cases with life-in-prison exposure. When a case has to be tried, we know how to try it — from jury selection through closing argument.
  • Federal recognition on police body cameras and 4th Amendment litigation. President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing invited Seth Morris to help develop the national Body Camera Toolkit for police, district attorneys, and public defenders. He has guest-lectured on the 4th Amendment at UC Berkeley for three years running.
  • Published in the Washington Post, Vanity Fair, and Salon. Interviewed on MSNBC’s The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell, NBC Bay Area, KQED, and KALW on criminal justice and police reform.
  • A real office nearby. Our Oakland location at 2744 E 11th St is about 5 miles northwest of our Oakland office at 2744 E 11th St, via I-580 or Highway 13. That means faster in-person meetings, and rapid response when someone in Emeryville is arrested.
  • 24/7 phone access. Arrests don’t follow business hours; neither do we. Someone answers the phone at (510) 824-8831 around the clock.
  • Clear, plain-language updates. Criminal cases are stressful enough. You will know exactly what is happening at each stage, what the next hearing means, and what our next move is — without jargon.

Seth Morris is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, and the Alameda County Bar Association.

Misdemeanor vs. felony process for Emeryville cases

The table below shows how each type of case moves through the Alameda County system. Both types of cases originate in Emeryville and route to the courthouses in Downtown Oakland.

Stage Misdemeanor Felony
Filing courthouse Wiley W. Manuel (661 Washington St) René C. Davidson (1225 Fallon St)
Arraignment deadline Within 48 hours (in custody) Within 48 hours (in custody)
Preliminary hearing Not applicable Required within 10 court days (in custody)
Maximum incarceration Up to 1 year county jail More than 1 year — often state prison or PC 1170(h) county jail
Jury trial right Yes (12 jurors) Yes (12 jurors)
Diversion options PC 1001.95 judicial diversion (most misdemeanors) PC 1001.36 mental health, PC 1000 drug possession
Post-conviction relief Expungement under Penal Code 1203.4 Wobbler reduction (PC 17(b)) then expungement under PC 1203.4

Emeryville criminal defense FAQ

Do you handle criminal cases in Emeryville?

Yes. Morris Law defends Emeryville residents in every category of state and federal criminal charge. Our office at 2744 E 11th St, Oakland is about 5 miles northwest of our Oakland office at 2744 E 11th St, via I-580 or Highway 13. We answer the phone 24 hours a day at (510) 824-8831.

Where do Emeryville criminal cases go to court?

Emeryville cases are heard at the Alameda County Superior Court in Downtown Oakland. Misdemeanors go to the Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse at 661 Washington Street; felonies go to the René C. Davidson Courthouse at 1225 Fallon Street. Our attorneys appear at both regularly.

Who has police jurisdiction in Emeryville?

The Emeryville Police Department (EPD) is the primary law enforcement agency within Emeryville city limits. The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office handles unincorporated county areas and runs Santa Rita Jail. The California Highway Patrol handles freeway enforcement in the region.

How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost in Alameda County?

Fees depend on the charge, the complexity of the case, and how far it needs to be litigated. Most misdemeanor defenses at Morris Law start with a flat fee that covers pre-filing through resolution. Felony fees are quoted after a free case review. Payment plans are available. Call (510) 824-8831 for a specific quote.

How quickly can I meet with a lawyer after an arrest?

Same day, in most cases. If you or a family member has been booked at Glenn E. Dyer Detention Facility in Downtown Oakland or Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, we can arrange a visit or a call within hours. Call (510) 824-8831 any time of day.

What happens at an arraignment?

At arraignment, the judge reads the charges, sets bail (or grants own-recognizance release), and asks how you plead. The hearing usually takes between 5 and 15 minutes. It is critical to have counsel present. Do not plead guilty at arraignment without consulting an attorney first — that plea will bind you.

Can my case be dismissed?

Yes, when the facts and law support dismissal. We file motions to suppress evidence under Penal Code 1538.5 (illegally obtained evidence), motions to dismiss under Penal Code 995 (insufficient evidence at preliminary hearing), and pre-filing letters that sometimes stop charges from being filed at all. Every case is evaluated for a dismissal path first.

Will I have to serve jail time?

Not automatically. Many cases resolve with probation, diversion (PC 1001.95 or PC 1001.36), a fine, community service, or dismissal. Even felony wobblers can often be reduced to misdemeanors under Penal Code 17(b). Jail is a possibility, not a certainty — and reducing that risk is the core of what a defense lawyer does.

What if I was arrested in Emeryville but live in another city?

The location of the arrest — not your home address — determines which court hears the case. If you were arrested in Emeryville, the case will proceed at the Alameda County courthouses in Downtown Oakland. We handle the case identically whether you live in Emeryville, Oakland, Berkeley, or anywhere in the Bay Area.

Can I clear a conviction from my record?

Yes, in most cases. Under Penal Code 1203.4, most misdemeanor and felony probation cases can be dismissed after successful completion of probation. Felony wobblers can first be reduced under PC 17(b) before dismissal. Recent California legislation also expanded automatic sealing for certain records — we check each case for every available option.

Get a free Emeryville criminal defense case review

Talk to a criminal defense lawyer today. Call (510) 824-8831 or fill out our online form. Free case review. 24-hour phone. Oakland office at 2744 E 11th St.

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