Stacey A. Kartchner is currently Senior Counsel at Klinedinst where she has worked since March of 2023. She specializes in criminal defense and administrative matters. Prior to working at Klinedinst, Ms. Kartchner owned her own criminal defense law firm for approximately 14 years.  Before opening her own practice, Ms. Kartchner garnered valuable experience working at the law firm of Grimes & Warwick for over 10 years. As an associate attorney over several decades, she has honed her skills representing hundreds of clients against criminal charges in both state and federal courts from the initial court appearance through sentencing and on appeal. 

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Ms. Kartchner also has vast experience representing individuals in administrative hearings in front of the Department of Motor Vehicles in professional 

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Ms. Kartchner also gained useful knowledge and trial skills during her internship at the nationally renowned Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc.  

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In addition to running her practice, Ms. Kartchner spends much of her time serving the community.  She is the immediate past president of San Diego County Bar Association and served on its Board of Directors for over four years. A member of the San Diego County Bar Foundation Board of Directors, moreover, she serves as past president of both the Criminal Defense Lawyer's Club and the Criminal Defense Bar Association. 

 

Ms. Kartchner also currently serves as the Chairperson of the Material Witness Advisory Panel for the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, and as the Chairperson for the Criminal Justice Memorial Committee. Further, she has been on the Accessity Board of Directors since 2011 and served as its Secretary from 2019-2022. Ms. Kartchner stays very active in the community through her volunteer efforts, membership in numerous associations (see below), and writing/editing articles in various publications.  

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Since her freshman year of college, Ms. Kartchner has had a passion for writing and editing articles. She has had over a dozen articles published since she started her law career.  She was the Editor of the Criminal Defense Bar Association/Criminal Defense Lawyer's Club Newsletter for 14 years.  

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Ms. Kartchner attended California Western School of Law where she served on Law Review as the Senior Editor.  After her first year, she was placed on the Dean's List and was awarded a scholarship.  Moreover, she received an Academic Achievement Award.  Further, she was given the Pro Bono Honors Award for her efforts on behalf of indigent criminal defendants.

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EDUCATION

·       California Western School of Law, San Diego, CA
Juris Doctor, 2002

·       University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
Bachelor of Science (Political Science), 1998

 

BAR ADMISSIONS

·       California State Bar

·       United States Supreme Court

·       Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

·       United States District Court, Southern District of California

·       United States District Court, Central District of California

 

ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS

·      San Diego County Bar Association

       (Immediate Past President) 

       (President 2024)

       (President-Elect 2023)

       (Secretary 2022)

       (Bench-Bar Committee Member)

       (Board of Directors 2021-2025)

       (Elections Committee Member)

       (Leadership Outreach Committee Chair)     

·      Material Witness Defense Advisory Panel 

       (Chairperson) 

·      San Diego Criminal Justice Memorial Committee ​ 

       (Chairperson) ​

·      Criminal Defense Lawyers Club

       (Board of Directors Member)

       (Past President 2020, Member)

·      Criminal Defense Bar Association

       (Past President 2014, Member)

·      Federal Bar Association, San Diego Chapter 

       (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Member)​

·      Lawyers Club of San Diego

       (Member)

·      Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association

       (Member)

·      La Raza Lawyers Association

       (Member)

·      Tom Homann LGBT Law Association

       (Member)​

       Accessity