Jacqueline Goodman of Jaqueline Goodman

Published: June 12, 2013, 3:52 a.m.

b'Attorney Jacqueline Goodman has an overwhelming passion for civil liberties as they relate to criminal law. She firmly believes in the dignity of every human being, and this is inextricably linked to the quality of service she provides her clients. Not only has Ms. Goodman dedicated her career to the field of criminal defense, but she has also dedicated her life to it. Being accused of a crime can put a person in one of the darkest times of their life, and Ms. Goodman exists to meet these people in their distress and provide the best possible defense on their behalf.

One of the best examples of this is Ms. Goodman\'s representation of the Muslim Student Union, the "Irvine 11." These students were arrested and charged all for exercising their 1st Amendment rights in protesting against the Israeli ambassador. For representing these students, Ms. Goodman faced international condemnation and scorn, but persisted anyway despite the opposition. She even went so far as to challenge the Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas in a debate. She never takes "no" for an answer when it comes to her clients, but constantly strives to achieve justice on their behalf.

Ms. Goodman also spearheaded a case involving a local Major League Baseball player who was killed by a drunk driver. As one could imagine, the compassion rested solely with the family of the deceased MLB player. Although Ms. Goodman faced scorn for representing the drunk driver, she fought for his rights anyway so that justice would prevail over revenge.

Not only does Jacqueline contribute heavily to the legal community, she also commits herself to the community of Orange County as well. Shesingle-handedly founded the North Orange County Bar Association (NOCBA) and also served as the bar\'s first president. Since the bar was founded, it has grown to hundreds of members in size. Ms. Goodman is also the author of a criminal justice curriculum. This is meant to help advocates understand the criminal justice system particularly for those with developmental disabilities and other special needs. She did this in her spare time. She frequently speaks at law schools across the country and has also been featured in many prestigious news outlets such as when she was a legal commentator for The Los Angeles Times.

Attorney Jacqueline Goodman has a reputation for standing up for the unpopular and the widely condemned. This passion drives her to go against popular opinion to uphold justice where justice is due. In their time of need, Ms. Goodman provides the highest quality of criminal defense for those accused of crimes in the Orange County area. Clients also appreciate her sense of humor and her overwhelming sense of compassion. She has gained the respect of many whom she has helped and fought against alike and hopes to continue to continue to do so for years to come.'