California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (CACJ)

California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (CACJ) was formed in 1973. The organization was assembled by George Porter who called on criminal defense lawyers in California to mobilize and plead for the needs of the criminal defense group. CACJ has since served the criminal defense bar and is the country's largest statewide organization of criminal defense lawyers. Today, it has grown to over 2,000 members.

CACJ works to defend the rights of the accused, provides quality continuing legal education (CLEs) courses, preserves due process, and protects the independence of the criminal defense lawyer. The organization also provides unceasing support to criminal defense lawyers in California through giving them a platform to network and grow their tools for a better criminal defense in clients' cases. 

Since strengthening its presence in the California State Capitol, CACJ provides the criminal defense bar with a more unified voice on legislative matters. CACJ employs a lobbyist to provide continuous and aggressive representation before the California legislature on issues of importance to criminal defense lawyers in California interested in improving the rights of the accused and fairness in our criminal justice system.