Robert Q. Warshawsky

Robert Q. Warshawsky has been practicing criminal defense since 1986, and throughout his career has handled the most serious and difficult of cases. He has represented clients in multiple successful death penalty cases, as well as successful first and second degree murder prosecutions. His acquittals include “three strikes”and “career criminal” matters, as well as robbery, sexual assault, drunk driving causing injury, vehicular manslaughter and other serious cases. Mr. Warshawsky has a simple philosophy: every person who is charged with a crime is presumed innocent and deserves the most dedicated attorney to work on his or her behalf.
 
When politically sensitive or high profile matters have been prosecuted, Mr. Warshawsky has been there to eagerly defend the client. He also handles all misdemeanor and traffic cases, understanding that these can have serious and long lasting consequences on a person’s ability to drive and to work. Additionally, Mr. Warshawsky’s experience includes representing numerous clients in family law contempt of court actions and conservatorship cases.
Mr. Warshawsky is a former senior deputy public defender in both Siskiyou and Solano Counties, and currently is a named partner in the firm Petty and Warshawsky, Attorneys at Law. The law firm is located  in Vacaville, California, which is in the northern portion of Solano County.

Born in southern California, he traveled overseas and lived in the middle east before attending school and studying industrial arts. Mr. Warshawsky moved to northern California and was a member of the Boilermakers and Iron Ship Builder’s Union before attending John F. Kennedy University School of Law.  During law school he was an editor of the school’s law record, and published the article “The Scope of the Newspersons Privilege in California” in the John F. Kennedy University Law Record, Spring Edition, 1985.

Due to his academic achievements Mr. Warshawsky received the “Corpus Jurus Secundum Award” for the Law Student Providing the Most Significant Contribution Towards Overall Legal Scholarship, in June of 1986.  Additionally, he attended the University of San Diego, Institute on International and Comparative Law, at Magdalen College, Oxford, England.

During his time as a senior deputy public defender in Solano County, Mr. Warshawsky handled the most serious of criminal cases. He was recognized as an unrelenting and extremely well prepared advocate for his clients. During one trial a local newspaper noted that Mr. Warshawsky had “relied on expert testimony from a psychiatrist who explained to jurors the fallibility of eyewitness observations” in the successful defense of his client. In a “three strikes” case the newspaper noted that the case was seen as a “slam dunk” for the prosecution. However, in a “stunning verdict” his client was acquitted on all charges.

While in the Siskiyou County Public Defender’s Office, Mr. Warshawsky was the Senior Trial Deputy and was assigned cases ranging from first degree murder, attempted murder on a train, and life term sexual assault cases. During this time he was able to negotiate two different kidnapping for rape cases from mandatory life sentences in state prison to simple misdemeanor charges without further jail time. He was also successful in bringing a contempt action against Napa State Hospital and its director for failing to abide by a court order and accept one of his mental health clients.

Mr. Warshawsky also has substantial experience in handling matters in the California Court of Appeal, including successfully arguing the case of Neilsen v. Superior Court (1997) 55 Cal. App.4th 1150, which dealt with disclosure of a defendant’s psychiatric records to a co-defendant in a capital murder case.

He is an active member of the State Bar of California, as well as a member of the Solano County Bar Association and its Criminal Law Section, the Barrister’s Association. Mr. Warshawsky is a former President and Treasurer of the Siskiyou County Bar Association, as well as a former President and Vice President of the Criminal Law Section of the Contra Costa County Bar Association. Mr. Warshawsky is also a recognized lecturer and has spoken on topics including ethics in the legal profession, criminal discovery, search and seizure, and driving under the influence of alcohol.

Contact a Solano County criminal defense attorney for effective and zealous legal representation when charged with a crime.