Courtney Reed, Esq.
Courtney Reed is an appellate attorney who has been in criminal law for 20 years. She is a former public defender who now specializes in appellate practice, handling post-conviction matters such as writs and appeals. Her firm participates in non-profit appellate projects across California, accepting court-appointed appeals for indigent criminal defendants and reflecting her commitment to ensuring access to justice for those who might otherwise lack representation.
Her legal career began as a Deputy Public Defender in Los Angeles County, and she later served as an Assistant Federal Defender representing indigent clients accused of federal crimes. She also worked as a public defender in Solano County and Sacramento County. Beyond the courtroom, she taught Criminal Law and Constitutional Law at a law-themed charter high school, sharing her expertise with students.
Ms. Reed earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School, where she participated in the Wisconsin Innocence Project and worked on the habeas case of Jarrett Adams, who later became an attorney and authored Redeeming Justice. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of California, Davis.
As a recognized member of multiple appellate panels across California, Reed serves on the Central California Appellate Program, the California Appellate Project, the First District Appellate Project, Appellate Defenders, Inc., and the Sixth District Appellate Project. Additionally, she accepts cases through local panels such as the Conflict Criminal Defenders of Sacramento and the Court Appointed Attorneys Program of Alameda County, providing clients with additional avenues for court-appointed representation.
This combination of appellate experience, trial-level practice, and dedication to mentorship reflects her deep commitment to achieving justice and pursuing meaningful results for her clients.
University of California,
Berkeley
2003-2006
University of Wisconsin
Law School
Juris Doctor (J.D.)
2014-2016
University of California,
Davis
Master's Degree in Education (M.Ed.)
1999-2003
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English
