Edward J. Southcott

Overview

Mr. Southcott worked as a San Diego County deputy sheriff for over 21 years and was assigned to Detentions, Patrol, Investigations, and Court Services. He served as a jail and patrol training officer, a school resource deputy, and an investigator on the San Diego County Human Trafficking Taskforce.

In law school, Mr. Southcott earned placement on the Distinguished Honor Roll and a position as law review editor, graduating Magna Cum Laude.  He was an active member of the Criminal Law Fellowship and earned CALI awards for receiving the highest grades in Criminal Procedure, Introduction to Federal Criminal Practice, Legal Writing, Scholarly Legal Writing, Trial Practice, Constitutional Law, and Introduction to Criminal Trial Practice.

Mr. Southcott provided criminal defense, education discipline defense, and restraining order defense services as a sole practitioner, also representing peace officers facing discipline, termination, and criminal allegations.

Mr. Southcott has several years of experience representing the members of local, state, and federal law enforcement associations throughout Southern California who were facing administrative and/or criminal allegations related to officer involved shootings, in-custody deaths, and any on or off duty incidents. He regularly argued cases before civil service commissions, personnel boards, the Merit Systems Protection Board, and superior courts in several counties. Additionally, he defended law enforcement officers who were named as the respondent in domestic violence restraining orders, civil harassment orders, and gun violence restraining orders.  Mr. Southcott was qualified as a PORAC panel attorney.

Mr. Southcott also advised and represented school districts throughout the State of California in special education, student services, disability accommodation, Constitutional law, and personnel matters.

Edward enjoys traveling, classic cars, and anything related to Harley Davidson motorcycles.

General

Practice Areas

• • – Appellate Practice
  • – Civil Rights
  • – Labor and Employment
  • – Police Liability Defense
  • – Public Entity Defense

Education

Professional

Bar Affiliations

• – State Bar of California
• – U.S. District Court, Southern District of California

Notable

Awards

• – Magna Cum Laude (Undergraduate and Law School)
• – Honor Graduate – 41^st San Diego Regional Law Enforcement Academy