Felony, Drug Crimes, Sex Crimes, and Homicide
barry.zimmerman@cohendefense.com
The first thing that strikes you about Barry Zimmerman is his demeanor. He’s calm, thoughtful, a good listener, and a deep thinker. He does not judge, and he has incredible compassion for people. These qualities have served him well through an illustrious career in criminal defense.
After graduating from law school in 1986, Barry clerked for a federal judge in the Eastern District of California and worked for the Sacramento County Superior Court. He found his passion for criminal defense and opened his practice in 1987. Barry has been defending people charged with crimes in Placer County since 1990. He knows the area and the system. He’s handled thousands of cases, tried over 65 of them to verdict, and argued before the California Supreme Court.
Barry is certified by the California State Bar as a Specialist in Criminal Law and has been recognized as a Northern California Super Lawyer. As a senior attorney with the Cohen Defense Group, he handles our most serious cases, including sex crimes and murder.
Barry has a real passion for the law because he sees it as a great equalizer: the rare situation where the individual is on equal footing with the government. “You have the same procedural rights as everyone else. I think it’s the last and best part of democracy. You’ve got your right to trial by jury, due process rights, and constitutional rights. You can really take on and defend against the most powerful entities in the world and prevail.” Barry is a champion of the individual, making sure his clients get a brilliant defense and the support they need to move forward after the case is closed.
According to colleague Alison Cohen, “No one works harder than Barry. He fights the government every step of the way to get the best outcome for his clients. He just closed a case where he filed a motion on his client’s behalf every single day that trial was pending. That kind of dedication to the work is inspiring. We all learn from Barry every day.”
Barry has been an Auburn resident since 1990. He raised his family here and cares deeply about the community. He served multiple years on the board of the Placer County Bar Association and runs an annual golf tournament to raise funds for Legal Services of Northern California, ensuring legal protection for low-income people. When he’s not in the courtroom, you may find Barry practicing classical guitar or enjoying the great outdoors of the Eastern Sierra.
Barry was born in Brooklyn, New York. He was admitted to the California Bar in 1987. Education: University of California, Santa Barbara (B.A. 1983); Golden Gate University School of Law, San Francisco (J.D. 1986). Barry has been recognized as a Northern California Super Lawyer. He is a long-standing member of California Attorneys for Criminal Justice and of the Placer County Bar Association.
