Felony, DUI and Drug Crimes
zachary.merliss@cohendefense.com

We call him “The Hangman” because he’s hung so many juries. Rapidly becoming one of the Cohen Defense Group’s most experienced trial attorneys, Zachary Merliss is a fierce litigator. He has been recognized by SuperLawyers Magazine as a Northern California Rising Star in the field of DUI defense, chosen by the National Trial Lawyers as one of the “Top 40 Under 40” in California for criminal defense, and selected as a Sacramento Magazine “Top Lawyer”.

Zach’s litigation talents are particularly well-suited to fighting DUI and drug charges. An active member of the National College for DUI Defense, Zach hones his skills by undergoing the same training programs that qualify police officers for DUI investigation: he successfully completed the 3-day “Standardized Field Sobriety Test Academy” and the 2-day “Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement Training” designed for experienced police officers. He also attended a 6-day “Serious Science” seminar where he personally prepared blood alcohol samples in a lab. Going the extra mile to get this kind of training gives Zach the upper hand when it comes to cross examining prosecution witnesses and dismantling the DA’s case against his client. Zach seeks out special training because, as he says, “Everyone deserves protection under the constitution, but you need a skilled advocate to invoke those protections. California has been passing more favorable laws for DUI and drug cases and I’m happy to be able to use those laws for my clients’ benefit.”

Passionate about protecting his clients’ 4^th Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, Zach has put in the work to become intimately familiar with 4^th Amendment law so that he can effectively evaluate every search, seizure, and warrant to determine if it was unreasonable. Zach knows the legal protections that extend from 4^th Amendment cases, and he uses those protections to defend his clients. According to founding partner David Cohen, “Zach is a bulldog. He is making the prosecutors work overtime by challenging every potential act of police misconduct. That kind of zeal reaps great results for our clients.”

Zach received his undergraduate degree from UCLA and his law degree from USC. Before joining the Cohen Defense team, he was a legal fellow with the Federal Public Defender in Las Vegas and an advocate for workers and the disabled at Service Employees International Union and Disability Rights California. When he isn’t practicing law, Zach plays bass in a local rock band and enjoys hiking, tennis, and improv.

Born in Chico and raised in South Lake Tahoe, Zach became a member of the state bar in 2016. Education: UCLA, Los Angeles, CA (B.A. Political Science, Minor in Film, Television & Digital Media 2012); University of Southern California School of Law, Los Angeles, CA (J.D., 2016). Member: Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, Placer County Bar Association, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, California DUI Lawyers, National College for DUI Defense.

Zachary Merliss

Rated by Super Lawyers

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Zachary’s Results

No Conviction

At trial, a jury was unable to find my client guilty of DUI. The judge declared a mistrial and the DA did not obtain a conviction.
Case Dismissed

The judge dismissed my case after a hung jury, finding it unlikely that a retrial would result in a guilty verdict.
Immigration Status Preserved

My client was charged with a felony theft which threatened his immigration status. I litigated the case at a preliminary hearing and the judge reduced the charge to a misdemeanor. Because I was able to avoid the felony, my client’s immigration status was preserved.
Case Dismissed

I challenged geofence tracking evidence at a preliminary hearing. The court found the evidence was insufficient to support a charge and dismissed my client’s case.
DMV Suspension Set Aside

My client’s driver’s license was suspended based on an allegation of driving under the influence. I challenged the suspension at a DMV hearing and won, because the time of driving could not be established. My client’s driving privilege was reinstated.

More Results

Zachary Merliss

Zachary’s Results

No Conviction

Case Dismissed

Immigration Status Preserved

Case Dismissed

DMV Suspension Set Aside

Zachary’s Recent Posts

Zachary P. Merliss’s Reviews