Lee Blumen is a practicing attorney specializing in Mental Health and Treatment Law. With more than 30 years of litigation and appellate experience, he has successfully defended life imprisonment cases, other serious felonies, and obtained treatment programs and conservatorships for clients with severe mental illness. He has written and argued more than 200 motions and briefs, including motions on death penalty cases, emergency writs to the Courts of Appeal, and briefs to the California Supreme Court.
Lee was an Orange County public defender for more than 25 years, and he has zealously represented his clients throughout Orange County superior courts, including Juvenile Court, Drug and DUI Courts, Probate and Mental Health Courts, and North, Central, Harbor, and West Justice Centers. He is an instructor with the University of California, Irvine, Extension and lectures at numerous MCLE-approved seminars and public events. He is licensed to practice law in California and Tennessee, and is a certified mediator.
Managing Attorney
Santa Ana, CA
Engaged in the practice of criminal law, writs and appeals, mental health law, conservatorships, and probate proceedings, while employed at virtually all levels and assignments at the Orange County Public Defender’s Office.
Managing Attorney
Seven years’ experience as a managing attorney. For five of those years, supervised the Mental Health Advocacy Unit on behalf of clients involuntarily detained in psychiatric facilities, and mentally disordered criminal defendants. Thereafter, served as Head of Court at the Harbor Justice Center, supervising a staff of 20, writing performance evaluations, approving expert witness expenditures, and working collaboratively with judges, prosecutors, and probation officers.
Appellate Advocate
More than seven years’ experience in writs and appeals practice, having written and argued more than 200 motions and briefs, including motions on death penalty cases, appellate briefs, emergency writs to the Courts of Appeal, and briefs to the California Supreme Court.
Litigator
More than 30 years of litigation experience, including complex litigation involving clients facing life sentences and clients with severe mental illnesses. Also, litigated hundreds of court hearings: from court trials, to involuntary conservatorships, to preliminary hearings.
Have lectured at MCLE-approved seminars and public events for the American Psychological Association, National Alliance on Mental Illness, the University of California, and more:
instructor
Doctor of Jurisprudence
Dean’s List
Tennessee Law Review, Assistant Editor
Dual Degree Program: Bachelor of Arts & Bachelor of Journalism
Dean’s List
Honor’s College Award
27201 Puerta Real
Suite 300
Mission Viejo, CA 92691