Ben Cates

Mr. Cates has been practicing law since 2008 and has built a reputation as a dedicated, results-driven criminal defense attorney. He takes special pride in defending Veterans and Active Duty Military personnel, while steadfastly protecting the constitutional rights of every client he represents.

Known for his personal attention and commitment, Mr. Cates approaches each case with the understanding that every client deserves individualized representation. He works tirelessly to secure the best possible outcome as efficiently as possible, often going above and beyond the traditional role of a criminal defense attorney. His dedication has earned the admiration of colleagues, the gratitude of clients, and the respect of courts throughout California.

As an experienced criminal defense lawyer, Mr. Cates has argued thousands of cases and is highly knowledgeable in both the California court system and DMV administrative hearing process. He has also argued appellate matters before the California Courts of Appeal and County Appellate Divisions. His appellate advocacy has helped create favorable legal developments for Californians, including changes to the methods used by the San Bernardino Crime Lab in blood sample analysis.

Mr. Cates earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Redlands and his Juris Doctorate from California Southern Law School. He has been recognized for his accomplishments as a Top 100 Trial Attorney and Top 40 Under 40 Trial Attorney by the National Trial Lawyers. He has also received accolades from the National League of Renowned Attorneys, American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys, and was named a Top 100 DUI Attorney by the National Advocacy for DUI Defense.

Committed to serving his community, Mr. Cates has dedicated time to legal and civic organizations including the Riverside County Bar Association, San Bernardino County Bar Association, State Bar of California, Legal Aid of San Bernardino, and the California DUI Lawyers