Christopher Gardner - San Bernardino, CA

Attorney Christopher Gardner joined the Scafiddi Law team in March 2021. Chris's 24-year legal career has been exclusively in San Bernardino County, the past 15 years in Senior Management at the San Bernardino County Public Defender's Office. Most notably, Chris has served in the appointed position of The Public Defender, where he led nearly 300 employees at the county's largest criminal defense firm.

As Public Defender, Chris worked tirelessly to improve the criminal justice system for adults and juveniles charged with crimes. He chaired the county's Law and Justice Committee, where he collaborated with the Sheriff, District Attorney, Chief Probation Officer, and Presiding Judge on significant criminal justice reforms. The Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court appointed Chris to serve on the California Judicial Council, and Chris also served as a member of the Chief Defender Council at the National Legal Aid and Defender Center. He is a Board member Emeritus at the Pacific Juvenile Defender Center.

Because of his leadership, the San Bernardino County Public Defender's Office received numerous awards, including from the California Public Defenders' Association, the California State Association of Counties, and the National Association of Counties. Chris received several personal recognitions including the Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino "Access to Justice Award," San Bernardino County Children's Network's Legal Advocate of the Year," and the San Bernardino County Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission's "Service to Youth Award." Because of his expertise, Chris presented on public defender programs, criminal justice, and juvenile delinquency issues in the county, state, and across the country.

Prior to joining the Public Defender's Office in 2006, Mr. Gardner was a partner in the San Bernardino-based law firm Friedman, Gebbie and Gardner, where he practiced juvenile delinquency, dependency, and criminal law. Mr. Gardner graduated from the University of Redlands in 1992 and McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, in 1996. He has taught at La Verne College of Law and attended the San Bernardino County Executive Management Leadership Academy and the Inland Empire Economic Partnership Leadership Academy.