Jim Hammer is a third-generation San Francisco native. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley and then attended Hastings College of Law where he received his J.D. degree in 1986. After graduating from Hastings, Mr. Hammer joined the Alameda County District Attorney's Office as an Assistant DA. In 1988, Mr. Hammer left the practice of law for a time and entered the Jesuit order. While a Jesuit, Mr. Hammer was an Assistant Visiting Professor at Santa Clara University Law School from 1992-95. While at the law school, Mr. Hammer co-founded the East San Jose Community Law Center, primarily serving undocumented and other indigent clients in wage and employment matters. Mr. Hammer was recognized by La Raza for his work with the Law Center and in 1994, Mr. Hammer was named Professor of the Year at Santa Clara University School of Law. In 1995, Mr. Hammer left the Jesuits and joined the Santa Clara County District Attorney's office where he primarily prosecuted gang cases. In 1998, he was recruited to join the San Francisco District Attorney's Office. There, he served as Head of the Homicide Unit and personally prosecuted a variety of complex murder cases, involving domestic violence homicide, multiple murder, and child murder and oversaw the filing of the first San Francisco cold-hit DNA murders cases, some dating back to the late 1970's. Among other cases, Mr. Hammer, was the lead prosecutor in the case of People v. Noel and Knoller, involving the dog mauling death of Diane Whipple. In 2002, after a 2 month long trial in Los Angeles, Mr. Hammer convicted both defendants and secured the first ever murder conviction in the nation for a dog mauling death. In 2005, Mr. Hammer was recruited to provide television trial coverage of the Scott Peterson and Michael Jackson trials. After those trials, Mr. Hammer returned to active practice and in 2006 associated of counsel with the Gonzalez & Leigh firm. Mr. Hammer's current practice is focused on civil rights and other Plaintiffs' litigation. Mr. Hammer continues to provide regular television commentary on breaking legal stories. About Gonzalez & Leigh | Practice Areas | News Excerpts | Our Attorneys | Contact Us Gonzalez & Leigh LLP Two Shaw Alley, San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 512-2000