As the Firm’s senior trial counsel, Mr. Gagen has tried many highly-publicized and intricate criminal matters, as well as complex civil litigation and personal injury cases.

Prior to joining the Firm in 1972, Mr. Gagen served as an Army Officer, instructing at the Adjutant General School in Indianapolis, between 1968 and 1970. He was awarded an Army Commendation Medal in 1970. Immediately following his service, he served as a Deputy District Attorney for Contra Costa County.

Mr. Gagen was admitted to the California State Bar in 1969. He has been certified by the California Board of Legal Specialization as a Specialist in Criminal Law since 1975 and by the California Trial Lawyer’s Association as an Experienced Trial Lawyer. He has served on many judicial settlement and arbitration panels. He was admitted to the American College of Trial Lawyers in 1988. In 2006 he was selected to included in the publication “The Best Lawyers in America”.

Mr. Gagen is a Professor of Law at John F. Kennedy University in Walnut Creek, specializing in Evidence, Trial Practice, and Criminal Law. He is also Vice Chair of the Board of Regents for John F. Kennedy University.

Mr. Gagen resides in Danville with his wife. They have three adult sons.

Contra Costa County Bar Association, President, 1982
Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association, President, 1979
Professor of Law, John F. Kennedy University Law School, 1984 - present
Legal Analyst, KPIX Television, San Francisco, 1994, 1995
California State Bar Disciplinary Investigation Panel
Contra Costa County Judicial Evaluation and Client Relations Committees
American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow, August 1988 - present

San Ramon Valley Community Center, Board Member, 1973 - 1976
Danville Fire Protection District, Board Member, 1976 - 1979
Eugene O’Neil Foundation, Board Member, 1984 - 1990
Oakland Symphony Orchestra Association, Secretary, Board of Trustees, 1984 – 1986
Diablo Bank, Board Member, 1984 - 1987
Board of Trustees of De La Salle High School, President, 1992 - 1995
Board of Regents, John F. Kennedy University, 1990 - 1994; 1998 – present (Vice Chair)
Board of Directors, University of California, Boalt Hall Alumni Association, 2000 - present

Co-author, California Criminal Discovery, Bancroft-Whitney,1995; 2nd Ed., 1999; 3rd Ed., 2003
Co-author, California Criminal Law Practice & Procedure, Chapter 9: Deferred Entry of Judgment, Diversion, and Preplea Probation Report, Continuing Education of the Bar, 1986; 5th Ed., 2000

Bachelor of Arts, Georgetown University, Washington D.C., 1965
Juris Doctor, Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley, 1968