CURRICULUM VITAE JEFFREY E. THOMA, J.D. ... - NACDL

CURRICULUM VITAE
JEFFREY E. THOMA, J.D., ATTORNEY AT LAW
EDUCATION
1976 University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, B.A. Political Science
1981 University of San Diego School of Law, Juris Doctor
1987 Washington, D.C. Participant in National Water Rights Symposium
1991 University of California, Riverside
Participant in the course "The Application of DNA Technology to Forensics"
1991-2007 Participant in the Annual "Capital Case Seminar", a symposium attended by
most attorneys in the state of California who are involved in capital litigation
1993 Participant in the 2d Annual "Death Penalty College" at Santa Clara University
2000 Participant in the “DNA and the Law” Conference at Harvard University
2001 Participant in the 25 th Annual “Medicolegal Investigation of Death” Symposium
at Wayne State University (MI) Medical School
2001 Participant in National Drug Court Institute Defense Training, Williamsburg, VA;
and Training of Trainers Program, Washington, D.C.
2003 Participant in the International Chiefs of Police Forum on DNA Testing,
Washington, D.C.
2009 Participant in USDOJ National Forum on Exonerative DNA, Palm Harbor, FL
POSITIONS HELD
2004-Present
Solano County Public Defender, Fairfield, CA
Director of the Department of the Public Defender for Solano County.
Responsibilities include supervision of 54 attorney office, 86 staff overall,
in both Fairfield and Vallejo; and including a Conflict Defender office.
Includes planning, implementation of budget and training all personnel
1997-2004 Mendocino County Public Defender, Ukiah, CA
Director of the Department of the Public Defender for Mendocino County.
Responsibilities included supervision of 13 attorney main Public Defender
office, and all staff, including planning and implementation of budget and
all personnel, as well as personally handling of caseload and assigning all
felony cases to myself and other attorneys. During tenure, coordinated
twenty “in-house” full day attorney-training seminars for attorneys in
office and others, and established Alternate Defender office
2002-Present
1999-Present
Faculty Member, National Drug Court Institute
Member and President (2008-Present), Board of Directors, National
Community Sentencing Association
2002-2008 Member, Board of Governors (2002-2007), California Attorneys for
Criminal Justice, Chair & Co-Chair of CACJ Seminars Committee

2006-2007 Member, Advisory Committee, State of California Little Hoover
Commission, on Sentencing & Prison Reform, Sacramento, CA
1999-2006 Member, Advisory Board, Northern California Innocence Project, Santa
Clara School of Law, Santa Clara, CA
1997-2004 Member & President, Mendocino County Law Library Board of Trustees
1997-2004 Member, Board of Directors, Mendo-Lake Alternative Services
1996-2001 Commissioner, National Commission on the Future of DNA Evidence,
United States Department of Justice
1996-2002 Member, Board of Directors, and Officer (Second Vice-President)
of the California Public Defenders Association
1996-2001 Contributing Editor, California Defender Magazine
1995-2001 Advisor, The Genome Project, National Public Radio Project Involving
Forensic DNA Technology
1992-1999 Editor, LAW NOTES monthly magazine, disseminated statewide; and
for the California Public Defenders Association
1992-2002 Member, California Public Defenders Association Hotline Panel, on the
subject of DNA Evidence, and Scientific Evidence. Panels are statewide
for use by attorneys needing assistance in an area of law
1990-1997 Deputy Public Defender, San Diego County, CA
Trial attorney on capital and non-capital murder cases, and Writs
and Appeals, including many cases before District Court of Appeal
and arguing a special circumstance-murder case successfully before
the California Supreme Court, as well as being the leading authority
in the office on DNA Technology, my responsibilities have included
lecturing on this issue, advising individual attorneys on it, as well
as performing the actual "Kelly-Frye" hearings during trial for other
attorneys. Also compiled and maintain a DNA library as a
resource for attorneys; and lecture on various subjects
1989-1990 Sole Practitioner, Santa Cruz, CA
1989 Supervising Attorney, Alternate Public Defender, Santa Cruz, CA
1988-1989 Deputy Public Defender, Orange County, CA

1988 Deputy District Attorney, Humboldt County, CA
1987-1988 Associate Attorney, Harland & Gromala, Eureka, CA
1986-1987 Private Law Practice, Thoma and Associates, Santa Ana, CA
1983-1986 Deputy Public Defender, Orange County, CA
1982-1983 Deputy Public Defender, Clark County (Las Vegas), NV
1981-1982 Judicial Law Clerk, for District Court Judge, the Honorable James
Brennan, Las Vegas, NV
1979-1981 Intern, United States Attorney, San Diego, CA
PRESENTATIONS MADE AND RELATED ACTIVITIES:
June 12, 2009 Presentation at the 15 th Annual National Drug Court Conference on
“Criminal Law Issues,” Anaheim, CA
May 18-21, 2009
April 3&4, 2009
Mar 23-27, 2009
October 6, 2008
August 4&5, 2008
June 12 & 13, 2008
May 30, 2008
May 19-23, 2008
Faculty Member and Speaker on “Themes for Opening Statement” and
“Being Your Own Expert”, Annual Hawaii Public Defender Training,
Honolulu, HI
Coordinator of NACDL & CACJ’s 2 nd Annual Forensic Science Seminar,
Las Vegas, NV
Facilitator, National Drug Court Conference on Emerging Drug Courts,
Nashville, TN
Presentation at Centerforce Annual Conference, on the NORA Initiative
and Alternatives to Incarceration for Drug Addiction, Santa Rosa, CA
Faculty Instructor, Bryan R. Shechmeister Death Penalty College,
Santa Clara University School of Law, Santa Clara, CA
Speaker on “Getting Enough Time & Resources” & “Investigative Issues”
NACDL Capital Defense Mitigation Training, San Bernardino, CA
Presentation at the 14 th Annual National Drug Court Conference on
“Working with Schools,” St. Louis, MO
Faculty Member and Speaker on Cross-Examination, Annual Hawaii
Public Defender Training, Honolulu, HI

April 4-5, 2008
Coordinator of NACDL & CACJ’s 1 st Annual Forensic Science Seminar,
Las Vegas, NV
Mar 31-Apr 4, 2008 Facilitator, National Drug Court Conference on Emerging Drug Courts,
New Orleans, LA
March 10-14, 2008
October 22, 2007
Facilitator, National Drug Court Conference on Emerging Drug Courts,
Los Angeles, CA; and Speaker on “Confidentiality & Ethics”
Presentation to Critical Juncture by Centerforce, on Sentencing
Alternatives and Reform, San Francisco, CA
September 23, 2007 Faculty Facilitator, NACDL Capital Defense Mitigation Training, Las
Vegas, NV
August 8, 2007
August 2-3, 2007
June 27, 2007
May 21-25, 2007
May 2, 2007
April 23-27, 2007
April 16-20, 2007
February 18, 2007
August 7, 2006
Faculty Instructor, Bryan R. Shechmeister Death Penalty College,
Santa Clara University School of Law, Santa Clara, CA
Faculty Facilitator, and Speaker, on Team Building, NACDL Capital
Defense Mitigation Training, San Francisco, CA
Presentation to First Five, Solano County, on Parenting Skills, Suisun
City, CA
Faculty Member and Speaker on Direct Evidence, and Closing Argument,
Annual Hawaii Public Defender Training, Honolulu, HI
Presentation to Department of Child Support Services, Solano County, on
Dealing with Difficult People, Fairfield, CA
Faculty Member and Speaker on Direct Examination, at the Trial Skills
Academy, California Western School of Law, San Diego, CA
Faculty Member and Speaker on Confidentiality & Ethics; National Drug
Court Institute Defense Training Institute, Reno, NV
Planning Committee Member and Speaker at Annual Capital Case
Seminar, on Utilizing Bench Notes, sponsored jointly by California
Attorneys for Criminal Justice and California Public Defenders, Monterey,
CA
Faculty Instructor, Bryan R. Shechmeister Death Penalty College,
Santa Clara University School of Law, Santa Clara, CA

June 22&24, 2006
May 22-26, 2006
April 28, 2006
April 24-28, 2006
February 19, 2006
Sept 25-28, 2005
Speaker at the 12 th Annual National Drug Court Conference; on
Confidentiality (6/22) and Ethics (6/24), Seattle WA
Faculty Member and Speaker on Scientific Evidence, and Closing
Argument, Annual Hawaii Public Defender Training, Honolulu, HI
Keynote Speaker, National Defense Investigator’s Association Annual
Convention, San Francisco, CA
Faculty Member, and Speaker on Direct Examination, at the Trial Skills
Academy, California Western School of Law, San Diego, CA
Speaker at Annual Capital Case Seminar, on DNA, sponsored jointly by
California Attorneys for Criminal Justice and California Public Defenders
Association, on Capital Voir Dire, Monterey, CA
Facilitator, National Drug Court Conference on Emerging Drug Courts,
Buffalo, NY
July 30-Aug 4, 2005 Faculty Instructor, Bryan R. Shechmeister Death Penalty College,
Santa Clara University School of Law, Santa Clara, CA
May 17-19, 2005
April 23-27, 2005
Feb 18-21, 2005
Aug 16-20, 2004
Facilitator, National Drug Court Conference on Emerging Drug Courts,
Columbia, MO
Faculty Member, and Speaker on Direct Examination, at the Trial Skills
Academy, California Western School of Law, San Diego, CA
Speaker at Annual Capital Case Seminar, sponsored jointly by California
Attorneys for Criminal Justice and California Public Defenders
Association, on Funding (2/18) and DNA (2/21), Monterey, CA
Lead Faculty Person, National Drug Court Institute Defense Training
Institute, Reno, NV
July 31-Aug 3, 2004 Faculty Instructor, Bryan R. Shechmeister Death Penalty College,
Santa Clara University School of Law, Santa Clara, CA
July 28-31, 2004
July 14-17, 2004
Faculty Facilitator, NACDL Capital Defense Mitigation Training, San
Francisco, CA
Facilitator, National Drug Court Conference on Emerging Drug Courts,
Jekyll Island, GA

July 9-12, 2004
June 3, 2004
May 25-28, 2004
April 26-30, 2004
March 23-26, 2004
March 16-19, 2004
March 16, 2004
October 2003
June 23, 2003
May 16, 2003
May 15, 2003
May 12&13, 2003
May 3-6, 2003
April 2003
Faculty Instructor, Capital Voir Dire Project, Plano, TX
Speaker at the 10 th Annual National Drug Court Conference, on Special
Issues for Defense Attorneys, Milwaukee, WI
Faculty Member, and Speaker on DNA, Cross- Examination, and Closing
Argument, Annual Hawaii Public Defender Training, Honolulu, HI
Faculty Member, and Speaker on Direct Examination, at the Trial Skills
Academy, California Western School of Law, San Diego, CA
Facilitator, National Drug Court Conference on Emerging Drug Courts,
Charlotte, NC
Facilitator, National Drug Court Conference on Emerging Drug Courts,
Austin, TX
Speaker on DNA Evidence, Texas Criminal Defense Bar, Austin TX
Speaker at the State Bar of California, 2003 Annual Meeting on DNA
Evidence & Innocence, Anaheim, CA
Speaker at the National Community Sentencing Association National
Conference, on “The History of Sentencing, Part 2,” Hauppauge,
Long Island, NY
Speaker at California Defense Investigators Annual Conference, on
“Convicted by Juries, Exonerated by Science,” San Rafael, CA
Speaker at the 9 th Annual National Drug Court Conference, on Issue for
Defense Attorneys in Drug Court, and Defender Breakout Session,
Reno, NV
Speaker at the 2d Annual Idaho Drug Court Institute, on Confidentiality &
Ethics (5/12), and on Sanctions & Incentives (5/13), Boise, ID
Facilitator, National Drug Court on Emerging Drug Courts, Chico, CA
Faculty Member, and Speaker on DNA Evidence, at the Trial Skills
Academy, California Western School of Law, San Diego, CA
Mar 30-Apr 2, 2003 Facilitator, National Drug Court Conference on Emerging Drug Courts,
Albuquerque, NM

March 16-19, 2003
Lead Faculty Person, National Drug Court Institute Defense Training
Institute, Reno, NV
February 14-15, 2003 Planning Committee Member, and Speaker at Annual Capital Case
Seminar, sponsored jointly by California Attorneys for Criminal
Justice and California Public Defenders Association, on Interpreting
Crime Scene Evidence(2/14), and Discovery(2/15), Monterey, CA
November 2002
October 18, 2002
September 21 2002
August 5-10, 2002
April 2002
Lead Attorney, on Preparation & Writing of Monograph for Defense
Attorneys in Drug Court, Published May 2003, Washington, DC
Speaker at California Attorneys for Criminal Justice Appellate Review
Program, on Post-Conviction DNA Testing, Berkeley, CA
Speaker at the State Bar of California, 2002 Annual Meeting, on Post-
Conviction DNA Testing, Monterey, CA
Faculty Instructor, Bryan R. Shechmeister Death Penalty College,
Santa Clara University School of Law, Santa Clara, CA
Faculty Member, and Speaker on Cross-Examination, at the Trial Skills
Academy, California Western School of Law, San Diego, CA
February 15-18 2002 Speaker at Annual Capital Case Seminar, on Post- Conviction DNA
Testing(2/17), & DNA Workshop(2/18), Monterey, CA
January 10 2002
September 22 2001
September 8 2001
August 4-9 2001
August 1-3 2001
April 27 2001
Speaker at the National Convention on Community Service Agencies, San
Francisco, CA
Coordinator of California Public Defenders Association Sentencing
Seminar, San Jose, CA
Coordinator of California Public Defenders Association Scientific
Evidence Seminar, Sacramento, CA
Faculty Instructor, Bryan R. Shechmeister Death Penalty College,
Santa Clara University School of Law, Santa Clara, CA
Faculty Instructor, Trial Skills Institute, University of San Diego, San
Diego, CA
Speaker at University of California, Berkeley International Conference on
DNA and Human Rights, Berkeley, CA

February 23 2001
Speaker at the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Annual
Conference, on Post- Conviction DNA Testing, Las Vegas, NV
February 16-19 2001 Planning Committee Member, and Speaker at Annual Capital Case
Seminar, on the topic of First Case Workshop (2/19), Monterey, CA
December 4 2000
Speaker at Northwestern University School of Law Symposium on
Innocence Project Formation, Chicago, IL
October 11-14 2000 Speaker at the National Conference on Science and the Law, National
Institute of Justice, on Blood and Trace Evidence, San Diego, CA
September 23 2000
September 14 2000
August 4-10 2000
July 26-29 2000
June 10 2000
Coordinator of California Public Defenders Association Sentencing
Seminar, San Diego, CA
Speaker at the State Bar of California 2000 Annual Meeting, on “DNA
Evidence, In Search of the Truth,” San Diego, CA
Faculty Instructor, Bryan R. Shechmeister Death Penalty College,
Santa Clara University School of Law, Santa Clara, CA
Coordinator of, and Faculty Instructor, Summer Trial Skills Institute,
University of San Diego, San Diego, CA
Speaker at California Public Defenders Association D.U.I. Defense
Seminar, on Kelly- Frye in D.U.I. Cases, Monterey, CA
February 18-21 2000 Planning Committee Member, and Speaker at Annual Capital Case
Seminar, on the topic of DNA Evidence, and PET Scans (both
2/19), Monterey, CA
September 25 1999
August 7-12 1999
July 28-31 1999
Coordinator of California Public Defenders Association Seminar on
Mental Health Issues, San Francisco, CA
Faculty Instructor, Bryan R. Shechmeister Death Penalty College,
Santa Clara University School of Law, Santa Clara, CA
Faculty Instructor, Trial Skills Institute, University of San Diego, San
Diego, CA
February 15-18 1999 Planning Committee Member, Editor of Capital Case Seminar Syllabus,
Speaker at Annual Capital Case Seminar, on Jury Selection(2/16),
and PET Scans (2/17), Monterey, CA

September 12 1998
August 10-15 1998
July 8-11 1998
June 27 1998
April 23-25 1998
April 4 1998
March 21 1998
February 1998
December 6 1997
August 9-14 1997
July 9-12 1997
February 1997
December 7 1996
November 9 1996
Coordinator of, and Speaker at California Public Defenders Association
Scientific Evidence Seminar, on DNA Post- Venegas, San Diego, CA
Faculty Instructor, Bryan R. Shechmeister Death Penalty College,
Santa Clara University School of Law, Santa Clara, CA
Faculty Instructor, Summer Trial Skills Institute, University of San Diego,
San Diego, CA
Coordinator of California Public Defenders Association Criminal Defense
Seminar, Ukiah, CA
Chairman, California Public Defenders Association Annual Convention,
San Diego, CA
Coordinator of, and Speaker at California Public Defenders Association
Litigation Seminar, on Cross-Examination of Expert Witnesses,
Fresno, CA
Speaker at California Public Defenders Association Annual Computers for
Lawyers Seminar, on Use of Computer in the Trial Courtroom, San
Francisco, CA
Planning Committee Member, Editor of Capital Case Seminar Syllabus,
and Speaker at Annual Capital Case Seminar, on the topic of DNA
Evidence, and PET Scans (both 2/15), Monterey, CA
Coordinator of California Public Defenders Association Writs and
Appeals Seminar, San Diego, CA
Faculty Instructor, Bryan R. Shechmeister Death Penalty College,
Santa Clara University School of Law, Santa Clara, CA
Faculty Instructor, Summer Trial Skills Institute, Univ.of San Diego, CA
Speaker at Annual Capital Case Seminar, on the topic of DNA Evidence
(2/15), Monterey, CA
Speaker at Annual Statewide California Public Defender Association
Sentencing Seminar on Complex Sentencing Issues, San Diego, CA
Speaker at Annual Statewide California Public Defender Association
Scientific Evidence Seminar, on The History of Scientific Evidence,
Monterey, CA

August 10-15 1996
July 31-Aug 3 1996
April 27 1996
February 1996
May-Sept 1995
April 21 1995
March 11 1995
February 1995
February 4 1995
July 28-31 1994
July 10 1993
Faculty Instructor, Bryan R. Shechmeister Death Penalty College,
Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA
Faculty Instructor, Summer Trial Skills Institute, University of San Diego,
San Diego, CA
Speaker at California Public Defenders Association Annual Convention,
on Kelly-Frye, From DUI to DNA, Ventura, CA
Speaker at Annual Capital Case Seminar, on DNA Evidence, and
Analyzing Scientific Evidence (both given on 2/17), Monterey, CA
Guest Commentator (Nine Different Appearances) for Court TV in People
v. O.J. Simpson Trial, on DNA and various other trial issues
Speaker at California Public Defenders Association Annual Convention,
on DNA Kelly-Frye Hearings, Squaw Valley, CA
Coordinator of and Speaker at Alternate Defense Counsel Seminar, on
Caselaw and Motions Update, on Kelly-Frye, San Diego, CA
Speaker at Annual Capital Case Seminar, on the topics of DNA Evidence,
Caselaw and Kelly-Frye Hearings (2/18 & 2/19), Monterey, CA
Speaker at California Public Defenders Association Scientific Evidence
Seminar on DNA Caselaw, Anaheim, CA
Faculty Instructor, Summer Trial Skills Institute, University of San Diego,
San Diego, CA
Coordinator of and Speaker at the Annual Statewide Scientific Evidence
Seminar on Forensic DNA Technology, conducted by the California
Public Defenders Association, San Diego, CA
MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:
California State Bar (#103822)
Nevada State Bar (#1324)
California Public Defender Association
California Attorneys for Criminal Justice
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
American Council of Chief Defenders
California Council of Chief Defenders
National Legal Aid Defense Attorneys
National Association of Drug Court Professionals