The Atlantic Magazine called Leiderman the “Hacktivist’s Advocate” for his work defending hacker-activists accused of computer crimes, or so-called (“Hacktivism”) especially people associated with the hacktivist collective Anonymous.
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Jay on his way to federal court to represent a client charged with violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act |
Other noteworthy cases Leiderman defended include People v. Diaz, which went to the California Supreme Court and made law on the ability of police to search a cell phone, Louis Gonzalez, who was falsely accused of rape, attempted murder and torture by the mother of his child and was jailed for 83 days before he was released and ultimately found factually innocent, the Andrew Luster or so-called “Max Factor” heir habeas corpus proceeding, wherein his sentence was reduced by 74 years (his capture launched the career of "Dog the Bounty Hunter).
Leiderman tried and won the first-ever trial of medical marijuana defendants in San Luis Obispo County, California County, and is the lawyer for the lead defendant in Ventura County, California’s first ever concentrated Mexican Mafia prosecution – the largest case in the history of Ventura County.
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Jay addresses a packed house at DefCon XX |
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Jay busy at work, thinking of the next creative defense to win his next case. Between his two computer screens, phone and laptop, Jay employs a lot of technology to defend criminal cases |
It stated: Leiderman thought it was not enough that the government dropped charges. He wanted the criminal justice system to recognize Gonzalez’s innocence affirmatively. There is such a thing as a declaration of factual innocence, he explained to Gonzalez. A judge can grant it. It is exceedingly rare – so rare that many cops and lawyers go a career without seeing one. It means not just that prosecutors couldn’t make a case against you, but that you didn’t do the crime. The case remained on the docket of Ventura County Superior Court Judge Patricia Murphy, who had earlier ordered Gonzalez held without bail. Leiderman petitioned the judge, trying not to get his client’s hopes up. He laid out the case, pointing out the holes in West’s story and the numerous alibi witnesses. Prosecutors did not want Gonzalez declared innocent. They knew a jury wouldn’t convict him but said they couldn’t be positive of his innocence. [ ] Ventura County’s chief assistant district attorney, later explained their reasoning: The attack West described was “improbable, but it wasn’t physically impossible.” In January 2009, nearly a year after Gonzalez’s arrest, Leiderman called him excitedly: The judge had sided with them. Gonzalez was soon holding a certified copy of the judge’s order declaring him factually innocent.
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Jay uses social media and other non-traditional forms of communication, such as jabber, to securely interact with clients |


Leiderman "runs the gamut" at his practice, where he focuses on civil rights, marijuana and civil law, he told TPM. During our phone conversation, he was headed to state court to represent the owners of a medical marijuana facility, based in North Ridge, CA.
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Jay Leiderman in the studio at the Huffington Post's live internet Television broadcast. Jay is a frequent commentator adn is asked to participate in various forms of media. |
Jay on radio |
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Jay Leiderman interviewed on RT television news |
Leiderman is one of the three founders of the Whistleblower's Defense League, A Legal Group Launches to Aggressively Challenge US Government Prosecutions of Whistleblowers |
Jay getting interviewed for a documentary film in his office |
Jay on a panel for "The Hacker Wars" documentary at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, TX |