About the Nimmo Law Group
Knut Johnson
Knut S. Johnson is a highly qualified and skilled criminal defense lawyer. He was selected by his peers to be included in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, The Best Lawyers in America, San Diego County Top Attorneys, and Southern California Super Lawyers. He is certified by the State Bar of California as a Criminal Law Specialist, and is the 2006 recipient of the E. Stanley Conant Award from the Defenders Organizations of San Diego for his dedication to indigent defense. Martindale Hubble has awarded him an AV rating, their highest rating for ethics and legal ability.
He has been an adjunct professor of law at the University of San Diego School of Law and California Western School of Law. Additionally, he has been on the faculty of the Institute for Criminal Defense Advocacy and the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. He was president of the San Diego Criminal Defense Bar Association in 2001-2002. In addition he was the Senior trial lawyer for Federal Defenders of San Diego from 1992 to 1994.
Knut(pronounced Ka Nute’) has tried many state and federal felony jury trials to verdict and represented clients throughout the United States. His clients have been charged with a wide range of crime, including murder, serious violent crimes, weapons offenses, narcotics crimes, environmental crimes, complex white collar and regulatory offenses, as well as minor misdemeanor matters..
Knut Johnson has also represented clients on appeal an in petitions for writs of habeas corpus. He has practiced before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, as well as in petitions for certiorari to the United States Supreme Court. He has also practiced before the California Courts of Appeal and the California Supreme Court. Published opinions include United States v. Hebert, 201 F.3d 1103 (9th Cir. 2000); United States v. Garcia-Barron, 116 F.3d 1305 (9th Cir. 1997), S.E.C. v. Worthen, 98 F.3d 480 (9th Cir. 1996), and United States v. Soyland, 3 F.3d 1313 (9th Cir. 1993).
Mr. Johnson has lectured about criminal justice issues to bar associations and other groups of lawyers, including the American Bar Association and local bar associations. He has also authored articles on topics related to criminal justice. Those articles include the following: “Overview of Chapter 208, Speedy Trial,” Commentary, National Institute for Trial Advocacy Commentaries for USCS Materials Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure Part II (National Institute of Trial Advocacy, 2004); "Guilt or Innocence in the Court of Public Opinion," San Diego Union Tribune Opinion Page April 18, 2002 (With Laura Berend); "On Your Own: Solo and Small Firm Practices," Criminal Justice, Winter 2001 (15:4) (Reprinted in GP Solo, "The Best Articles Published by the ABA, September 2001 (Vol. 18, No. 6)); “Responding to Subpoenas: Constitutional and Practical Issues,” The Champion, Vol. XXI, No. 1 (January/February 1997); “Juvenile Delinquents and Federal Law,” The Champion, Vol. XV, No. 4 (May 1991); Defending a Federal Criminal Case, Federal Juvenile Crimes Chapter, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2001 and co-author Federal Firearms Chapter, 1994.
Knut graduated cum laude in 1986 from the University of San Diego School of Law. As an undergraduate he earned a Bachelor of Science degree, with honors, from Tulane University in 1980.