Business Details
Your Trusted Utah Criminal Defense Law Firm
J Peterson Law is a dedicated criminal defense firm committed to protecting clients' rights and navigating the complexities of the Utah legal system. With a focus on personalized advocacy, the firm combines extensive trial experience with compassionate client support to achieve favorable outcomes. Our approach emphasizes integrity, transparency, and a deep understanding of criminal law, ensuring clients receive both strategic legal representation and practical guidance through every stage of their case. 
Services
DUI Defense
Drug Crimes
Traffic Violations
Theft Defense
Murder Manslaughter
Assault Charges
Firearm Offenses
Domestic Violence
Expungement
White Collar Crime
Highlights and features
- We offer 15+ years of criminal defense experience as former public defenders
- Our team provides personalized case strategies for every client
- We maintain a proven track record of dismissed charges and reduced sentences
- We offer flexible payment plans to ensure legal access
- Our local expertise covers all Utah criminal courts
What people say
Professional, knowledgeable
Excellent record
Kind and compassionate
Aggressive advocacy
Reasonable rates
Services
DUI Defense
Our DUI defense practice handles all alcohol-related charges including first-time offenses, repeat violations, and commercial driver cases. We challenge evidence admissibility, question field sobriety test validity, and protect driving privileges through immediate license hearing requests. Clients benefit from our former prosecutor insights and technical understanding of blood alcohol testing methodologies.
Drug Crimes
We defend against state and federal drug charges ranging from simple possession to trafficking and manufacturing. Our strategy examines search warrant validity, chain of custody issues, and lab analysis procedures. We leverage policy expertise to challenge mandatory minimum sentencing and protect clients' employment opportunities through charge reduction negotiations.
Theft Defense
Our theft defense covers shoplifting, burglary, robbery, and fraud allegations. We analyze property valuation methods, challenge ownership evidence, and address restitution demands. The firm develops mitigation strategies for first-time offenders while challenging enhancement factors in repeat offense cases through comprehensive discovery review.
Murder Defense
We provide aggressive representation in negligent homicide, manslaughter, and murder charges including capital offenses. Our approach includes forensic evidence analysis, witness credibility assessments, and development of alternative defense theories. We coordinate expert testimony for self-defense claims and challenge prosecutorial overreach in complex homicide prosecutions.
Expungement
Our expungement service guides clients through Utah's criminal record sealing process for eligible offenses. We prepare comprehensive petitions demonstrating rehabilitation, coordinate required agency clearances, and present compelling arguments for record erasure. The firm specializes in navigating complex eligibility requirements for both misdemeanor and felony convictions.
People
Jessica W. Peterson
Attorney
Jessica Peterson is a seasoned criminal defense attorney with over 15 years of experience in Utah courts. A former Salt Lake Public Defender, she has tried thousands of cases ranging from traffic violations to capital offenses. Her practice combines policy expertise with grassroots advocacy, focusing on constitutional rights protection and systemic criminal justice reform.
Questions
What makes J. Peterson Law different from other criminal defense firms?
Our firm combines former prosecutorial insights with aggressive trial preparation, maintaining a 90% case dismissal rate through early evidence challenges and personalized defense strategies.
How does the firm handle out-of-state clients?
We provide complete remote representation for tourists and non-residents, handling court appearances and case resolution without requiring client travel to Utah.
What payment options are available?
We offer flexible flat fees, hourly rates, and customized payment plans based on case complexity and client financial circumstances.
Can you handle federal criminal charges?
Yes, we represent clients in federal drug offenses, white-collar crimes, and other federal prosecutions with the same rigorous defense approach as state cases.
How quickly do you respond to client inquiries?
We guarantee same-day responses to all client communications and provide emergency contact access for urgent legal matters.
What happens during the initial consultation?
The free consultation includes case review, charge explanation, defense option analysis, and immediate strategy development tailored to your specific circumstances.
