Michele Akemi McKenzie

Michele Akemi McKenzie has built a powerful reputation as a trial attorney devoted to justice and systemic reform. With decades of courtroom experience, she has led groundbreaking litigation in civil rights and federal criminal defense. Her leadership and persistence have resulted in landmark rulings that improved fairness in federal jury selection and pretrial detention conditions.

Michele began her academic journey at Smith College, earning her B.A. magna cum laude in 1996. She later received her Juris Doctor, graduating with distinction from Stanford Law School in 2000. Her education provided a strong foundation for her extensive legal practice and commitment to defending constitutional rights in federal courts across the nation.

Michele spent nearly twenty years with Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc., serving as a Trial Attorney. In these roles, she challenged systemic inequities, such as the exclusion of racial minorities from federal juries, leading to the landmark decision United States v. Hernandez-Estrada, 749 F.3d 1154 (9th Cir. 2014). She also successfully pushed for national revisions to federal Juror Qualification Questionnaires, ensuring more inclusive jury pools.

Michele’s litigation efforts exposed government failures in promptly presenting arrestees to court, resulting in federal rulings condemning “substandard conditions” in detention. Her persistence prompted institutional reforms that increased transparency and accountability in detainee handling. She also led initiatives to prevent overdetention of released individuals, influencing how local authorities track and process inmate releases.

Michele Akemi McKenzie continues to inspire change through advocacy, education, and community engagement. Her enduring work in civil rights and criminal defense reflects her lifelong mission to uphold fairness, equality, and justice for all.

Law Office Affiliations

• Founder, McKenzie Scott PC
• Member, Japanese American Bar Association

Licensed State

• California

Education

• Stanford Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Smith College
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges