Carin Leanne Johnson

Carin Leanne Johnson has been a steadfast defender of parents' rights, specializing in dependency and juvenile law for over 27 years. She completed her Bachelor of Arts Degree at Chico State University and graduated from Golden Gate University, School of Law in 1993.

In a landmark case in September 2010, Carin successfully argued before the California First District Court of Appeal, overturning a dependency court decision that denied her client reunification services and sought to terminate parental rights. This rare reversal changed California law. In another notable case, Carin defended a wrongfully accused parent in a multiple broken bone case, achieving a unanimous reversal in the California Court of Appeals, Fourth District. The case was remanded for trial, leading to another unanimous reversal and the child's return to parental care.

Carin's courtroom experience extends to direct and cross-examinations involving complex allegations such as shaken baby syndrome (now known as abusive head trauma), forensic pathology, severe physical harm, and more. Her expertise in presenting expert testimony covers a wide range of fields, including psychology, forensic pathology, and child abuse.

Her work gained national attention in 2003 with the high-profile "spitball case," where she defended an eighth grader prosecuted for shooting spitballs at school. Carin has appeared on major media outlets including Greta Van Susteren's “On the Record,” Bill O'Reilly's “The O’Reilly Factor,” and the BBC.