Education

• Bachelor of Arts, Spanish, University of the Americas, Mexico City, Mexico, 1970
• Lifetime Secondary Teaching Credential, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California, 1971
• Master of Arts, Education, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California, 1973
• Intensive French program, Monterey Institute of International Studies, Monterey, California, 1979
• Juris Doctorate, San Joaquin College of Law, 1985
• Death Penalty College, Santa Clara University, 1996
• Lifetime California Community College Teaching Credential, Law, Spanish, 1990
• Death Penalty Jury Selection Program, University of Colorado Law School, 2014

Pre-Law Experience

• International Exchange Student, Mexico City, 1965
• International Exchange Student, Guatemala City, 1966
• St. Joseph’s – St. Patricks Catholic Seminary, Theology, Mountain View, California, 1964-1969
• St. Francis High School, Spanish and French teacher, Mountain View, California, 1971-1981
• Foothill Junior Collge, Professor, French for Travelers, 1980

Activities and Awards

• Leon Peters Scholar, San Joaquin College of Law, 1983
• Internship with U.S. Attorney’s Office, San Joaquin College of Law, 1983
• Personal Research Attorney for Presiding Justice George Brown at 5th District Court of Appeal, 1985-1987
• Co-Author/Editor: Practical Real Estate Law- California Edition, 2^nd and 4^th Editions
• 1986-1995:  Adjunct Professor for Paralegal Program at Fresno City College
• 1987-88:  Associate Attorney for Nuttal, Berman, and Magill
• Part-time Madera County Public Defender (Law Office of John Borker), 1989-1990
• Mugridge Law Firm, 1989 to present
• 1995-2008:  Fresno County Superior Court Judge Pro-Tem
• Federal Defenders Panel (Fresno) accepting appointments in U.S. District Court — Eastern District of California (Fresno) and U.S. Court of Appeals for 9th Circuit (San Francisco)
• Fresno County Bar Association, Attorney-Client Fee Dispute Arbitrator, 1998-2007
• ARAG Insurance, panel attorney, 1995 to present
• Adjunct Professor of Law at Fresno Pacific University, Fundamentals of American Law, 1995-2003
• Guest lecturer at Alliant University on “Mental State Issues in Criminal Procedure,” 1996
• Guest Lecturer at Fresno State University on “Use of Interpreters in the Courtroom,” 1998
• Pro-Bono Spanish Interpreter in Madera County and Fresno County Superior Courts, 1989-1995
• Appellate Panel Attorney with Central California Appellate Programs (Sacramento), accepting appointments on Appeals and Writs with 5th District Court of Appeal, 1989-1996
• Appellate Panel Attorney with Appellate Defenders Program (San Diego), accepting appointments on Appeals and Writs with 4th District Court of Appeals, 1992-1995
• Multiple Immigration Court Appearances in Immigration Courts in San Franciso, Las Vegas, and Eloy, Arizona
• Pro Hoc Vice Court Appearances in Federal District Court in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• Adjunct Professor of Law at San Joaquin College of Law, Advanced Legal Research and Writing, 2007-2016
• Fresno County Superior Court, Writ Panel, accepting appointed indigent Writs filed in Fresno, 2015 to present
• Guest lecturer at UC San Francisco Medical School (Fresno) on Mental States Issues in Criminal Practice, 2017
• Guest lecturer at Criminal Law Offices with Dr. A.A. Howespeian, MD, PhD, on Mental State Issues in Criminal Practice, 2018
• California Super Lawyers, 2009-2018
• Legal Commentator / Analyst for Channels 24, 26, 30, 47, and Univision, 2005 to present
• 1997- Present: Avvo (10 years)

Certifications & Licenses

• California State Bar, No. 123389, 1986
• United States District Court — Eastern District of California, 1986
• United States Court of Appeals — 9th Circuit (San Francisco)
• United States District Court — Northern District (San Francisco)
• United States Supreme Court, Washington, D.C., 1984
• Certified Specialist, Criminal Law, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, 1999
• A-V rating with Martindale-Hubbell (highest rating of attorneys by attorneys), 2008

Published Reversals on Appeal

• 9th Circuit (Randy Castiglione)
• 5th District Court of Appeals
• Over 15 Special Circumstance Murder Cases in Fresno County
• 5 Death Penalty Cases without a death verdict
• Multiple Murder, Assault, Sex and Elder Abuse cases with not guilty verdicts
• Over 30 cases taken to trial and verdict, including juvenile and administrative court

Areas of Law

• Murder
• Assault
• Kidnapping
• Robbery
• Rape
• Burglary
• Domestic Violence
• Weapons Offenses
• White Collar Crimes
• Criminal Defense
• State and Federal Court
• Homicide
• Habeas Corpus
• Appeals and Writs
• Parole
• White Collar
• Expungements-Prop 46

Prior to studying the law, Shannon had a long career in journalism, marketing, and travel, holding numerous management positions. In 2008, Shannon launched her own travel company, Sweet, serving as CEO until 2014.

Drawn to criminal law by the growing injustice in its execution, Shannon’s main goal is to ensure that every defendant receives a top-notch defense in accordance with the California and United States Constitutions. Additionally, Shannon worked as a temporary independent hearing officer for the City of Fresno from 2018 to 2020, deciding disputes between citizens and the City of Fresno over municipal citations. Shannon served as Mr. Mugridge’s law clerk from 2018, moving into the position of Associate Attorney in 2020.

Shannon is a proud member of the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians, serving on Board of Commissioners for the tribe’s Indian Housing Authority since 2013.

Education

• Juris Doctorate, San Joaquin College of Law, 2019

• Master of Arts, English Literature, California State University, Fresno, 1997

• Bachelor of Arts, English, California State University, Fresno, 1993