Cohen Defense Group

Cohen Defense Group is a criminal defense law firm with four office locations across Northern California: Auburn, Roseville, Nevada City, and Truckee. While they handle the full spectrum of criminal defense cases—DUI, domestic violence, felonies, misdemeanors, drug crimes, and juvenile defense—they specialize in a specific niche: helping people restore their Second Amendment rights after losing them.

In California, firearm rights can be stripped away through multiple paths:

• •Mental health holds (5150/5250 psychiatric holds) when authorities determine you're a danger to yourself or others
• •Felony convictions result in a lifetime firearm ban regardless of offense type
• •Misdemeanor convictions for crimes like domestic violence, assault with a deadly weapon, sexual battery, reckless discharge of a firearm, or violating domestic violence protection orders trigger a 10-year ban
• •Government action even without conviction—police can seize your guns if arrested or reported as dangerous

Cohen Defense Group helps clients navigate California's restoration process, which varies based on how rights were lost:

• •For mental health issues: Get treatment, then petition the court with evidence of rehabilitation. If the judge determines you're no longer dangerous, rights are restored.

• •For arrest without conviction: Request a hearing to show why you deserve restoration. The judge decides whether to return or destroy confiscated weapons.

For felony convictions: Only two paths exist: 1. Get the felony reduced to a misdemeanor (only possible for "wobbler" offenses like grand theft, vehicle theft, burglary, forgery, arson, or receiving stolen property) 2. Petition the Governor for a pardon by filing a California Certificate of Rehabilitation

• •For misdemeanor bans: Wait 10 years, then file a petition. Multiple misdemeanors don't compound the ban—only one with a firearm restriction matters.

Even if California restores your rights, federal law may not. For example, misdemeanor domestic violence convictions carry a federal lifetime ban on firearm ownership. This makes early legal representation critical.

Minors convicted of felonies or qualifying misdemeanors aren't banned for life. Instead, the ban lasts until age 30, giving them a path to restoration that adults don't have.

While you can petition the governor without an attorney, the firm strongly recommends hiring one because: - Gun rights law is complicated and changes frequently - Lawyers can identify rehabilitation evidence that strengthens your case (employment history, community letters, treatment records) - They handle procedural requirements that courts strictly enforce - Federal law creates traps that can destroy your case if you're not careful

Auburn Office 1515 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA 95603 (530) 823-7700

Roseville Office 1101 Creekside Ridge Drive, Suite 280, Roseville, CA 95678 (916) 596-2700

Nevada City Office 505 Coyote Street, Suite A, Nevada City, CA 95959 (530) 687-3009

Truckee Office 12277 Soaring Way Suite 305, Truckee, CA 96161 (530) 563-3009

• •Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30am–5:00pm
• •Response time: Typically within 1 hour

Keegan Smith, who joined in 2024 after 9 years as a public defender on the Major Crimes Team, handles many of their gun rights cases.