Michael Baranic

The Sheriff’s Department is the chief law enforcement agency in the County of San Diego, covering approximately 4,200 square miles. The Department’s 4,000+ employees provide general law enforcement, jail and court services, as well as regional investigative support, and technical emergency response. Law enforcement services are provided to an estimated 1,000,000 County residents, including those in nine contract cities. The Sheriff’s detention facilities process over 220,000 incarcerated persons annually, booking and releasing incarcerated persons, ensuring court appearances, and providing necessary daily care for approximately 4,000 incarcerated persons. As the Sheriff's Chief Legal Advisor and Director of Legal Affairs, Michael is a member of the Sheriff’s Executive Team and oversees the Sheriff’s Legal Affairs Unit which is responsible for providing legal advice and guidance to the Department's more than 4000 sworn and professional staff employees. Michael’s duties include: monitoring compliance with current laws and regulations, as well as Department and County policies and procedures; formulating, reviewing, and recommending policy and operational improvements; representing the Sheriff in court appearances, in administrative hearings, and before legislative bodies; assessing liability/risk issues; and rendering legal advice and opinions to the Sheriff and members of the Department on a variety of matters related to law enforcement, detentions and employment laws and issues. Michael is admitted to practice in California, as well as the United States District Court, Southern District of California; the United States District Court, District of Arizona; the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; the United States Court of Claims and the United States Supreme Court.