By attorney Joshua Mulligan. Mr. Mulligan is a State Bar Certified Criminal Law Specialist and his practice is in the Coachella Valley. Mr. Mulligan’s office is in La Quinta and his practice most of his cases are at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, California
Homicide law is its own universe—technical, fast-moving, and brutally unforgiving. A murder or attempted murder allegation can turn on tiny details: what was said, what was seen, what the medical evidence actually proves, and what the law requires the prosecution to prove beyond a reasonable doubt. This isn’t the kind of case you “learn on.”
Joshua Mulligan built his foundation handling serious felony cases at the Riverside County Public Defender’s Office, where high-stakes litigation is the daily diet. Today, at The Mulligan Defense — getting you a second chance — Josh brings that courtroom experience to people facing the most terrifying charges imaginable.
Josh has handled murder and attempted murder cases from the earliest investigation through jury trial and sentencing. When the facts and the law create leverage, he has negotiated rare outcomes—including manslaughter resolutions in recent homicide cases—and when the case has to be fought, he prepares it for trial from day one.
Homicide cases often involve layers: mental health and competency issues, forensic pathology and toxicology, ballistics, digital evidence, eyewitness reliability, and the kind of "story" the prosecution tries to sell to a jury. Josh has litigated complicated competency and mental health issues that frequently accompany homicide cases, and he knows how to build a defense team that can include investigators and the right experts when the case demands it.
Josh’s experience includes defending allegations such as:
In Riverside County, it’s common for prosecutors to file the most serious charge available when someone dies—sometimes before the full picture is understood, and even when there’s a legitimate self-defense claim or a serious dispute about intent, malice, or causation.
If detectives want “your side of the story,” that’s not a friendly conversation. It’s evidence collection. Do not give a statement to the police. Get counsel immediately—especially if charges haven’t been filed yet. The steps taken (or mistakes made) in the first 48 hours can shape the entire case.
When everything is on the line, you want a defense built on experience, preparation, and a willingness to fight.
Call The Mulligan Defense for a confidential consultation.
Joshua Mulligan is a State Bar Certified Criminal Law Specialist, a distinction achieved by less than 3% of criminal defense attorneys. He’s a graduate of Cornell Law School, an Ivy League institution, as well as Trial Lawyers College which includes a four week program of intensive study and practice in trial storytelling and effective advocacy.
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