Anthony P. Capozzi

In 2010, Capozzi was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctorate of Laws from the Southern California Institute of Law for his exceptional contributions to society. Former honorees of the Institute include Court of Appeals judge and former Solicitor General Kenneth Starr, California Supreme Court Justice Ming Chin, California State Attorney General Bill Lockyer, and former Governing President of the United Nations International Criminal Court Prince Zeid Al-Hussein.

Since 2009, Capozzi has served as Chair of the State Bar of California's Law School Advisory Committee on California Accredited Law Schools (ACCALS). The committee is responsible for recommending changes to the standards that govern state bar accreditation. In 2010, Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Capozzi to the Commission on Judicial Performance. The Commission is the independent state agency responsible for investigating complaints of judicial misconduct and judicial incapacity, and for disciplining judges. The Committee consists of one Court of Appeal justice, two Superior Court judges, two attorneys, and six lay citizens. Capozzi's term is set to expire in 2013.

The Petition for Writ of Certiorari was filed requesting the Supreme Court of the United States to review whether state of mind evidence pursuant to Federal rule of Evidence 803(3) violates the foundational principles of our system of justice grounded in the Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the Constitution that a defendant has a right to present a defense to the charged offenses and has the right to present evidence and testimony favorable to the defense. The Petition was denied on October 14, 2008.

In 2005, Capozzi began a two-year term as Co-Chair of the California Bench Bar Coalition. The Coalition was formed to enhance communication and coordinate the activities of the judicial community with the state, local, and specialty bars on issues of common interest—particularly in the legislative arena. In 2006, Capozzi became a fellow in the American Board of Criminal Lawyers (ABCL). ABCL is an exclusive national, legal, honorary society for outstanding criminal trial lawyers, with admission to fellowship by invitation only. Capozzi began a five-year term as a member of the Judicial Council of California for the Administrative Office of the Courts. The Council is the policy making body of the California courts.

Capozzi has been the exclusive legal and political consultant for KFSN-TV ABC 30 since 2005. Often chastised for being a lawyer, Capozzi has remained an ardent supporter of his profession. Believing in the long historical contribution of America's lawyers, Capozzi, quoted in the book The Lawyer Myth A Defense of the American Legal Profession:

In 1999, Capozzi was elected President of the Fresno County Bar Association. Also in 1999, he was elected President of the San Joaquin Valley Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. Capozzi first held office with the State Bar of California in 2000 when he served four years on the Bar's Board of Governors. In 2002, he was elected as Vice President and Treasurer of the Bar. In 2003, Capozzi was elected the 79th President of the State Bar. During his term, Capozzi promoted prop bono work and increased legal services for the indigent. He served until 2004.

In 1989, Capozzi made a run for mayor of Fresno, California, losing to then City Council member Karen Humphrey. Humphrey ran a campaign advertisement showing a Police officer telling voters that “we all make choices in life,” and that Capozzi had chosen to become a criminal defense lawyer. The advertisement damaged his chances of winning the election.

Capozzi was a strong supporter and campaigner for Governor of California Jerry Brown during his term first two terms. Brown appointed Capozzi to the Regional Water Quality Control Board where he served from 1982 - 1985. Capozzi also supported Tom Bradley during his run for California Governor in 1982 and George Deukmejian’s re-election campaign in 1986. Capozzi served as a delegate to the 1984 Democratic National Convention in 1984. In 1984, Capozzi served on the Democratic National Committee traveling throughout the Western United States for the Mondale-Ferraro campaign.

Capozzi has been affiliated with numerous community and professional organizations. He has served on the board and as president to many local, regional, and statewide organizations from 1977 to the present day.

In 1976, Capozzi married Paula Condon. They have two children.

During 1974-1978, Capozzi was an adjunct professor at the San Joaquin College of Law in Clovis, California. He was responsible for conducting the school's criminal law clinics. In 1979, and to this day, Capozzi has owned and operated the Law Offices of Anthony P. Capozzi in Fresno, California. As a solo practitioner, Capozzi specializes in white collar criminal cases and civil litigation. Capozzi has earned an AV Preeeminent (highest) rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Capozzi joined the State Bar of California in 1976. He was also admitted to practice law in Illinois and Ohio.

In 1973, Capozzi moved to Fresno, California to begin work as the Supervising Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California. During this post, which lasted until 1978, Capozzi handled all phases of the federal government's civil and criminal matters in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. During his tenure as an Assistant United States Attorney, Capozzi also served as an instructor for the Department of Justice Advocacy Institute in Washington, D.C. As instructor, he was responsible for training new Assistant United States Attorneys throughout the country.

Capozzi has been involved in politics since his move to California in 1973. He campaigned extensively for President Jimmy Carter and Democratic nominee Walter Mondale. He was a delegate for President Jimmy Carter at the Democratic National Convention. In 1978, Capozzi made an unsuccessful run for District Attorney in Fresno, California. In 1980, Capozzi was on the National Democratic Finance Committee. Under President Carter, Capozzi applied for appointment as United States Attorney. Although a finalist, he was eventually unsuccessful at securing the appointment.

Capozzi became interested in the law while growing up in Buffalo. His inspiration came from his uncle, Frank Violanti, who was a very successful United States Attorney with the Department of Justice. Frank Violanti became his legal mentor and icon. Capozzi graduated in 1970 with a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Toledo College of Law in Ohio.

In 1970, Capozzi clerked for Judge Omer Poos of the United States District Court, Southern District of Illinois. Living in Springfield, Illinois, Capozzi became an ardent admirer of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln has remained a personal and professional icon to Capozzi. Though originally he was only hired to serve a one-year term, Judge Poos, impressed, kept Capozzi as his law clerk for three years.

Capozzi was first in his family to attend college. He earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1967. He worked as a grocery store clerk and cashier during the summer to pay for tuition. He also worked, during college, at the Buffalo steel mill with his father and brothers. During college, he was elected President of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.

Anthony Patrick "Tony" Capozzi (born June 28, 1945) is an American trial attorney and political consultant and participant. During his legal career, he has worked as a solo practitioner, supervising Assistant United States Attorney, adjunct professor of law, and law clerk to Omer Poos of the United States District Court in Springfield, Illinois. He also served as the 79th President to the State Bar of California. He owns and practices law at the Law Offices of Anthony P. Capozzi and serves on the California Commission on Judicial Performance, a post California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed him to in 2010. Since 2005, Capozzi has been the exclusive legal and political consultant for KFSN-TV ABC 30.

Anthony Capozzi grew up playing football with his brothers in the field next to the house. Eventually, Capozzi would earn all conference honors playing as a split end in high school. He was referred to as ‘Mr. Touchdown.’ He received several scholarship offers for football but turned them down. Capozzi has four brothers: Frank Capozzi (1935–2002), John Capozzi (1938–2008), Joseph Capozzi (1940 - ), and Patrick Capozzi (1948 - ).

Capozzi was born the fourth of five boys to Lily Violanti (1912–2008) and Joseph Capozzi (1902–1987). His father, Joseph Capozzi, was an Italian immigrant who settled in Buffalo, New York. Capozzi's childhood house still stands. The family grew their own produce in the family garden and raised chickens in a pen behind the house.