Criminal Appeals Lawyer
Kristen Mason, Esq.
An advocate for California prison inmates and the wrongfully convicted, handling appeals, writs of habeas corpus, and new-law motions.
Kristen Mason In-Depth
Kristen J. Mason is the founding attorney of Mason Appellate Law, handling direct appeals, petitions for writs of habeas corpus, and post-conviction relief proceedings in both state and federal courts. With a practice devoted exclusively to criminal appeals, she brings focused expertise in California's rapidly evolving post-conviction landscape — particularly the wave of reform legislation, including SB 1437, AB 333, SB 483, and the California Racial Justice Act, that has opened new avenues of relief for incarcerated people.
Kristen began her career as a trial attorney and has always practiced on the defense side. Before founding Mason Appellate Law, she was the head attorney for a statewide criminal appeals practice's California cases, and earlier managed a regional office for a statewide criminal law practice. Recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2024 through 2026, she received her Juris Doctor from the University of West Los Angeles and was admitted to the California State Bar in 2018. She is based in Santa Monica, California.
A published author, Kristen wrote Unlocked: How California's New Laws Are Giving Inmates a Second Chance and co-authored Innocent Men Set Free, examining how wrongful convictions happen and how they are undone. Her writing reflects the same commitment she brings to her clients: making complex legal reforms accessible and putting them to work for people the system has failed.
Hear Kristen Mason Live
Also read: Kristen's Town Hall interview — a 45-minute conversation on California's new laws, the Racial Justice Act, and what families should expect from a criminal appeal.