Cuauhtémoc Ortega is the Chief Federal Public Defender for the Central District of California, where he leads one of the largest federal defense offices in the United States. He oversees more than 200 attorneys and legal professionals serving clients across Los Angeles, Santa Ana, and Riverside. A graduate of Columbia Law School and a former clerk to the late Hon. Alicemarie Stotler, Ortega began his career at Munger, Tolles & Olson before joining the Federal Public Defender’s Office in 2010. He has served as a trial attorney, supervisor, chief deputy, and now chief defender, handling complex federal prosecutions involving fraud, firearms, and civil disobedience.

He has been gaining national recognition for several years through his work on high-stakes trials, policy reform, and public advocacy. Most recently, Ortega and his team secured three consecutive not-guilty verdicts in protest-related federal trials involving immigration enforcement. He also lectures at USC Gould School of Law and serves on several legal and judicial committees focused on equity and justice. His leadership reflects a long-standing commitment to civil liberties, mentorship, and the defense of constitutional rights.

Cuauhtémoc Ortega has spent his career defending constitutional rights in some of the nation’s most complex federal cases. As a seasoned trial attorney and public leader, he brings both clarity and courage to every courtroom and conversation. These are the issues he’s most often called on to discuss.