San Diego Criminal Justice Memorial
Honorees
A memorial directory honoring deceased judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys who advanced criminal justice in San Diego County.
William “Bill” R, Fletcher
1946-2006
William “Bill” Fletcher was born October 9, 1949 in Downey, California and grew up in Southern California. Bill received his J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1975. He began representing indigent criminal defendants in state court as a staff attorney for the Defenders Program of San Diego, Inc. In 1979, Bill went into private practice representing both indigents and retained clients in the state and federal court.
His law partner, C. Bradley Patton, described the sharp legal mind that lurked behind Fletcher’s laid-back demeanor: “He was a folksy kind of guy who could lull you into believing he was a good ‘ol boy,’ then he would hit you over the head with a key piece of evidence.” (SDUT 3/25/06). “One of the remarkable things about Bill was that he was friends with many prosecutors, along with Sheriff’s deputies, judges, and court personnel. Most criminal defense lawyers hunker down with their own kind. It’s unusual that an individual can set aside day-to-day issues and reach out to the other side. But it came naturally to Bill.” (Id.) “Bill was a people’s attorney and an attorney’s attorney.” (Id. quoting Patricia Robinson).
The Criminal Defense Bar Association of San Diego named Fletcher as Criminal Defense Attorney of the Year in 1988 and again in 2005. His distinguished record of high profile cases including defending Richard Tuite, a mentally-disturbed transient, of killing twelve-year old Stephanie Crowe throughout a complex, six-year legal battle. In 2000, he defended teenager Danielle Barcheers in her retrial for the stabbing death of Betty Carroll. In 1990, he represented a former teacher’s aide who paid two Escondido high school students to kill her husband and persuaded the jury to reject the death penalty. He tried countless complex rape, murder, and other serious felony cases throughout the county.
Fletcher was active with the San Diego County Bar Association and served as President of the Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Club.