Stephen F. Wagner

Biography

Professor Stephen F. Wagner serves as Assistant Professor, Academic Success and Bar Preparation, at Ave Maria School of Law. His current teaching and coaching responsibilities include Constitutional Law Lab, Evidence Lab, Moot Court Travel Coach, ACTLA, Remedies, and the Prosecutorial Practitioner Clinic.

Professor Wagner earned his Juris Doctor from Lincoln Law School of San Jose in 1995 and studied English and Paralegal Studies at Canada College. He is admitted to practice in California.

Before joining Ave Maria School of Law, Professor Wagner served for 22 years as a member of the adjunct faculty at Monterey College of Law and San Luis Obispo College of Law. Over that span, he taught Constitutional Law, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Remedies, and Moot Court/Trial Advocacy. He also contributed to faculty development, remedial writing workshops for at-risk students, and legal commentary as co-host of “Wagner & Winick On The Law,” a nationally syndicated legal talk show broadcast from KSCO Radio in Santa Cruz, California.

Professor Wagner is a career-long California trial lawyer whose experience includes complex civil litigation and a broad range of criminal prosecutions. In civil practice, he served as lead counsel in wrongful death actions, trust litigation, property disputes, and premises liability matters. As a deputy district attorney, he prosecuted crimes against the person, theft and property crimes, sexual assault, public-assistance fraud, and homicide cases.

For several years, Professor Wagner specialized in vehicular homicide prosecutions, including cases filed as second-degree murder. His prosecutorial and trial advocacy experience has made him a frequent instructor and presenter for legal organizations, including the California District Attorneys Association and the National District Attorneys Association.

Professor Wagner’s work as a teacher and advocate has been recognized through numerous honors. He is a two-time recipient of the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Prosecutor of the Year Award for the Southern California Region and a four-time recipient of the Outstanding Faculty Award from Monterey College of Law and San Luis Obispo College of Law. In 2025, he was bestowed the honor of Distinguished Professor of Law.

Education

• J.D., Lincoln Law School of San Jose, 1995
• A.A., English and Paralegal Studies, Canada College, 1989

Professional Experience

Professor Stephen F. Wagner joins Ave Maria School of Law after serving 22 years as a member of the adjunct faculty at Monterey College of Law and San Luis Obispo College of Law. During that time, he taught Constitutional Law, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Remedies, and Moot Court/Trial Advocacy. He also played a significant role in faculty development, remedial writing workshops for at-risk students, and legal commentary as co-host of “Wagner & Winick On The Law,” a nationally syndicated talk show broadcast live from KSCO Radio in Santa Cruz, California.

As a California trial lawyer, Professor Wagner’s experience includes complex civil litigation and criminal prosecution. In civil practice, he served as lead counsel in wrongful death actions, trust litigation, property disputes, and premises liability matters. As a deputy district attorney, he prosecuted crimes against the person, theft and property crimes, sexual assault, public-assistance fraud, and homicide cases. He also specialized for several years in vehicular homicide prosecutions, including cases filed as second-degree murder.

Honors & Professional Affiliations

• Member, State Bar of California (SBN: 213177)
• Recipient, Outstanding Faculty Award, Monterey College of Law / San Luis Obispo College of Law (2011)
• Recipient, Outstanding Faculty Award, Monterey College of Law / San Luis Obispo College of Law (2013)
• Recipient, Outstanding Faculty Award, Monterey College of Law / San Luis Obispo College of Law (2019)
• Recipient, Outstanding Faculty Award, Monterey College of Law / San Luis Obispo College of Law (2021)
• Recipient, Employee of the Year Award, San Benito County District Attorney (2006–2007)
• Recipient, Prosecutor of the Year Award, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Southern California Region (2018)
• Recipient, Prosecutor of the Year Award, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Southern California Region (2021)
• Bestowed title of Distinguished Professor of Law, Monterey College of Law and San Luis Obispo College of Law (2025)

Courses Taught

• Constitutional Law Lab
• Evidence Lab
• Moot Court Travel Coach
• ACTLA
• Remedies
• Prosecutorial Practitioner Clinic

Media & Speaking Topics

Publications

• “Looking Beyond Black Letter Law,” Successful Writing Strategies for First-Year Law Students, The Law Student Journal (December 2005).
• “Prepping For Bar Prep,” The Law Student Journal (January 2007).
• “How To Prepare Your Jury For A ‘No Bad Driving’ DUI,” Behind The Wheel, California District Attorneys Association, Vol. 8, No. 3 (February 28, 2003).
• “Thank You Judge May I Have Another,…15 Minutes That Is,” Behind The Wheel, California District Attorneys Association (2011).
• “Mental Condition and Impairment Defenses in DUI Prosecutions: Drug Abuse, Sleep Driving, or Voluntary Intoxication Masquerading as ‘Insanity,’” Behind The Wheel, California District Attorneys Association, Vol. 15 (2009–2010).
• Contributor and Editor, California District Attorneys Association Prosecution Manual (2010 Release).
• Contributing Author, National District Attorneys Association / National Traffic Law Center / Century Council “Hardcore Drunk Driving Prosecutorial Guide” (2008).
• “Admissibility of Electronic Evidence,” Monterey County Barline, Summer 2013 Edition.

Presentations

• Instructor, California District Attorneys Association New Prosecutor’s Seminar (2007).
• Instructor, National District Attorneys Association Trial Advocacy Program, National Advocacy Center, University of South Carolina (2007).
• Instructor, California District Attorneys Association Vehicular Homicide Seminar (2008–2011).
• Instructor, Commercial Vehicle / CDL Prosecutions, National District Attorneys Association, Charleston, South Carolina (2011).
• Presenter, Traffic Safety Prosecutors and Collision Investigators Programs, Kansas City, Missouri (2009) and Deadwood, South Dakota (2011).
• Presenter, Monterey County Bar Association CLE Programs on electronically stored evidence, opening statements, CCP 998 offers, and jury selection (2011, 2012, 2014).
• Presenter, California Association of Toxicologists programs on direct and cross-examination techniques (2009–2010).