Dedicated Criminal Defense Attorney Jan Karowsky Continues to Help Those Less Fortunate
by Nicole De Santis

There is a lawyer in town who works quietly behind the scenes, all the more impressive considering he is the current chairperson of the SCBA Fee Arbitration Panel, as well as a committee member and peer review chairperson for the Indigent Defense Panel. He has given back to the Sacramento legal community as an SCBA member for over 25 years, though he will modestly tell you that he still relates most to the historic words of Groucho Marx, "I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member." Fortunately, the Sacramento County Bar Association does have this talented and generous gentleman as a member, and his name is Jan Karowsky.

A graduate of UC Berkeley for both his undergraduate and law school studies, Karowsky admits that he was a true child of the 1960s -- in a constructive way -- his desire was always to help the less fortunate. In law school, he was actively involved with the Legal Aid Society, "VISTA" (Volunteers in Service to America) and Pine Tree Legal Services in Maine, until he realized that as much as he loved the work, his bank account missed an adequate paycheck. Make that any paycheck. Thus upon graduation, Karowsky decided he would serve society as a public defender, and he enthusiastically went to what was labeled as a "joint interview." What he didn't realize at the time was that the word "joint" referred to questioning by both the District Attorney's Office and Public Defender's Office. Before Karowsky knew it, he found himself locked into the position of a prospective district attorney. And so his career began.

From 1973 through 1977, Karowsky served as a Sacramento County Deputy District Attorney. In what would be his last mission, he was assigned to handle many serious rape, robbery and murder cases in Juvenile Hall. Despite his successes and his love of the trial work he never developed a passion for the role of a prosecutor, so after four-and-a-half years he left the D.A.'s office to join his close colleague and prominent Sacramento lawyer, Jim de la Vergne, in his private general practice. After two enjoyable and educational years with Mr. de la Vergne, Karowsky decided he was ready to return to his original passion of defense work. He opened his own private criminal defense practice in 1979 and has operated as a contented "lone wolf" ever since.

At his office in Midtown Sacramento, Karowsky handles both state and federal blue collar criminal cases. Through the years he has defended an Indian chief, a rocket scientist, a butcher and a baker -- though to his dismay he has not yet represented a candlestick maker. His experiences have been so diverse and colorful, he proudly displays a handsome plaque given to him by a satisfied client which reads "Pulitzer Prize for Creative Non-Fiction." Though his practice has brought him enjoyment, he takes great pride in his role as a criminal defense lawyer. When asked if he ever has a moral or personal conflict defending some of his clients, Mr. Karowsky replied that defense lawyers are essentially constitutional lawyers, and that his commitment in a case is to uphold the dictates of the Constitution, which apply equally to the fortunate, and the not so fortunate. Though his practice keeps him more than busy (he has handled innumerable murder cases and was recently co-counsel on a death penalty case), Karowsky continues to help the less fortunate through his continuing active involvement with the SCBA Fee Arbitration Panel and Indigent Defense Panel. Additionally, he has served as a pro tem referee for the Sacramento County Juvenile Court.

Bravo to Jan Karowsky! In recognition of his efforts to the SCBA, Mr. Karowsky will be awarded a $50 Gift Certificate to Bravo Ristorante in Sacramento.

If you have noticed the efforts of other SCBA members and wish to nominate them for a "Bravo" award in future Sacramento Lawyer issues, please contact Nicole De Santis at (916) 448-4300 or SCBA Executive Director Carol Prosser at (916) 448-1087.