Peter F. Iocona

Peter F. Iocona is a trial attorney focused on DUI defense, criminal defense and professional licensing matters, and personal injury litigation throughout Southern California, particularly in Orange County.

Mr. Iocona personally handles DUI defense matters through OC DUI Lawyer, where he has litigated thousands of cases and taken more than 50 matters to trial. His DUI practice involves complex evidentiary and scientific issues, including toxicology, accident reconstruction, and cross-examination of law enforcement and forensic witnesses.

Criminal defense and professional licensing matters are handled in coordination with co-counsel Marlo Cordero through Orange County Criminal Defense Attorney. Personal injury matters are handled in coordination with co-counsel Aaron Hicks of Hicks Law Firm through SoCal Personal Injury Attorney.

Mr. Iocona began his legal career with the Law Office of Barry T. Simons in 2000, where he developed a strong foundation in criminal trial advocacy and later served as lead trial lawyer and managing attorney. From 2016 to 2025, he served in trial and leadership roles at The SoCal Law Network before transitioning to his current practice structure.

Mr. Iocona has been recognized by Super Lawyers, repeatedly selected as one of the nation’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers, designated a Nationally Recognized Superior DUI Attorney by NAFDD, and included among America’s Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys.

California State Bar – 2005

Mr. Iocona received his Bachelor’s Degree from Chapman University and his Juris Doctor from Whittier Law School in 2005.

Mr. Iocona has qualified as a Standardized Field Sobriety Test Administrator and Instructor (SFST) under the standards established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). He has received extensive training in the administration and evaluation of field sobriety testing, which is critical in the defense of DUI cases.

Mr. Iocona is also certified in the use and administration of the Alco-Sensor IV Preliminary Alcohol Screening (PAS) device and has received advanced instruction in breath and blood testing procedures, forensic toxicology, and DUI-related scientific evidence.

This training is applied extensively in the cross-examination of law enforcement officers and forensic experts in both court proceedings and D.M.V. Administrative Per Se (APS) hearings, which often serve as the initial forum for developing DUI defenses.

Mr. Iocona is the owner of OC DUI Lawyer, where he personally handles DUI defense matters throughout Southern California, including major Orange County jurisdictions such as Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Fullerton, and Westminster.

He also represents clients arrested by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department in South Orange County communities including Laguna Hills, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, San Clemente, and Dana Point.

Mr. Iocona began his legal career with the Law Office of Barry T. Simons in 2000 and by 2009 became one of the firm’s lead trial lawyers. In 2012, he was appointed Managing Attorney while continuing to lead the firm’s DUI trial practice.

From 2016 to 2025, Mr. Iocona served in trial and leadership roles at The SoCal Law Network, where he worked alongside Marlo Cordero and other criminal defense attorneys in handling complex DUI and criminal cases.

Mr. Iocona has since transitioned to his current practice structure, where he provides strategic direction for criminal defense and professional licensing matters in coordination with co-counsel Marlo Cordero, and for personal injury matters in coordination with co-counsel Aaron Hicks of Hicks Law Firm.

Peter F. Iocona is a trial attorney who has been repeatedly recognized for his work in DUI and criminal defense. He has been selected as one of the nation’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers by The National Trial Lawyers and has been included among America’s Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys.

Mr. Iocona has been rated by Super Lawyers, holds an AVVO rating of “Superb” (10.0), and has been recognized by OC Metro Magazine as a Top-Rated DUI and criminal defense attorney.

In 2015, Mr. Iocona was designated a Nationally Recognized Superior DUI Attorney by the National Advocacy for DUI Defense (NAFDD) and was selected for inclusion in the National Association of Distinguished Counsel “Nation’s Top One Percent.” He has also been recognized by Lawyers of Distinction for his work as a trial attorney.

Mr. Iocona has also served as an expert panelist and lecturer on DUI-related issues, including forensic toxicology and DUI drug cases, and has contributed to professional training programs sponsored by the California Department of Justice and related forensic institutions.

Mr. Iocona is a member of the National College for DUI Defense (NCDD), the California DUI Lawyer’s Association (CDLA), the DUI Defense Lawyers Association (DUIDLA), the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), and the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (CACJ).

For the last decade, Mr. Iocona has been focused on protecting the rights of people who have been accused of drunk and/or drugged driving. One of Mr. Iocona’s cases was even featured in an article that was published in the OC Weekly in 2016: “OC Judge Slams Prosecutor for Misconduct, Prosecutor Gets Promoted by DA Tony Rackauckus“. This article is part of a lengthy series of articles by Scott Moxley of the OC Weekly regarding what has become known as the “Orange County Snitch Scandal“. The article addresses the extent of Prosecutorial Misconduct in Orange County stating “Prosecutorial cheating apparently extends to relatively minor trials, too.” The article demonstrates Mr. Iocona’s zealous advocacy on behalf of his clients.

Available on request.

Available on request.

California Criminalistics Institute (C.C.I.)
Forensic Alcohol Interpretation Seminar Speaker
“The Role of a Forensic Scientist in DUI Cases”
(Newport Beach: February 2020)

California Criminalistics Institute (C.C.I.)
Forensic Alcohol Interpretation Seminar Speaker
“The Role of a Forensic Scientist in DUI Cases”
(Newport Beach: June 2017)

California Criminalistics Institute (C.C.I.)
Forensic Alcohol Interpretation Seminar Speaker
“The Role of a Forensic Scientist in DUI Cases”
(Newport Beach: April 2015)

Drug & Alcohol Abuse Seminar (Western State School of Law Seminar)
“Drug And Alcohol Abuse And How It Affects Lawyers” (Panel Speaker)
(Anaheim: June, 2013)

California DUI Lawyer’s Association (CDLA): Occupy DUI San Diego
“DMV APS Hearings, Writs & Appeals”
(San Diego, November 2012)

2012 “Fast Eddie” Kuwatch All-Day DUI Seminar
“D.M.V. A.P.S. Hearings: What Still Works”
(San Francisco: March, 2012)

84th Annual California State Bar Seminar (California State Bar)
“Effectively Handling D.M.V. A.P.S. Hearings & Writs and Appeals”
(Long Beach: October, 2011)

California Association of Toxicologists (CAT) Panel Expert:
“DUI Drugs-To Quantitate or Not to Quantitate?”
(Anaheim: November, 2010)

California Association of Toxicologists (CAT) Panel Expert:
“When is One Qualified to Render an Opinion?”
(Anaheim: November, 2010)

California DUI Lawyers Association (CDLA):
“Effectively Handling D.M.V. A.P.S. Hearings”
(Fresno: May, 2009)

California DUI Lawyers Association (CDLA):
“Effectively Handling D.M.V. A.P.S. Hearings”
(Oakland: June, 2008)

Orange County Bar Association-Bridging the Gap:
“What Is Administrative Law?”
(Santa Ana: July, 2008)

California DUI Lawyers Association (CDLA):
“Effectively Handling D.M.V. A.P.S. Hearings”
(Irvine: February, 2008)

Mr. Iocona served as a contributing editor to the two-volume treatise California Drunk Driving Law from 2003 to 2016, (often considered the “Bible of Drunk Driving Law” in the State of California).

Mr. Iocona writes and lectures extensively about Trial Practices, D.M.V. Administrative Per Se (A.P.S.) hearings, D.M.V. Writs and Appeals, Search and Seizure Law, and Interstate Driver’s License Consequences.