Law Offices of Eric Multhaup

Eric Multhaup specializes in appeals and post-conviction writs on behalf of clients who have been convicted of serious felonies in state or federal court. His caseload includes capital cases, cases involving claims of innocence, and cases involving constitutional violations of all types.

Eric has been practicing in this area for more than 40 years, and has had successes in obtaining the release of clients sentenced to death or to other lengthy prison terms. At the same time, he has learned the hard way from many cases that the road to relief in appeal and post-conviction representation requires hard work and determination notwithstanding the difficult odds.

He has received the Champion of Justice Award from the California Innocence Project in 2009 following a lengthy effort to win the exoneration and release of an innocent client; and the California Attorney of the Year Award in 2010 for work in the criminal post-conviction arena ("Clay" Award).

Latest Case Update

Eric has recently filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus on behalf of Danny Masterson, a television actor who was convicted in 2023 of two counts of rape relating to incidents that occurred back in 2003. Take a look at the claims of injustice now before the Court of Appeal.

The Danny Masterson habeas in a nutshell The Danny Masterson Habeas Corpus Petition

Eric’s Perspective

Eric has a comment about the habeas corpus proceedings: “The unfairness of the second Masterson trial was the result of prosecutorial misconduct, judicial bias, and the failure of defense counsel to present exculpatory evidence. The habeas corpus petition is accompanied by 65 exhibits that document the evidence of innocence that could have been presented, but was not. The jury heard only half the story – the prosecution’s side. Danny deserves a new trial where the jury can hear his side as well.”