Kevin Benedicto

I have been practicing law in San Francisco since 2015, as both a civil litigator and as a civil rights attorney. In this capacity I have valuable experience in dispute resolution, in solving complex problems, and in serving as a committed advocate for my clients. When I worked at the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, I helped protect civil rights, defend our elections and voting rights, and advocate for criminal justice reform.

I also have extensive pro bono practice and community involvement in criminal justice reform. I served as pro bono counsel to the Blue Ribbon Panel on Transparency, Accountability, and Fairness in Law Enforcement on the subject of use of force. I have provided representation and advice to law enforcement agencies across the country on criminal justice reform, including assisting the police department in Madison, WI assess their response to the 2020 protests in the wake of George Floyd's murder. 

I serve on the Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) Criminal Justice Task Force, where, on behalf of the Bar, I have helped advise SFPD and city leaders on issues such as use of force, body cameras, bail reform, community policing, police union negotiations, and bias.  I have been part of multiple SFPD policy working groups on issues such as use of force, bias, and community policing. I provided pro bono advice to BASF when it prepared an open letter to Supervisor Gordon Mar on a police reform ballot initiative that was eventually placed on the ballot and approved by voters. Recently, I aided the Bar Association and the San Francisco Superior Court on the jury reform pilot program, "Be The Jury."

Over the years I have attended dozens of Police Commission meetings, and testified both as a member of the public or as a representative of the Bar Association or the Blue Ribbon panel numerous times. I am familiar with the Police Commission's work and with the critical issues that face the Commission as it continues to advance the cause of police reform and criminal justice reform.