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Ms. MIA YAMAMOTO, formerly Michael Francis Yamamoto is a Los Angeles-based criminal defense attorney and civil rights activist.

She was born in Poston relocation camp, Arizona during World War 2.

Ms. Mia stands for human rights and justice for women, trans, immigrants, prisoners, LGBT and all marginalized people — particularly for people whose lives have been upended by the criminal justice system and incarceration.

• Ms. Mia joined the US. army 1966-68 awarded National Defense Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal.
• She is the past president of: California attorneys for criminal justice (statewide org. of 2,500 public defenders), Japanese American bar association, the Asian Pacific American Women Lawyers Alliance and many more.
• She is the co-founder and past chair of the multicultural Bar Alliance (coalition of minority, women’s and LGBT bar associations of Los Angeles)
• She has owned a private practice since 1984.
• She was named “criminal defense attorney of the year” by the LA County Bar Association in 2002; and named one of the “100 most influential lawyers in California” by the California Daily Journal 2002.