McManis Faulkner founder and partner James McManis has been given the 2026 Unsung Hero award by Mothers Against Murder (MAM). McManis received the award for his pro bono work representing victims in the Farley and Chatman resentencing cases.
Mothers Against Murder supports and empowers survivors of murder and the communities affected by violence, providing advocacy and resources for families seeking justice and healing. The Unsung Hero award honors people who have gone above and beyond to support victims of violent crime. McManis received the award during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
“I’m honored to receive this award. We’ve had some successes for victims’ families in our recent pro bono efforts, and while this work is challenging, we will always stand up for what is right. It’s a credit to our firm and the essence of lawyering,” said McManis.
A member of the trial bar for more than 50 years, McManis handles cases in the commercial, trade secrets and intellectual property arenas, as well as representing individuals in civil rights actions, employment disputes, family law and criminal defense matters. He earned his J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (1967) and his B.A. in History, with Distinction, Phi Beta Kappa, from Stanford University (1964).
McManis Faulkner, a San Jose, California-based trial firm, provides a full range of litigation services, representing both corporations and individuals through trial and appeal. The firm handles a wide range of litigation, including business, civil rights, class actions, criminal, employment, family, general civil, intellectual property, personal injury, probate, and professional negligence. With experienced, well-trained trial lawyers and staff, McManis Faulkner prides itself on its ethnic, cultural and religious diversity.