John R Shoemaker Jr.

 I have worked in the legal profession for over 30 years. I have been in private practice for more than 20 years. I am a graduate of the University of Virginia, and the University of Alabama Law School.   I am a member of the Alabama State Bar, Washington DC Bar, Birmingham Bar Association and the Greater Birmingham Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. 

My practice consists  primarily of criminal defense and wrongful death cases.   I have been counsel in five or more capitol murder cases, without an adverse result to date.  I have handled  numerous jury trials of  other felony cases, wherein defendants were accused of murder, attempted murder, rape/sodomy, attempted rape/sodomy, sexual offense cases, drug trafficking, robbery, Theft of property, etc.  I have handled hundreds of drug court, deferred prosecution cases, and Family / Juvenile Court cases.   I  practice in all counties surrounding Jefferson County, including State and  Federal courts.  I have practiced in almost every municipality in Jefferson and surrounding counties representing defendants in misdemeanor cases in municipal courts, esp. DUI's. I now do Expungements in Alabama, as well.

I have appeared before the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles in Montgomery, Alabama in several major hearings. I represented Junior "Mack" Kirby in Scottsboro and before the Parole Board. He was the first non-violent offender to be paroled after having his sentence reduced from Life Without Parole, under the Habitual Offender Act.  Alabama lawyers in my family include my cousin, Sam Crosby (past State Bar President), and my late father Richard Shoemaker.