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John Runfola is a highly experienced and effective criminal defense attorney. His cases have at times drawn international attention, and he has succeeded in winning favorable results for clients both at trial and through skillful pre-trial work. He is listed in Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers and has earned the highest rating from the national lawyer registry Martindale Hubbell.
Prior to starting his own practice, Mr. Runfola served as a Public Defender in San Francisco, where he gained invaluable courtroom experience. He is a seasoned trial lawyer, yet is equally adept at the behind-the-scenes work that often proves critical to a case: conceiving of strategies to exclude evidence, weaken the government's hand, and provide mitigating information regarding his clients,, so that charges are reduced or dismissed, or a lesser sentence can be achieved. His cases have been the subject of numerous articles in publications such as New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and the San Francisco Examiner, and have been featured on TV news shows including "48 Hours" and "Dateline NBC."
Mr. Runfola has a deep commitment to justice and is keenly aware of the daunting prospect of squaring off against the government, with its tremendous reservoirs of power and resources. He comes from a tradition of the strongest legal advocacy and ethics, having seen his father, Joseph Runfola, work as a criminal defense lawyer and a groundbreaking president of the Erie County Bar Association in New York State. Joseph Runfola, among other accomplishments, created a committee on sex discrimination well ahead of its time, and headed the Bar Association's Aid to Indigent Prisoners Society and its Prisoner Release Program. Like his father, John Runfola truly listens to, and is a tireless advocate for, his clients. His aim is to help people resolve their cases in a way that minimizes the damage to their lives.
John Runfola’s Specialties:
-- Drug Offenses
-- Criminal Trial Practice
-- Federal Offenses
-- Juvenile Offenses
-- Vehicular Crimes and DUI
-- Criminal Appeals
-- White Collar Crimes
-- Violent Crimes
-- Homicide
-- Weapons Charges
-- Domestic Violence
-- Sexual Assault
San Francisco criminal defense lawyer John Runfola represents people charged with federal crimes nationwide, state or federal crimes in California or anywhere in the San Francisco Bay Area or the surrounding region, including communities such as Oakland, Modesto, Stockton, Lodi, Vallejo, and Redding, and throughout Sonoma County, Humboldt County, San Joaquin County, Stanislaus County, Mendocino County, Sacramento County, Napa County, Solano County, Marin County, San Mateo County, Santa Cruz County, Santa Clara County, Alameda County, Contra Costa County, and Yolo County.
6
Practice Areas
46 years | 1,000 cases
46 years | 500 cases
46 years | 500 cases
46 years | 300 cases
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Chat withState: California
Acquired: 1980
No misconduct found
Pier 9 Suite 100, San Francisco, CA, 94111
Showing 1 - 5 of 8 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by anonymous | March 3, 2020 | Hired Attorney
John represented my husband in a case and was a fantastic resource to have. He was able to give us very good council, broke down the process and what needed to happen, and did it in very easy to digest terms. He is an excellent negotiator and I felt he was really going to bat for us both in and out o...
Posted by Fred | June 3, 2019 | Hired Attorney
I was looking at 30 years, maybe life in a criminal case. A friend of mine referred me to John and his team. They were all very attentive, passionate, and knowledgeable. John's presence in the courtroom really leaves an impression. When government attorneys, police officers, and legal experts are ...
Posted by Rama | February 19, 2019 | Hired Attorney
John is a great lawyer. He was very professional, thorough and went the extra mile to help with my case. He was able to get my case dismissed!. I would without a doubt recommend him.
Posted by anonymous | November 1, 2018 | Hired Attorney
I hired John after I contacted a few different SF Criminal Defense Attorneys. None of them responded with the speed, professionalism and no nonsense attitude that John responded with. After the payment was made he was supportive, gave very specific instructions, and handled my issue in a way in which...
Posted by Neil | June 30, 2018 | Hired Attorney
Thank you to the Law Offices of John M. Runfola. John handled my case very well. I was pulled over with a large sum of marijuana. I did everything he asked and he delivered for me. John got my case thrown out and everything was returned to me. The product made it safely to the medical dispensary it w...
"John's a lawyer with a heart. He genuinely cares about his clients and works hard to help them. He'll go the extra mile to ensure that his clients are treated fairly. I'd recommend him to anyone considering hiring him."
"You will not find a more honest and dedicated professional. John is highly experienced and highly skilled but he is also down to earth. There are two types of lawyers. Those who make believe they are good at all costs and those, like John who are really that good and let their performance do the talking for them. Dan Horowitz"
Criminal defense lawyer
2019
Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2010
AV Rated Preeminent Attorney, Martindale-Hubbell
2009
Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell
2008
Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell
2008
Spellbound Free Speech Award, The Office of the Federal Public Defender
2007
Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell
2007
AV Rating - (Highest Level of Legal Ability, Very High Ethics), Martindale-Hubbell
2006
AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
2006
Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell
2005
AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
2005
Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell
2004
AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
2004
Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell
2003
Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell
2003
AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
2002
AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
2002
Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell
2001
AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
2001
Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell
2000
Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell
2000
AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
1999
Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell
1999
AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
1998
Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell
1998
AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
1997
AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
1997
Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell
1984 - Present
Attorney, Law Offices of John Runfola
1981 - 1984
Public Defender, San Francisco Public Defender's Office
1981 - 1981
Public Defender, Marin County Public Defender's Office
2001 - Present
Bar Association of San FranciscoConference Attendant
1990 - Present
National Association of Criminal Defense LawyersMember
1980 - Present
State Bar of CaliforniaMember
1980 - Present
California Attorneys for Criminal JusticeMember
1980 - Present
Lawyers Club of San FranciscoMember
1980 - Present
California Public Defenders AssociationMember
1979 - Present
Phi Beta KappaMember
1980 - 2000
Bar Association of San FranciscoMember
1980
JD - Juris Doctor
1980
MA - Masters
1973
BA - Bachelor of Arts
1973
BA - Bachelor of Arts
English
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