San Francisco, California Criminal Defense Lawyer

Providing Aggressive, Passionate, Effective Criminal Defense for over 25 years

The Law Offices of John Runfola is focused exclusively on criminal defense. We offer rigorous defense representation to a wide range of clients in the San Francisco Bay area, throughout California state and federal court and federal courthouses throughout the country. We have a proven track record in serving people in all stages of a criminal matter, from before the filing of charges to arrest, arraignment, pre-trial proceedings and through trial and appeal. Criminal defense lawyer John Runfola, provides responsive, personalized service, and possesses a depth of experience gained from handling a great variety of criminal cases in both state and federal court. We have the investigative and forensic resources necessary to effectively challenge the actions of law enforcement and investigators in handling evidence, interviewing witnesses, and cutting corners in a criminal investigation.

We are committed to providing the highest level of defense to people facing the most difficult situations of their lives. Our cases range from major drug conspiracy and white collar fraud cases to homicide and assault prosecutions. Even pre-indictment or arrest, we work to inform you of your options and to position you as favorably as possible. If you are charged, we work aggressively on your defense - seeking to exclude potentially damaging evidence, investigating government witnesses, building affirmative defense arguments, and finding weak spots in the prosecution's case. We help clients avoid criminal charges from being filed, and succeed in having charges against our clients reduced or dismissed. Above all, we work toward a resolution that will bring the least disruption to your life.

Our practice serves people who face a criminal prosecution under California or Federal law. We take calls 24 hours a day at 415-391-4243, and can also be reached via this web site. Our consultations are completely confidential and are protected by the attorney-client privilege. For more information regarding our practice and how we can help you, contact criminal defense lawyer John Runfola today.

Our Criminal Defense Practice

We offer expertise in a wide range of criminal matters, and you can find more information on these areas by clicking below:

Results are the Measure of Our Success

Our cases are first and foremost about people. A small sampling of our cases inlcude:

• A Taiwanese woman charged in connection with the largest seizure of heroin in U.S. history. She faced world-wide press in a case that the government was eager to portray as a victory in its war on drugs. After four years of hearing and appeals, we won a resolution in her case that involved no trial or jail time.
• A young black San Francisco man who was embroiled in a firestorm of local rage when an altercation with a white man turned accidentally deadly. Though he initially faced the possibility of first-degree murder charges - and the death penalty - we worked to have the charges reduced to manslaughter, and he served eight months. He has earned a master's degree in psychology and is writing a thesis on criminal justice.
• A 21-year-old Grateful Dead fan who played a minor role in a drug sale but because of federal conspiracy statutes, faced a ten year mandatory minimum prison sentence. Our advocacy helped bring public scrutiny to his case and the federal sentencing scheme. After years of appeals, we secured a dramatic reduction in his sentence.
• A U.S. citizen from Yemen who faced federal charges under the post-9/11 Patriot Act for sending money back to Yemen without government authorization. We succeeded in having his case dismissed.

Setting the Standard, Raising the Bar - San Francisco Criminal Defense Attorney John Runfola

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 P. Runfola Sr., work as a criminal defense lawyer and a groundbreaking president of the Erie County Bar Association in New York State.

Joseph P. Runfola Sr., 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.

We're Prepared to Fight the Charges against You

Despite what the police or prosecutor might claim, no criminal case is an "open and shut matter." The actions of law enforcement, lab technicians or prosecutors themselves can jeopardize even the strongest case when violations of the Constitution or the mishandling of evidence is involved. We have the resources and ability to uncover mistakes on the part of law enforcement officers while conducting our own investigation into the evidence and charges against our client.

Upon accepting a client, we vigorously prepare his or her case as if we going to trail and simultaneously attempt to negotiate a settlement that would be most favorable to our client. If you need help contact criminal defense lawyer John Runfola today for more information regarding our practice and how we can help you.