Richard S. Jaffe
Top rated White Collar Crimes attorney in Birmingham, Alabama
Jaffe, Hanle, Whisonant & Knight P.C.
Practice Areas: White Collar Crimes, Criminal Defense, General Litigation; view more
Licensed in Alabama since: 1976
Education: The University of Alabama School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2008 - 2023 Call today:
205-208-7931
Free Consultation Jaffe, Hanle, Whisonant & Knight P.C.
2320 Arlington Ave SBirmingham, AL 35205 Visit website
Details
The senior partner at Jaffe, Hanle, Whisonant & Knight, P.C., Richard S. Jaffe has made a name for himself as one of the nation's leading criminal defense attorneys. During his distinguished career, he has represented countless of individuals and corporations who have been accused of fraud or other state or federal white-collar crimes. He has also handled hundreds of homicide cases including over sixty capital l cases, including six that involved the federal death penalty, and one of his achievements is serving as lead counsel in the acquittals to three different death row inmates at new trials.
Mr. Jaffe has been certified as a specialist in criminal trial law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy for more than 30 years, and he has been awarded numerous honors from his fellow professionals for his successful track record and high degree of ethics. The holder of an AV Preeminent* peer review rating through Martindale-Hubbell, he has also been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, and he has been the recipient of the Roderick Beddow Lifetime Achievement Award that is bestowed annually by the Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. Based in Birmingham, Mr. Jaffe is admitted to practice in Alabama, Georgia, New York and the District of Columbia.
Mr. Jaffe is an active participant in several legal organizations. A fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, he has served on the board of directors of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and he is a founder and past president of the Greater Birmingham Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. Mr. Jaffe received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from The University of Alabama in 1972 and was awarded his Juris Doctor by The University of Alabama School of Law in 1976.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Criminal Defense: White Collar, Criminal Defense, General LitigationFocus areas
Litigation, White Collar Crime
- 70% Criminal Defense: White Collar
- 20% Criminal Defense
- 10% General Litigation
First Admitted: 1976, Alabama
Professional Webpage: https://www.rjaffelaw.com/attorneys/richard-s-jaffe/
- Contribute Pro Bono Services to those Accused of Capital Defense, 1978
- Author, Defending DUI Vehicular Homicide Cases, Inside the Minds; "Proven Strategies for Complex DUI Vehicular Homicide Cases" Chapter, Aspatore, 2011
- The Colorado Method of Jury Selection, NACDL, Las Vegas, Nevada, 2009
- Opening Statements, Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers, Pensacola Florida, 2009
- Winning Trial Themes from Voir Dire Through Jury Instructions, Arkansas Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2009
- Jury Selection in Death Penalty Cases, Making the Case for Life, NACDL and Southern Center for Human Rights, 2008
- Brainstorming and Coordinating the Themes and Theories for Life, Capital Defense - The Punishment Phase, The Center for American and International Law, Piano, Texas, 2007
- Using Experts - Sinking or Swimming, NACDL, Key West, Florida, 2007
- Twelve Principals of Capital Litigation, Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2007
- Ten Principals for Individual or Small Group Panel Individualized Voir Dire on Death Penalty, Capital Defense Training, Center for American and International Law, Piano, Texas, 2006
- Attacking the State's Aggravation Case: Cross Examining The State's Aggravation Witnesses, Clarence Darrow Death Penalty College, De Paul University College of Law, 2006
- Obtaining The Necessary Funds to Save a Life - Primer, The Brian R. Shechmeister Death Penalty College, Santa Clara University School of Law, 2006
- Power Themes to Winning, Tennessee Trial College, 2006
- Themes of Life - Helping The Jury Choose Life by Telling the Clients Story, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (CACJ), 2004
- The Insanity Defense and Diminished Capacity, The Champion (NACDL), 1986
- Ten Principles for Individual Voir Dire in Death Penalty Cases, The Champion, NACDL, 2001
- The Insanity Defense and Diminished Capacity, The Champion, Trial Magazine (AAJ), 1995
- Faculty, Evidence, Minority Miles Law School, Birmingham, Alabama
- Co-Author, This Chapter - The Last in the Book, Highlights Trial Strategies and Includes Forms, Inside the Minds of DUI Homicide Lawyers, 2010
- Former Faculty Member, Clarence Darrow Death Penalty College
- Former Faculty Member, Santa Clara Death Penalty College
- Former Faculty Member, Miles Law School
- Lecturer, Seminars and Conferences Throughout the United States
- Author, Quest for Justice; Defending the Damned
- The Roderick Beddow Award, Lifetime Achievement in Criminal Law, Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (ACDLA), 2002
- Best Lawyers of America, White Collar and Non-white Collar, Criminal Defense, 2007 - 2014
- Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers of America, White Collar, Birmingham, 2012 - 2013
- ACDLA President Award, 2007 - 2010
- Lawyer of the year, Best lawyers of America, Non-White-Collar Criminal Defense, Birmingham, 2010, 2015
- Honors Finalist Moot Court Competition, The University of Alabama School of Law, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 1976
- Clarence Darrow Award, Alabama Bar Association
- Lawyer of The Year, Best Lawyers of America, Birmingham, Non-white Collar, 2010
- National Moot Court Team, The University of Alabama School of Law, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 1976
- Super Lawyers, 2008 - 2012
- Lawyer of the Year, Best lawyers of America, White-Collar Criminal Defense, Birmingham, 2013
- AV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®, 1986 - Present
- President Award, Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2007 - 2010
- Top Birmingham Lawyers, Birmingham Magazine, 2008 - 2013
- ACDLA Roderick Beddow Award, Lifetime Achievement, Criminal Defense, 2001
- Top 50 Lawyers in Alabama, Super Lawyers, 2013
- Top 10 Super Lawyers in Alabama, Best Lawyers of America, 2007- 2015
- USA v. Kelley
- State of Alabama v. Padgett
- State of Alabama v. Gratton
- USA v. Price
- State of Alabama v. Drinkard
- State of Alabama v. Ford
- Former Lead Counsel, USA v. Eric Rudolph
- USA v. Holley
- State of Alabama v. Cochran
- Co-Counsel, Birmingham Mayor Bernard Kincaid, 2008
- Alabama, 1976
- President, Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 1991 - 1992
- Georgia, 1984
- Member, American Association for Justice (AAJ), 1981 - 1994
- Member, National Association Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), 1981 - Present
- National Association Criminal Defense Lawyers, Executive Committee, 2009
- Chair, Criminal Justice Committee, Alabama Bar Association, 2005
- Member, Supreme Court of Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure, 1994 - 2006
- District of Columbia, 1983
- Founder, Greater Birmingham Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 1992
- Member, American College of Trial Lawyers, 2013 - Present
- Board Director, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Board of Directors, National Association Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2003 - Present
- Co-Chair, Death Penalty Committee, National Association Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2010 - Present
- Member, Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 1980 - Present
- New York, 1982
- President, Greater Birmingham Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (GBCDLA), 1995
- Board Member, National Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
- Board of Directors, Serving 4th 3 Year Term, National Association Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Supreme Court of Alabama Warrant and Indictment Committee, 2007 - Present
- Vice-Chair, Death Penalty Committee, National Association Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2004 - 2008
- Chairman, Criminal Justice Committee, Jefferson County, 2001 - 2005
- Board Certified, National Board of trial Advocacy, Criminal Trial Specialist, 1984
- Best Lawyers of America Named him White Collar Lawyer of the year for Birmingham, Alabama, 2013
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2008 - 2023
Top Lists
Top 50: Alabama Super Lawyers: 2012 - 2015, 2019 - 2023- Top 50: 2023 Alabama Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2022 Alabama Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2021 Alabama Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2020 Alabama Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2019 Alabama Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2015 Alabama Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2014 Alabama Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2013 Alabama Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2012 Alabama Super Lawyers
