About Craig A.
Craig A. Epifanio built a legal foundation that began in the classroom and moved quickly into the courtroom. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science with an emphasis in paralegalism from Webster University in 1991. Three years later he graduated from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School with a J.D. and took the next steps toward a trial practice.
Early in his career he served as an Assistant Public Defender in the Pinellas County Public Defender’s Office in 1997. That role placed him in front of juries and judges regularly. It also grounded him in the routines of trial preparation, witness work and courtroom procedure. After public defense work, he transitioned into private practice and now practices under the name Craig A. Epifanio, P.A.
He is admitted to practice in Florida, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Those admissions allow him to handle both state and federal matters when cases require it. Over the years his file has included a range of criminal matters at different stages of the system.
Professional associations have been part of his career. He has maintained membership in the Florida State Bar. From 1999 through 2012 he belonged to the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. During that same period he was active in the Pinellas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and served as its president. Local and statewide bar work gave him regular contact with peers and judges, and opportunities to discuss procedural and legislative changes that affect defense practice.
Colleagues describe him as a practitioner who blends courtroom experience with familiarity in appellate filing, especially where federal jurisdiction is involved. He has handled arraignments, pretrial motions, bench and jury trials, and has filed matters in the 11th Circuit when cases climbed beyond the trial court level. He approaches each file in a straightforward way: assess the facts, press for the best procedural posture available, and take the steps that protect client interests.
Today he operates Craig A. Epifanio, P.A. and continues to represent clients in criminal cases. He handles matters at trial and on appeal and appears in both state and federal forums. He represents clients in state and federal criminal matters.
