About John Michael
John Michael Runfola is a criminal defense attorney admitted to practice law in California in 1980. He holds and is currently in active status. Mr. Runfola is the principal attorney at the Law Offices of John M. Runfola, located at Pier 9, Suite 100, The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94111. He has been practicing law for over 45 years, serving clients throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
Mr. Runfola earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 1980. Prior to law school, he completed his undergraduate studies at the State University of New York - College at Buffalo (Buffalo State College), obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 1973 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1969. He also pursued graduate studies in Political Science at San Francisco State University.
Mr. Runfola specializes in criminal defense, handling cases involving drug offenses, federal and state crimes, juvenile offenses, vehicular crimes, white-collar crimes, and violent crimes such as homicide, weapons charges, domestic violence, and sexual assault. His practice encompasses all stages of litigation, including pre-trial motions, trial proceedings, and appeals.
Throughout his career, Mr. Runfola has represented clients in various courts, including the Superior Court of California for the County of San Francisco, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He has also appeared before the California Court of Appeal. Before establishing his own practice, he served as a Deputy Public Defender in San Francisco, gaining extensive courtroom experience.
Mr. Runfola is a member of the California State Bar Association and has been recognized in the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. He has also been selected as a California Super Lawyer from 2020 to 2024. He is fluent in English and Italian, enabling him to effectively serve a diverse clientele in the San Francisco area.
