About Mr. Richard Stephen
Mr. Richard Stephen Jaffe earned his J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1976. He moved quickly from classroom to courtroom during an era that placed heavy emphasis on trial work. That early legal education set the stage for a long career that spans several jurisdictions and many professional organizations.
His admissions include New York, Georgia, the District of Columbia and Alabama. Those multiple bars have allowed him to handle matters that cross state lines and to appear in different trial and appellate forums. Over the years he has built a practice environment centered on courtroom litigation rather than transactional work.
Professional associations have been a constant in his career. He served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) from 2003 to 2012. He was president of the Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (ACDLA) from 1990 to 1991. Records show he also held roles described as founder and president for a group of organizations during 1995–1996 and he has been listed as a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) since 2013. His memberships include NACDL, ACDLA, the Georgia criminal defense bar (GBCDLA), and ACTL.
His peers and the credentialing bodies have recognized his trial work. He holds a Criminal Trial Specialist certification from the NBTA. That credential is one marker among others that signals experience in jury trials and courtroom practice. It sits alongside his long record of association leadership and board service.
Courtroom practice has dominated his professional life. He has been involved in cases that required hands-on trial preparation, witness examination and argument. He has defended clients, argued motions and handled evidentiary disputes in state and federal settings. That practical courtroom experience is reflected in both the professional certification he holds and the leadership roles he has accepted in defense organizations.
Outside of courtroom filings and hearings, he has contributed time to organizational governance. His decade on a national board and earlier stints in association leadership show an interest in shaping professional standards and supporting other practitioners. Those roles have put him in contact with a broad network of defense lawyers and trial counsel.
He remains in active practice and continues to concentrate on criminal trial work in his current practice.
