About Rafael Trujillo
Rafael Trujillo is a San Francisco native, who has spent his entire 35 year legal career aggressively and successfully defending clients in the Bay Area. As a staff attorney with Legal Services for Children, followed by a 25 year career at the nationally regarded Office of the Public Defender in San Francisco, Rafael has represented thousands of clients in every type of criminal and Juvenile court hearing. He has conducted hundreds of court and jury trials. Rafael holds the distinction of being one of only two attorneys in San Francisco who have successfully obtained a jury verdict of not guilty in a special circumstances homicide case since the reintroduction of the death penalty in California.
Rafael understands that being charged with a crime is one of the most stressful experiences clients and their families can go through. By actively communicating with his clients, Rafael is able to make an arrest and the events that follow more bearable. Because of his considerable experience he can readily explain all the legal issues a case presents to a client and their families.
If needed Rafael can draw upon his substantial experience in employing a wide range of experts to effectively develop interdisciplinary strategies for the defense. The targeted use of experts can help provide a strong defense or assist in developing alternatives to incarceration. This can often make a critical difference in the overall outcome of a case.
Rafael received his Juris Doctor degree from the New College of California, School of Law, 1982. B.A. from San Francisco State University in 1977. He is an alum of Sacred Heart High School in San Francisco, class of 1972.
Memberships & certifications:
Member, California State Bar Admitted 1982
Member, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (CACJ)
Member, Northern California Criminal Trial Lawyers Association
Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
Member, Bar Association of San Francisco
Member, Board of Directors, Bar Association of San Francisco, Legal Referral & Information Service (LRIS)
Rafael has served as a Criminal procedure and trial practice instructor with Mexico’s Federal Attorney General’s Office, Mexico’s National Conference of Attorneys General and Mexico state attorneys general through the Alliance Partnership of the Conference of Western Attorneys General (CWAG).
Rafael has served as a legal expert in criminal law in mainland China with International Bridges to Justice (IBJ).
He's previously taught trail advocacy and pretrial skills at Golden Gate University School of Law and the New College of California, School of Law. He is also a former president of the San Francisco La Raza Lawyer’s Association.
