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Justin Criner received his undergraduate degree in Political Science at Virginia Commonwealth University where he met his wife and fell in love with Richmond and the surrounding areas. Mr. Criner received his juris doctor from the Appalachian School of Law in 2013 where he was a senior editor of the law journal and the president of the local Lions’ Club. He remains active in the community and can regularly be found at Lions’ Club or VCU athletic events. Before joining Hairfield Morton, PLC, Mr. Criner worked as a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney in Charleston, WV and opened his own practice in the Stafford, VA area. His areas of practice include criminal and family law as well as an active civil litigation practice in numerous areas, Mr. Criner prides himself on being able to bring countless hours of courtroom experience to each case while still taking the time to provide personal attention to individual clients and explore new ideas. He resides in Chesterfield County with his wife and daughter.

I have spent my entire 23 year career dedicated to defending those charged with criminal offenses.  As the Capital Defender for Central and Southeastern Virginia for 10 years, I successfully represented clients in the highest profile cases charged with the toughest offenses.  I have experience handling the most serious cases in all parts of Virginia, from Tidewater to the Shenandoah Valley and everywhere in between. I am a Past-President of the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Richmond School of Law.

Merely being charged with a crime can change your life forever. You can lose your job, professional licenses, your friends and your family. Even worse, being convicted may send you to prison. Knowing that the stakes are so high for my clients keeps me passionate about my work!. I don’t take on a lot of cases. Instead, I take the time to get to know you well, to learn the facts of your case inside and out (often with the help of investigators), and then to use those facts to tell a story to the State’s Attorney that will allow him or her to feel comfortable accepting the most favorable outcome for your case.. You are always at the center! I return your calls and emails the same day, remain completely open about where we are in the case, and I will always be honest with you in my assessment of the case and the potential outcomes.