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Richard S. Jaffe (February 27, 1950 –) is the Senior Partner of the Birmingham, Alabama law firm of Jaffe & Drennan, P.C. He has handled over sixty capital cases, including 5 federal death penalty cases, and is the only attorney in the nation who has successfully defended three death row inmates at new trials after they had previously been sentenced to death. He is also known for his lead role in defending the Olympic Bomber, Eric Rudolf, for fourteen months.

Early life
Richard was born on February 27, 1950 in Mountain Brook, Alabama. He graduated from Mountain Brook High School where he started as a forward on the varsity basketball teams, although he is only 5’9’’inches tall. He was the only Jewish basketball player on the team at these schools.

College and Law School
Mr. Jaffe attended the University of Alabama where he obtained a degree in the arts and sciences, majoring in Political science with an English minor. There he was actively involved in political affairs, elected to the SGA House of Representatives and then the Senate. He was then asked to serve as one of three student members of the Honor Court. He was inducted as a member of the Honor Societies of Jasons and ODK. He attended the University of Alabama School of Law.

Early Practice
Mr. Jaffe began his career as a prosecutor. In 1976 then State of Alabama Attorney General Bill Baxley hired him as an Assistant Attorney General in the criminal appellate division. In 1977-1978 he served as a Deputy District attorney for Tuscaloosa County, Alabama where he tried serious felony cases of all types before moving to Birmingham to open a private practice concentrating in the area of criminal defense.

Current Practice
Mr. Jaffe is the senior partner in the Birmingham, Alabama law firm of Jaffe & Drennan P.C., a litigation firm primarily focused on criminal and civil rights cases. He handles serious criminal cases in both the state and federal courts including violent crime and white collar defense.