John V. Elmore, Esq.

John V. Elmore serves as special trial counsel and managing attorney of the firm's Buffalo office.  Mr. Elmore handles serious personal injury matters and criminal defense.  Mr. Elmore has over 27 years of trial experience in New York State and federal courts.  He is a former New York State Trooper, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney, and New York State Assistant Attorney General. 

 

A native of Olean, New York, Mr. Elmore has successfully tried some of Western New York's most high profile criminal and civil cases.  He was one of the first attorneys in Western New York to be qualified to handle death penalty cases.

 

Mr. Elmore is a 1984 graduate of the Syracuse University College of Law. He received a BA in Criminal Justice Administration from Mansfield University where he was inducted into the Society of Honors. He is a member of the Erie County Bar Association, Minority Bar Association of Western New York, New York State Defenders' Association, and National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys.  He is a former chairperson of the New York State Attorney Grievance Committee, where he oversaw attorney disciplinary proceedings in the eight most western counties of the State of New York.

 

In 2011 Mr. Elmore was appointed by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo to  serve on two judicial screening committees. He serves as chairperson of the 4^th Department Judicial Screening Committee and serves on the Statewide Judicial Screening Committee.

 

Known for his investigative experience, Mr. Elmore was appointed special counsel by the City of Buffalo Mayor, Byron Brown, to oversee allegations of mismanagement and corruption of the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority (BMHA).  His investigation resulted in Mayor Brown's issuance of an action plan that was adopted by the BMHA and led to more fiscal responsibility.

 

Mr. Elmore is a Deacon of the Elim Christian Fellowship Church.  He is a life member of the NAACP and a board member of the Erie Community College Foundation.  He has been the recipient of numerous awards, including: The Buffalo News Citizen of the Year, Ebony Magazine Phenomenal Father, Medgar Evers Civil Rights Award, and the Erie County Bar Association Criminal Justice Award.

 

The well-seasoned trial attorney is the author of "Fighting for Your Life: the African American Survival Guide," which addresses the issues of young people and the criminal justice system.  As a result of his book, he is in demand for speaking engagements and radio and television programs.  He was a guest on CNN with Jane Valez and appeared on the Tavis Smiley Show. He is a frequent lecturer at continuing legal education seminars sponsored by the Erie County Bar Association, The New York Bar Association and the New York Trial Lawyers Association.

 

In addition to being a fighter in the court room, Mr. Elmore has been certified by the United States Boxing Association as a referee, judge and coach. He volunteers his time working with youths involved in amateur boxing in Western New York.

 

Mr. Elmore is listed in the 2009, 2010 and 2011 editions of Super Lawyers – Rising Stars in the category plaintiff’s personal injury and has received an AV ® Peer Review Rating from Martindale Hubbell, the preeminent level of professional excellence.