Richard Cofer

Attorney Rick Cofer is a partner with Cofer & Connelly, PLLC, law firm in Austin, Texas. Nationally known as among the best criminal defense attorneys in the country, Mr. Cofer has more than 14 years of legal experience. Recognized in 2021 and 2022 as Best Lawyer by the Austin Chronicle, a Rising Star by Super Lawyers, and Top 1% by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel, he provides unmatched counsel and support to clients facing criminal charges throughout Texas.

Since 2019, Mr. Cofer has secured dismissal or acquittal in over 94% of all cases resolved - including hundreds of felony and misdemeanor charges. He has won dismissal in capital murder, homicide, sexual assault, and other serious felony cases in more than thirty Texas counties.

Over the course of his legal career, Mr. Cofer has served as both a prosecutor and a criminal defense attorney. He has tried more than 100 cases to a judge or jury, and has thousands of hours of courtroom experience.

Additionally, he is a statewide juvenile defense attorney, representing young adults in serious cases throughout Texas. He holds the distinction of being the only Austin attorney to have both prosecuted and defended Travis County juvenile murder charges.

Through his criminal defense practice, Mr. Cofer routinely handles some of the most complex and serious criminal cases across Central Texas, including murder charges, sex crimes, and other major felonies. He also handles DWI and drug possession cases, and he has notable experience with cannabis and marijuana laws.

From his efforts, Mr. Cofer has achieved a long record of securing successful outcomes for his clients, and he has earned numerous awards and honors for his outstanding professionalism and service. Among his accolades, he has received a Top 100 Trial Lawyers designation from The National Trial Lawyers, and Attorney & Practice Magazine named him among the Top 10 Criminal Defense Attorneys in 2019. He has also received Superb client ratings on Avvo along with the site's Clients' Choice Award.

Moreover, Mr. Cofer has received the Distinguished Service Certificate from the city of Austin along with the Individual Achievement Award from Keep Austin Beautiful. He has also received a Resolution of Appreciation from the Travis County Commissioners Court, and he is a graduate of the Austin Bar Association's Leadership Academy.

Mr. Cofer is also a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas, a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, and a board member of the Austin Bar Foundation. He is a member of the Capital Area Trial Lawyers Association, the Austin and Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Associations, the Austin LBGT Bar Association, and other local, state, and national legal organizations.

A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Mr. Cofer obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law, where he was a member of the Leon Green Society and the American Constitution Society. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Western, Northern, and Southern Districts of Texas, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Mr. Cofer has deep Central Texas roots. He has served in a number of public roles, including:

• Vice Chair, Texas Health Action Kind Clinic
• Chair, City of Austin Zero Waste Commission
• Vice Chair, City of Austin Parks and Recreation Board
• Chair, Ending Community Homelessness Coalition Board of Directors
• President, Pease Park Conservancy Board of Directors

Mr. Cofer has lived in Central Texas for more than twenty years. He splits time between his Clarksville neighborhood and Blanco ranch.