Christopher Renfroe has been practicing law in Queens since 1984. Initially Mr. Renfroe worked for the Legal Aid Society Criminal Defense Division.

In August of 1987 Mr. Renfroe began his new career in private practice. Mr. Renfroe has tried many cases and represented his clients zealously.

Mr. Renfroe has been a lecturer on the Death Penalty in New York. Mr. Renfroe tried the first death penalty case in Queens County saving the life of James Allen Gordon in People v. Gordon.

It is a rare walk down Queens Boulevard that you don't have occasion to come upon one of our fellow attorneys, Chris Renfroe, also known as the "Mayor of Queens Boulevard." Few people pass him without seeing his smiling face and getting a warm greeting from him. Chris is well known throughout the legal community for his genuine personality — he is a straight shooter who treats everyone from the judges to his criminal defendants with the utmost respect.

Chris is initially from Syracuse and has lived most of his life in upstate New York. He came to the big city to take a job with Legal Aid.Chris graduated S.U.N.Y. at Cortland with a B.A. in Political Science in 1981. He then went on to attend Buffalo Law School, from which he graduated in 1984. Thereafter, he started his legal career working for the Criminal Division of the Legal Aid Society in Queens, con-ducting numerous criminal trials, until 1987. He then left Legal Aid to become a partner in his own firm, Renfroe and Quinn. He was soon known throughout the county and city, as an expert in the trial of a criminal case, including capital murder cases.

The fact is Chris tried the first capital case in Queens County, with Russell Morea. The defendant was convicted of first-degree murder. Chris represented him during the penalty phase, and was able to spare his life, avoiding the death penalty. The case took its toll on Chris. His wife said he didn't smile for a while.

Chris is also a court examiner for the Appellate Division, 2nd Dept., where he works to protect the physical well being of incapacitated individuals, and to safeguard their financial assets to provide for their long-term care. Chris has also been very active on the local bar scene. He is the past president of the Macon B. Allen Black Bar Association. Of course, he is also a member of the Queens Bar, and sits on its Judiciary Committee. He is also a member of the very prestigious Federal Judicial Screening Panel appointed by U.S. Senator Charles Schumer. There, he sits on a panel interviewing candidates for the Federal Bench, and for the positions of U.S. Attorney for the Eastern, Southern and Northern Districts.

Chris is not only a tough competitor in the courtroom, but on the tennis court as well. Supreme Court Clerk Willie Jenkins. the president courthouse tennis pro and Chris' occasional tennis partner, says, "Chris is up to meeting challenges on and off the court - both the courtroom and the tennis court."

In addition to tennis, Chris' interests include developing his investment portfolio and dabbling in the stock market, although he insists he won't be retiring from the practice of law anytime soon. He is also involved in charity work, particularly a cause known as "Dollars for Scholars." The group helps inner city kids, taking them around the country to check out various colleges. Chris has raised a significant amount of money for the organization and was recently honored by them for his good work. Chris says he tries to follow the advice of one of his past mentors, Hon. Kenneth Browne, in trying to do something "That at the end of the day you can feel good about."

Chris, who lives in Jamaica Estates, is also a true family man. He's married to Myra Shapiro, who was formerly a prosecuting attorney with the Corporation Counsel, and is now a director of the Queens Children's Advocacy Center. They have three children.