Jason M. Kalafat | Scrofano Law

During this time, Mr. Kalafat represented hundreds of clients in the District of Columbia Superior Court and in federal courts in Washington DC and Maryland. When he founded his solo practice in 2020, he returned to his roots accepting court appointed cases on the District of Columbia Criminal Justice Act panel. Well regarded by prosecutors, judges, and other members of the defense bar, Mr. Kalafat was routinely handpicked by judges to accept serious felony appointments for indigent defendants.

Mr. Kalafat is well regarded by both former clients and former adversaries alike. He has been described by former clients as “a capable and unrelenting advocate” with “great knowledge of experience, understanding, and ability to communicate well.” Even prosecutors who have practiced against him have described him as someone who “defends his clients aggressively and is always professional in his advocacy.”

In 2025, Mr. Kalafat decided to join Scrofano Law PC as a Senior Trial Attorney to continue his practice in criminal defense and related matters with like-minded advocates who believe in defending clients relentlessly with honesty, compassion, and zeal. He is an active member of the District of Columbia Bar, has a perfect 10.0 rating by AVVO, and has achieved the highest AV peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Kalafat has also been selected as a Super Lawyer year after year in recognition of his dedication and skills as a criminal defense attorney.

He is a graduate of the West Virginia University College of Arts and Sciences where he was Graduate of the Year in 1997. He later earned his Juris Doctorate from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 2000. He has been trial counsel in 100 trials through 2024. If you or a friend or loved one is in need of representation for a criminal matter in the District of Columbia, don’t hesitate to contact Jason M. Kalafat today.

When Jason is not defending clients in court, he enjoys diving into some pretty unconventional hobbies, including a love to cook—and not your typical meals. His culinary adventures often feel like they’re part of a dare with dishes like yak, offal, mofongo, and larb gai making regular appearances.

In a past life, Mr. Kalafat took a solo Harley ride into Mexico just to see what would happen (the border searches on the way back were memorable, to say the least). Now, he spends his free time taking his kids to quirky destinations like the Great Dismal Swamp. He also loves to kayak the Potomac above Great Falls. Lastly, he does a killer rendition of “Black Betty” by Ram Jam at Karaoke.