Christine B. Dufour

In November 2023, Ms. DuFour was chosen by the Editorial Board of the Daily Record as a 2023 "Criminal Law Power List" Honoree. She is the Past President of the Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys’ Association, the preeminent group of defense attorneys in the state.  She is the Chair of the Maryland State Bar’s Criminal Law Section Council. In 2024 Ms. DuFour was appointed by Governor Wes Moore to be one of 13 selected to be a member of the Judicial Nominations Commission for Talbot, Caroline Counties.  In 2025 she was confirmed by the Maryland Senate as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Public Defender’s Office. She was one of 23 chosen from across the state of Maryland to receive this honor. In 2024, Ms. DuFour achieved a surprising jury acquittal in Talbot County in a sex offense case in which the jury heard every detail of the client’s previous conviction of a sex offense 20 years ago.  See article. In 2024, Ms. DuFour scored a complete acquittal on all 11 counts in a Rape jury trial in Worcester County on the eastern shore of Maryland (see article). She has practiced criminal defense both in private practice as well as with the Office of the Public Defender in Montgomery County. Ms. DuFour successfully litigated murder, rape, and armed robbery cases before juries, and secured acquittals. In addition to felony trial work, Ms. DuFour litigated hundreds of criminal cases before judges sitting in the District Court as well as the Juvenile Court. Ms. DuFour remained active in the Montgomery County Bar as the chair of several sections and ultimately became Secretary of that Bar Association. Ms. DuFour was appointed to the Inns of Court and received recognition as a Barrister of the Court. She was also appointed by the Supreme Court of Maryland Character Committee to interview prospective new members of the Maryland Bar to evaluate their character and integrity. Ms. DuFour was also an active volunteer at her children's schools, with Meals on Wheels, Center City Consortium, and numerous other charities. Following her first tenure at the Office of the Public Defender, Ms. DuFour worked as a legislative aide to then Delegate Mark K. Shriver in Annapolis, was Of Counsel to Albright and Rhodes in Rockville and practiced criminal defense. Ms. DuFour then decided to take a break to remain home to raise her three children.