This page is a tribute to Mr. Duran for Keeping Jeff Stryker's ass out of jail. Jeff only looks good behind bars "in the movies". I have never met or trusted a criminal defense attorney alive today as good as Mr. Duran, states Jeff Stryker. When I am in legal trouble of any kind I call John Duran first thing, then I act as he instructs. On one occassion my neighbor Kulak and his attorney Andy Rigrod tried to file a false claim I had violated a court order so I would be jailed. The Van Nuys Police sent me a letter stating I needed to come in and place myself under arrest. Without an attorney I could have still been sitting there, I am not dumb, no powerful attorney and your ass sits! I called John, he went thru the process with them, made call, filed papers, sent faxes and instructe dme the next day to take a pre filled out document to the police, they would take my pictur eand release me quickly.and instructed me to go with no bail even. The main thing is I was not made to stay there and later John had the case dismissed at time of trial. Today is 10.5.08 and I would have/could have still been in jail had I not had Mr. Duran clear my name. It is years later and I can't thank John enough for saving me from years of being locked up from improper criminal charges. If you want to remain free or have the best criminal defense attorney you can get, Jeff Stryker tells you "Hire John if you are lucky enough to be able to get him". Mr. Duran is very busy because he is in such high demand but he has always found time to save me when I am facing criminal charges.

Jeff Stryker: Mr. Duran has protected my rights and proven my innocence more then 4 times in criminal defense cases throughout the 25 years I have had the pleasure to know him. He has made it possible for Jeff Stryker to keep doing "HARDTIME" on stage, instead of locked away behind the cold steel bars of the Los Angeles County Jail... doing "HardTime" for crimes he did not commit.

It does not matter if you are "guilty or innocent", if you are without proper legal representation, you don't stand a chance in a criminal court of law.

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Mr. John J. Duran specializes in Criminal Defense cases and his outstanding record speaks for its self.

John Duran races to his clients aid and stands by for 6 hours while FBI raid the medical facility.
Duran assured none of his clients were arrested.

West Hollywood shows a great deal of respect and care for their former Mayor Mr. John Duran. He fights for their rights and fights to assure the patients whom need medication... get it.

John Duran For California State Assembly

One of the Best criminal defense attorneys available in the United States, Mr. John Duran specializes in knowing criminal law and defending your rights. A active West Hollywood City Council member, former Mayor of West Hollywood and an outstanding representative for the city, corporations and individual clients. I would like to show you a small bit of the background and dedication of this mans work, out of my gratitude for his keeping me safe and Free from injustice.

You can't ask for a better man to stand before the judge and state your case. His knowledge of the law and years of expertise while actively practicing the law, gives you the advantage you need in your time of trouble.

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Mr. John Duran Brief Biography
Mayor John J. Duran was elected to the West Hollywood City Council on March 6, 2001. His election was the continuation of a long and dedicated history of service to the West Hollywood community. From 2000 to 2001 he served as Vice-Chair of the West Hollywood Rent Stabilization Commission, adjudicating appeals for landlord tenant disputes and making policy recommendations on affordable housing and protection of tenants’ rights. John also served as a volunteer attorney for the Coalition for Economic Survival (CES) Legal Clinic.

A native Angeleno, John received his Juris Doctorate degree from Western State University in Orange County, and leads one of Southern California’s prominent law firms on Gay and Lesbian rights and AIDS law. He has represented more than 1,000 clients with AIDS on issues ranging from discrimination to hate crimes. His current legal practice is criminal defense, specializing in crimes of addiction.

Throughout his career, John has worked to defend human rights. His many prominent legal cases include Kolcum v. L.A. County, where he successfully sued Los Angeles County for denying medication to inmates with HIV. He successfully defended the Cannabis Buyer’s Club during the medicinal use of marijuana controversy. In 1998, he won the first test case of medicinal marijuana defense since the passage of California’s Proposition 215. Other successful cases for John include Morton v. City of Costa Mesa, where he represented two Lesbians who were subjected to unlawful genital search to determine their gender. He also served as legal counsel for ACT UP (AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power) in the late 1980’s, was the trial attorney for the Los Angeles Needle Exchange Program and has defended the first amendment rights of numerous protestors.

John's defense of human rights extends outside of his legal practice into many activist and volunteer activities. He was a founding board member of ANGLE (Access Now for Gay and Lesbian Equality) from 1989 to the present date. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors of Equality California, a statewide LGBT lobby organization. Since 1999, he has served on Wendy’s Hope Advisory Board, a joint venture with City of Hope focusing on women with breast cancer. John also currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California.

John's awards and recognitions include the Labor Day LA Humanitarian Award which he received for dedication to human rights and AIDS activism. He was also recognized in 1991 by the California State Assembly for crafting California’s legislative response to AIDS as the statewide co-chair of the LIFE AIDS lobby. He was also named the 1990 Los Angeles Gay Pride Man of the Year by Christopher Street West and Man of the Year in 1989 by Orange County’s Gay and Lesbian Pride Celebration.

In October 2002, John was recognized by Being Alive, a coalition of people living with AIDS,for its leadership in HIV/AIDS services and for helping to improve the lives of the affected and infected with HIV. John is one of very few openly HIV positive elected officials in the nation.

PATRIOT ACT... John Duran...

"Forged in fire" fighting for gay rights in O.C., WeHo mayor John Duran isn't afraid to speak out