Attorney Barner has worked in criminal justice for 25 years. He is a former prosecutor and former President and Board member of the Broward Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Additionally, he is a Trial Advocacy professor at Nova Southeastern University, and has presented countless Continuing Legal Education seminars to the Broward Public Defender's Office, the Broward Bar Association, Palm Beach Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Broward Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Monroe County Bar Association.
Barner has successfully represented individuals in Federal Criminal, State Criminal, and Immigration courtrooms throughout Florida and the U.S. He has also counseled foreign nationals from over 30 different countries on both criminal and immigration issues. Moreover, he has advised State congressmen and countless criminal defense attorneys on legal issues.
A recipient of two “Client’s Choice Awards,” Barner handles every case with individual care and treats every client with dignity. He has appeared in Sun-Sentinel, The Defender (a magazine published by the Florida Assn. of Criminal Defense Lawyers), AILA’s VOICE Magazine, The Ring Magazine, 1320AM’s The Law you Need to Know, and 1580 AM’s Ambiance Radio. Barner has also lectured at numerous local schools and universities, including NOVA Southeastern University, Florida International University’s Forensic Science Panel, Keiser University, Everest, Broward’s Police Athletic League, Comedy Fix Traffic School, and Boca Bay DUI School.
Always in the know as to breaking changes in immigration law, Barner was a party to a White House briefing with senior officials from the Obama Administration in advance of the President’s 2014 announcement regarding deferred action.
Before going into private practice, Mr. Barner tried jury and bench trials at the Canton City Prosecutor's Office and was later appointed by Mike Satz as Assistant State Attorney in Broward County. He was both a trial attorney and a case filer [the attorney filing official charges in a criminal case], working in both the Misdemeanor Trial Unit (handling criminal and traffic offenses) and the Felony Trial Unit. Attorney Barner has tried cases before Broward jurors ranging from traffic offenses to such felonies as kidnapping, drug dealing, and attempted murder. Additionally, Attorney Barner was recognized as a Convictor of Habitual Offenders when he was a prosecutor.
Prior to working as a Prosecutor in Broward County, Mr. Barner went to law school at the University of Akron [Ranked Top 10 by U.S. News and World Report for Trial Advocacy] where he received top marks in Trial Advocacy, a Board of Trustees Scholarship, acted as a Student Mentor, and was voted President of Phi Delta Phi, an International Legal Fraternity with a focus on charitable work. Further, Attorney Barner became certified in legal research by both Lexis Nexis and Westlaw.
"I work every case tirelessly and treat every client with dignity." - R. William Barner III