A NATIONAL LEADER IN THE FIELD
Joseph P. St. Louis is a certified specialist in Criminal Defense (Arizona State Bar) and in DUI Defense (National College of DUI Defense).
He wins cases by conveying a deep knowledge of the subject matter, effectively cross-examining witnesses, making persuasive arguments, and keeping the judge and jury interested. He has become a known authority in the legal community, and has been invited by state bar associations to share his expertise in DUI cases at conferences throughout the United States. Mr. St. Louis leads a firm that is uniquely qualified to handle DUI and other criminal charges, helping clients achieve the best possible outcome.
Joseph P. St. Louis Stands Apart
Known in the Legal Community
Mr. St. Louis has built a reputation in the legal community that has earned him the respect and recognition of his peers. He was the president of Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice, a statewide defense organization with over 400 members. At the request of the then-presiding chief judge of the Pima County Justice Courts, Mr. St. Louis served as a part-time Justice of the Peace in 2003.
Understanding the Science
A high BAC doesn't mean your case is hopeless. After becoming frustrated with an analyst who would never answer his questions, Mr. St. Louis learned the science of blood testing himself. He's become so well-versed in it, he teaches judges and juries about laboratory errors, and teaches fellow lawyers how to defend blood alcohol tests. He once got a complete dismissal on a .27.
Track Record of Success
Mr. St. Louis has protected many Tucson residents from harsh penalties by securing not-guilty verdicts, case dismissals, and generous plea bargains. Our clients have noted Mr. St. Louis's personable demeanor, clear explanations, and extreme diligence when handling their cases.
AN ADVOCATE IN YOUR CORNER
• Mr. St. Louis has tried over 200 cases to juries, on both misdemeanor and felony charges, in federal court and state courts throughout Arizona.
• He has argued cases before the Arizona Court of Appeals, the Arizona Supreme Court, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• He was lead counsel in Pima County’s first death penalty case tried completely to a jury in state court.
• He was found to be qualified as “Learned Counsel,” a designation reserved for only the most qualified attorneys handling death penalty cases, in federal court.
• Mr. St. Louis has the unique distinction of having had two back-to-back first-degree murder cases in which the judges dismissed all murder charges during the trial.
• In 2013, Mr. St. Louis was one of four lawyers who litigated a 17-day hearing in the Maricopa County Superior Court challenging how blood testing is performed in the Scottsdale City Crime Laboratory. The hearing resulted in the judge suppressing all blood evidence in 11 felony cases, after finding the results to be unreliable.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Mr. St. Louis has been asked to give over 150 lectures and trainings by State Bar Associations and defense organizations throughout the United States in the last 25 years. In both 2015 and 2019, Joe St. Louis was named as one of the top 10 lecturers at any presentation given in that calendar year. Joe’s 2019 lecture, before an audience of nearly 400 lawyers from across the country, was selected to be included in the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers' webinar series for Forensic Science in Criminal Law. Some of his other engagements include:
DON’T BLOW IT: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IGNITION INTERLOCKS, Moderator, National College for DUI Defense, Webinar, November 21, 2024
USING THE CONFRONTATION CLAUSE IN TRIAL, DWI MEANS DEFEND WITH INGENUITY, Speaker, National College for DUI Defense and National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Las Vegas, NV, September 19, 2024
GIDEON BEHIND THE WHEEL, Moderator, National College for DUI Defense, Webinar, August 24, 2024
STRATEGIES FOR DUI DEFENSE, Speaker, Arizona Criminal Defense Practice for Paralegals, HalfMoon Education Webinar, August 23, 2024
SERIOUS SCIENCE 2024, Trainer, Breakout Leader, Voir Dire, National College for DUI Defense, Arlington, TX, August 14, 2024 (with Jonathan Dichter)
AWARDS & AFFILIATIONS
RATED AV PREEMINENT (2013-PRESENT)
Martindale-Hubbell®
BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA, 2013-PRESENT
Woodward/White
DUI specialty area
TOP ATTORNEYS IN ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO (2009-PRESENT)
Super Lawyers
DUI specialty area
TOP LAWYERS IN TUCSON (2013-PRESENT)
Tucson Lifestyle Magazine
DUI specialty area
STEPHEN PAUL BARNARD DUI DEFENSE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (2022)
Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice
(Certified Specialist, Criminal Law, Arizona, Board of Legal Specialization)
