Contact Us (941) 358-5400

Tom Hudson

 

Tom has been practicing criminal law since 1980 when he started his career as a felony prosecutor in Cleveland, Ohio.  He is rated 10.0/10.0 (Superb) on Avvo.com, and has been AV-Rated (Preeminent) by Martindale-Hubbell. He has been a life member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an organization comprised of attorneys who have acted as lead counsel on large civil cases, in excess of $2 million, since 2012.

Tom is one of four lawyers in the State of Florida who is board-certified in the defense of DUI cases. In order to achieve that distinction, he had to undertake a year-long course of study, had to get recommendations from judges and other lawyers, and had to pass a written exam and oral exam, in Honolulu, HI, in January of 2008. A board certified DUI lawyer must demonstrate mastery of the criminal law, criminal procedure, drivers license regulations, blood and breath testing and metrology. Tom's board certification, from the National College for DUI Defense, has been renewed twice. 

Besides our legal accomplishments, The Hudson Law Office has been active in our community. Tom has had the honor of sitting on numerous nonprofit boards, and is currently a member of the Board of the Sarasota Animal Rescue Coalition. ARC has run a program in Sarasota for 20 years, to provide free and low-cost spay and neutering for dogs and cats, to stem the population of homeless companion animals. It is the founding principle of ARC that no animal should lose its life to make room for another in a shelter.

Our main office is in Sarasota, and we have a satellite office in the middle of Old Town Key West, at the corner of Duval and Fleming Streets.

Practice Area:

  • DUI and DWI

License:

  • FL - Member in Good Standing  (1996)
  • OH - Inactive (1980)

Awards:

  • Sustaining (Life) Member - National College for DUI Defense (2014)
  • Multi-Million Dollar Advocate - Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum (2012)
  • State Delegate for the State of Florida - National College for DUI Defense (2010)
  • Board Certification in the Defense of DUI Cases - National College for DUI Defense (2008)
  • Certificate of Completion-NHTSA Drug Recognition Expert Course - Walden-Platt Associates (2007)
  • Qualified-Expert Witness in the Standardized Field Sobriety Test - County Court of Sarasota County, Florida (2007)
  • Certification as Instructor of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests - Walden-Platt Associates (2005)
  • Certification as Practitioner-Standardized Field Sobriety Tests - Walden-Platt Associates (2004)
  • Certification as Breath Test Operator - Florida Department of Law Enforcement/St. Petersburg College (2004)
  • Board of Trustees Certificate of Accomplishment - ALSO for Out Youth Inc. (1998)
  • Community Contribution Award - Suncoast Cathedral Metropolitan Community Church (1998)

Work Experience:

  • Faculty Member - National College for DUI Defense, Cambridge MA (2014 - Present)
  • Owner - Hudson Law Office (1996 - Present)
  • Radio Personality - WSRZ-FM, Clear Channel Radio (1996 - 2009)
  • Radio Personality - WMJI-FM Radio, Cleveland, Ohio (1992 - 1996)
  • Partner - Hudson and Hudson (1985 - 1996)
  • Radio Personality, News Editor - WHK Radio, Malrite Communications, Cleveland, OH (1983 - 1991)
  • Assistant Prosecuting Attorney - Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office (1980 - 1985)

Associations:

  • National College for DUI Defense - Faculty Member (2014 - Present)
  • National College for DUI Defense - Sustaining Member (2014 - Present)
  • Manasota Trial Lawyers Board - Secretary (2011 - Present)
  • Animal Rescue Coalition of Sarasota - Advisory Board Member (2011 - 2022)
  • Manasota Trial Lawyers Board - Member (2010 - Present)
  • National College of DUI Defense - Florida State Delegate (2010 - Present)
  • Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Manatee County Chapter) - Member (2005 - Present)
  • National College of DUI Defense - Member (2004 - Present)
  • Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Sarasota Chapter) - Member (2003 - Present)
  • Florida Bar Association - Member (1996 - Present)
  • Florida Justice Association (Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers) - Member (1996 - Present)
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers - Member (1995 - Present)
  • HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Sarasota - Pet Therapy Volunteer (2008 - 2013)
  • Grove Pointe Homeowners Association - Vice President (2006 - 2008)
  • Venice Little Theater - Member, Advisory Board (2003 - 2005)
  • Temple Sinai of Sarasota, FL - Trustee (1999 - 2000)
  • Southwest Florida Business Guild - Board Member (1997 - 2000)
  • ALSO for Out Youth, Inc. - Board Member (1997 - 1999)
  • Cuyahoga County Bar Association - Member (1993 - 1996)
  • The Judge Anthony J. Celebreeze Inn of Court, Cleveland - Member (1985 - 1995)
  • Ohio State Bar Association - Member (1982 - 1996)

Publications:

  • Bookbaby - The Drinker's Guide to Driving: The Secrets of DUI from One of America's Top DUI Lawyers (2013)
  • Headlines Marketing Corporation publication - Florida Source Code Litigation (2009)
  • Mainstream Magazine - Cross-Currents (Monthly Legal Column) (1997 - 1999)

Education:

  • National College for DUI Defense - Certificate of Achievement   (2005 - 2015)
  • Case Western Reserve University School of Law - Juris Doctor (1980)
  • Kenyon College - Bachelor of Arts cum laude (1977)

Speaking Engagements:

  • Featured Speaker, Summer Session, National College for DUI Defense, Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA. (2019)
  • 7th Annual Diving into a DUI Seminar-Key West, FL - DUI Defense and Alcoholism (2013)
  • Quarterly meeting - Friends Don't Let Friends Plead Guilty: Defending a DUI Case in Florida (2012)
  • Monthly membership meeting - Friends Don't Let Friends Plead Guilty: Defending a DUI Case in Florida (2012)
  • Best in Show Gala, ARCademy Awards - Animal Rescue Coalition Emergency Medical Fund (2012)
  • Diving into a OWI Case - Dealing with the Difficult DUI Client (2011)
  • ARC Safari "Best in Show" Gala  - Animal Rescue Coalition Emergency Medical Fund (2011)
  • Criminal Justice - DUI Defense-Guest Instructor (2008)
  • Breath Instrument Source Code Seminar - DUI Defense (2008)
  • Standardized Field Sobriety Tests - DUI Defense (2006)
  • Standardized Field Sobriety Tests - DUI Defense (2005)
  • In-House CLE Program-Hillsborough County Public Defender - Cross Examination in the Criminal Case (2004)
  • The Art of Cross Examination - Cross Examination in the Criminal Case (2003)

Legal Cases:

  • Estate of B.C. v. M.R. (Settlement of $2.1 million)
  • DO v. Miller ($1.5 Million Jury Verdict for Dog bite)
  • State of Florida v. A.R. (Jury Verdict of Not Guilty)
  • State of Florida v.A.P. (Jury Verdict of Not Guilty)
  • State of Florida v. M.P. (Jury Verdict of Not Guilty)
  • State of Florida v. H. E. (Jury Verdict of Not Guilty)
  • State of Florida v. M.M. (Jury Verdict of Not Guilty)

What Clients Say:

“Mr. Hudson was and is in my opinion a class A DUI Attorney. I received my 2nd DUI in 2 yrs (shy 1 month) Mr. Hudson did everything he could to reduce my sentence. I am a senior citizen and in poor health. He always makes himself available and always kept me informed and calm. I recommend him highly and I was lucky to have him as my attorney. I can say I also consider him a friend.”  - Beverly

“Answered all the questions i had, returned my phone calls, and Did everything he could for me and saved my future. Thank you Tom!! “- Melissa B

“Amazing job...would definitely recommend...had my relative's charges and penalties reduced to lowest possible levels, and records can be sealed (which other attorneys thought would not be possible)” Timothy R

Why We're Different

Board Certification as a DUI Specialist by the National College for DUI Defense. Formal NHTSA Certification as an Instructor of the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests given by police in DUI cases. Formal training as a NHTSA Drug Recognition Evaluator. ("Drug Evaluation & Classification") Formal training to operate the Intoxilyzer 8000, Florida's official breath test instrument. Extensive experience in teaching other attorneys how to handle DUI cases. Hundreds of jury trials both as defense lawyer and as prosecutor.

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