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Tom Hudson Passes the First Florida Bar Board Certification Examination in DUI Law

Posted by Tom Hudson | Mar 11, 2016 | 0 Comments

Just this afternoon, we got some good news.  As many people know, I became one of the few lawyers nationally Board-Certified in DUI Defense by the National College for DUI Defense in 2008.  However, the Florida Bar has never recognized DUI Defense as a specialty different from general Criminal Defense.  

Until now.

Board Certification is the highest level of evaluation by The Florida Bar of a lawyer's competency and experience within an area of law, and professionalism and ethics in practice. More than 4,500 Florida lawyers are recognized as specialists in one or more of 24 certification areas.  And DUI Defense is very different from general criminal defense, with heavy concentration on forensic evidence, including physiology, biochemistry, infrared spectrometry, gas chromatography and drug/alcohol interactions.  In addition, there are the Drivers License implications of a DUI arrest and conviction.

In the past year, the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education began the process of recognizing DUI Defense as a separate specialty.  In order to be recognized by the Florida Bar as a Board Certified expert in DUI Defense, candidates must pass the Board Certification Examination given annually by the NCDD, and also pass a Florida-specific examination.

In January, I flew out to Marina del Rey, California, to take the Florida-specific exam.  And we found out today that I had passed.  It will be a few months for paperwork to be done, but before long, I will be one of the first two lawyers in the State of Florida recognized by the Florida Bar as a Board-Certified Expert in DUI Defense.

About the Author

Tom Hudson

Known nationwide as a leading DUI defense lawyer, Tom has tried over 350 jury trials, including numerous death penalty cases. He now limits his criminal practice to DUI defense. His civil practice is devoted to getting fair compensation for the victims of negligence. Tom has attained multiple verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million, and is a Life Member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. In 2008, Tom Hudson passed the National Board Certification Test for DUI Attorneys in Honolulu, Hawaii. NOTE: The State of Florida does not yet recognize DUI defense as a Specialty.

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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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