The National DUI Convention is scheduled for Las Vegas this week. Nearly 1,000 of the country’s top DUI attorneys are attending. The idea behind such a convention is not to get client’s “off,” or have their cases dismissed, but it is something far more important. It is all about integrity of the legal community. In recent years we have seen police officers in trouble (perjury, committing crimes, committing DUIs), State Toxicology offices committing perjury, etc (see Washington State Toxicology Office’s misconduct). There seems to be many employed by the State who believe that this behavior is acceptable because, as I have been told, those charged with DUI are guilty and that is what matters. These people have forgotten that there are laws and something called the “Constitution.” One is presumed innocent until proven guilty! If the evidence is flawed, wrong, or violates constitutional rights it must not and cannot be used to prove guilt. If the State, ie. Toxicology offices and prosecutors, attempt to prove guilt with evidence obtained unlawfully then this poses a problem. It is certainly ethically wrong but it is also legally wrong. Now, back to the DUI Convention. The real purpose with the convention is to keep the government honest. The convention trains DUI attorneys to insist on the state/city following proper protocol, laws, and constitutional rights when prosecuting our clients. Not only is there nothing wrong with this but importantly, there is everything right about this. Remember, DUI Defense attorneys do not invent defenses, we find flaws in the work of others (police officer, toxicology labs, prosecuting attorneys). If these agencies do better work, our job is more difficult.
For information on your Washington State DUI please contact our Snohomish County DUI attorneys, Whatcom County DUI attorneys, King County DUI attorneys, Whatcom Island County DUI attorneys, Island County DUI attorneys, or Skagit County DUI attorneys at 425-493-1115 or check out our website at http://www.washdui.com
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