Joseph P. St. Louis takes over as dean of DUI defense college

Arizona DUI defense attorney Joseph P. St. Louis has begun a one-year term as dean of the National College for DUI Defense, where he will oversee education programs for attorneys across North America. The role comes as DUI cases increasingly hinge on complex science, making advanced training more important for defense lawyers and public defenders.

Why it matters: - DUI cases increasingly turn on breath- and blood-testing technology, toxicology and pharmacology. - Advanced continuing legal education can affect how attorneys challenge scientific evidence in DUI and DUI homicide cases. - The National College for DUI Defense trains more than 1,700 attorneys across the United States and Canada.

What happened: - Joseph P. St. Louis began serving as dean of the National College for DUI Defense on July 23, 2026. - St. Louis is the managing partner of St. Louis Huffman Law in Tucson, Arizona. - St. Louis has practiced exclusively in DUI, DUI homicide and criminal defense for nearly four decades.

The details: - The National College for DUI Defense is a nonprofit educational organization founded in 1994. - The college focuses on advanced legal education, seminars and professional collaboration for DUI defense lawyers. - During his one-year term, St. Louis will oversee educational programming, faculty development and efforts to expand access to advanced DUI defense training across North America. - Since joining the Board of Regents in 2014, St. Louis has focused on training attorneys to challenge complex scientific evidence. - St. Louis has taught at the college’s Serious Science seminars at the University of Texas at Arlington. - St. Louis helped develop a nationwide educational webinar for public defender offices that drew more than 850 attorneys. - St. Louis is board certified in Criminal Law by the State Bar of Arizona and in DUI Defense by the National College for DUI Defense. - St. Louis has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America for DUI Defense every year since 2013. - The college says its mission is "to provide the finest advanced-level training available to the DUI Defense Law practitioner."

Between the lines: - The appointment puts a lawyer with deep courtroom and teaching experience in charge of a group that is increasingly centered on science-heavy defense work. - St. Louis’ emphasis on public defenders suggests the college is trying to widen access to specialized DUI training beyond large private firms. - Bruce Edge, NCDD dean emeritus, said St. Louis has earned the respect and admiration of the faculty and members through years of thoughtful leadership.

What's next: - St. Louis will spend the next year guiding the college’s curriculum and faculty development. - NCDD is expected to continue its advanced seminars and training initiatives for attorneys across the United States and Canada. - The college also plans to keep supporting specialized training for public defenders.

The bottom line: - St. Louis’ new role signals NCDD’s focus on science-based DUI defense training and broader access to that education.