NCDD Gains ABA Approval for DUI Defense Law Specialty Certification

Few offenses in America's criminal justice system call for greater attorney expertise than cases involving driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. The reason, according to the National College for DUI Defense Inc. (NCDD), is that DUI cases are especially complex, requiring a broad knowledge of the science involved in testing for intoxicants and a command of the legal process on which DUI cases are framed.

The legal issues, notes the NCDD, are wide-ranging, involving search and seizure, due process, illegal interrogation, denial of counsel and evidentiary issues. These legal issues intersect in a DUI case with scientific areas of expertise such as anatomy, biology, chemistry, physiology and toxicology. DUI counsel must also have a working understanding of the operation of breath testing equipment, hospital testing equipment and instruments utilized by forensic laboratories in the process of testing for intoxicants.

For more than a decade, the National College for DUI Defense has been engaged in training lawyers in the practice of DUI cases. On August 9, 2004, this country's preeminent association of lawyers, the American Bar Association, declared DUI Defense Law to be a new legal specialty and announced the accreditation of the NCDD as a certification provider in the specialty area of DUI Defense Law.

For a lawyer to become board certified in DUI Defense Law the candidate must meet law practice and DUI experience criteria and must pass both written and oral examinations. The examinations are conducted once each year by the NCCD, in conjunction with its Winter Session in January. The testing is conducted at the location of the winter meeting, which varies from year to year.

The National College for DUI Defense is a non-profit corporation headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama. Montgomery attorney John T. Kirk is dean of the NCDD. Kirk stressed that the mission of the College is to assure accused citizens of the right to a fair trial in a DUI case and to provide lawyers with the skills and resources to defend their clients properly.

NCDD's national headquarters moved from Houston to Montgomery in July. More information is available online at http://www.ncdd.com. The information includes an interactive map of the United States which can assist a person in locating counsel affiliated with the National College.


(22.09.2004)

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