St. Louis Huffman Law

08/21/2026

It’s been a whirlwind month. I was inducted as Dean of the National College for DUI Defense, and I’ve been named to Woodward/White’s The Best Lawyers in America for the fifteenth year in a row. I was also privileged to teach defense lawyers in Tennessee, New York and Texas for NCDD, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the New York Legal Aid Society.
Thank you to the College for trusting me with the Deanship, to the organizations who invited me to teach, and to my colleagues who chose to include me in Best Lawyers. I will work to live up to these honors every day.
These accolades mean a lot to me, but I also understand that every person who hires me is trusting me with the most important thing happening in their life and needs me to do everything I can to get them the best result possible, not to rest on my laurels. So, back to work.

08/09/2026

Twenty eight lawyers in the chemistry lab at UT Arlington all day Saturday and all day Sunday? It must be the National College for DUI Defense's Serious Science course. Five days of intense scientific training and work on communicating about science with juries. This is my all-time favorite training, and it is a privilege to teach at it every year.

07/31/2026

was privileged to speak on cross-examining forensic analysts for a conference that the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) held with the New York Legal Aid Society yesterday. Great group, many committed young lawyers who I had the pleasure of speaking with at the conference. There's a story behind me coming out to speak, however.

I have written before about how I got the public speaking bug from my dad (Bill St. Louis), who was very involved in Optimist International, a service organization. They would always ask him to emcee their dinners and chair meetings. So, as a kid, I would watch him and say to myself: "I want to be the guy up there doing that." Fast forward 50 years (or so) and I have been privileged to be able to present at legal conference in 20 states for Bar Organization and defense attorney groups.

A month ago I received an email from Gerald Lippert, Chief Learning Officer for NACDL asking if I would be willing to come out to New York City in a month and replace a speaker. Gerald has seen me speak many times at the joint Las Vegas seminar the National College for DUI Defense holds with NACDL each year (October 21-24 this year. C'mon out and and join us).

Here's the issue: I became Dean of NCDD two weeks ago, so we were out in Nashville that week. I have committed to teaching at NCDD's Serious Science seminar in Arlington, Texas (held in part at UT Arlington) and leave next Thursday to teach there. My wife Tania doesn't come with me to the Texas seminar, but I wasn't sure she would be on board with another trip squeezed in between these commitments. But I texted Tania to see if she wanted to come to NYC, and I think I got a "yes" reply about half a second after I sent it.

I wish my parents (my mom's name was Kathyleen St. Louis) were here to see how thoroughly I have followed in my dad's footsteps, and how much joy I get from giving these talks. I know that being asked to speak to a group of my peers is an honor that I have to earn every time to speak, and I am excited about being with 28 attendees in Texas next week to do a deep dive into science and how to communicate about it to juries. And then I'll start planning for the Las Vegas seminar...

07/20/2026

So honored to be asked to lead an organization that means so much to me. Exciting year ahead!

Live from Nashville!! The College is proud to introduce the 2026-2027 Dean of the College, Joseph St. Louis. Dean St. Louis became a Regent in 2014 and has diligently served the College and its members through numerous teaching engagements, mentorship and Co-Course Director for our Serious Science programs.

This next year promises to be a banner year for the College under Joe's steady leadership. Congratulations.

05/17/2026

There's a lot going on in this flyer that is important to me. First, it's very cool we will be in Nashville this year. I'm excited to spend time there, and my wife and both of our adult children will be coming for the week with us. Second, I love that these pdfs have been made for all of our speakers - we haven't done that before, and after seeing them, we should have a long time ago. They look great. Third, I've been asked to give two lectures at this conference, so...yay?

But here is what is the most important on the flyer to me, personally: I have been elected to be the Dean of the National College of DUI Defense, beginning at the end of this conference. NCDD is a criminal defense organization started over 25 years ago by the top DUI lawyers in the country. Because the goal is to provide the best education possible for the lawyers defending these types of cases, the founders decided to name it a college. Instead of having a Board of Directors, we have a Board of Regents; instead of having a Chairman of the Board, we have a Dean of the College.

Just being elected to the board was a thrill for me. The lawyers who have been Regents in the past 20 years or so that I have been a member are some of the smartest, most creative lawyers I have ever met. Several became mentors to me, and are now my friends.

I listened to a podcast recently where a four-star general was talking about the importance of servant leadership - making the point that being asked to lead is an honor that you have to earn every day. I will make every effort to do just that and to live up to the honor of being asked to lead this organization. I have plans for what I want to accomplish during the next year, that I am happy to share after I take over the reigns from our current Dean Bruce Edge, who has done a terrific job this past year, and who has given me big shoes to fill.

So I am grateful for the faith placed in me and honored to serve in this role. by the way, if you can join us in Nashville, please so. The first plate of nachos is on me.
https://lnkd.in/gcc_VgmN

03/27/2026

Seems like we should call Joe "The Blood Guy," since he is asked to teach other lawyers about laboratory testing so often...

Good Morning New Orleans!! The 32nd NCDD/TCLDA Annual Mastering Scientific Evidence kicks the day off with a great presentation from Regent Joe St. Louis discussing Pre-analytical Errors in Blood Testing.

02/26/2026

When judges fail to suppress evidence based on illegal searches and seizures, and fail to dismiss charges based on illegal arrests, we all pay the cost. Read my blog discussing the built-in incentives judges have to leave every decision to the jury, and the impact that has on all of us. https://lnkd.in/gbZxuP8w

12/27/2025

Inspiration comes from unexpected places (which is why AI will never replace creative lawyering - try asking AI to come up with a new and original legal theory to challenge the admission of evidence. But I digress). Earlier this year I saw a billboard with the message "Do Your Research." It inspired me to write a long blog on how that applies to choosing a criminal defense lawyer. I have previously published it in pieces. But if you want to read the blog as a whole, here it is.

https://www.azdefense.com/blog/2025/12/01/what-to-look-for-when-220278/

12/27/2025

We've always thought of Ryan Huffman as a superstar in court. Its nice to hear that our clients agree. Great job Ryan!

12/01/2025

Congratulations to Liz Farkas! All charges dismissed in a case where her client was alleged to have an alcohol concentration over .20 (super extreme DUI). Liz demonstrated that the basis for the stop that the arresting officer claimed occurred would, in the words of the Judge who dismissed the charges "likely have been invisible to the naked eye." The judge found there was no basis for the stop and dismissed all charges. Another client saved from jail time, license suspension and huge fines due to Liz's tireless efforts on his behalf. Great job Liz!