St. Louis Huffman Law

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!

10/23/2025

Quick update to yesterday's post: I texted Steve Oberman (who organizes the Las Vegas seminar) to make sure he didn't need anything, and now I'm teaching two sessions on opening statements on Saturday! Spoke too soon when I said I wouldn't be teaching at the seminar yesterday! If you're attending the seminar, come on by Saturday morning. We'll have a good time and learn a lot. (The picture is from one of the times I spoke on day one of the conference to the whole group, about 400 attendees. The sessions I am teaching Saturday will be to a smaller group, since I will be one of about 12 options open to attendees).

10/20/2025

From our Managing Partner, Joe St. Louis: celebrating a personal milestone today: I have now spoken at legal conferences put on by state bar organizations and defense attorney groups in 20 states (Thank you Maine Commission on Public Defender Services for having me!). I have always had the public speaking bug. I got it from my Dad, who was always the master of ceremonies for his Optimist Club (a service organization that helps disadvantaged youth). I always wanted to be the person up there speaking, so that is the path I have followed. This trip was more logistically challenging than most, but well worth it. We flew out Friday to visit our oldest Renee in Worcester, MA. We drove up to Lewiston, ME last night, and I spoke to about 150 attendees this morning. Tomorrow we fly back to Tucson, do laundry, reload and fly out to Las Vegas Wednesday for the National College of DUI Defense/National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers conference. (I'm not speaking at that one, but have a board meeting, a committee meeting & I'm hosting a discussion on blood testing and breath testing Friday morning). Only 30 states to go!

09/01/2025

08/25/2025

Congratulations to Joe St. Louis. Fourteen years in a row is really impressive.

07/31/2025

In this line of work you get to meet some really interesting people. If I told you about this client's level of success in their chosen field, many people wouldn't understand how they could have an alcohol problem (unless you really understand that alcoholism doesn't care how successful you are). If I told you about the client's horrific childhood, you wouldn't understand how they could achieve the level of success they have obtained. And if I told you the facts of the case, you would be certain that they were going to prison.

But this person REALLY did the work necessary for a good outcome. Made sure the Victim of the offense was made financially whole. Got sober. Stayed sober. Built an incredible record documenting their sobriety, their treatment, and their dedication to turning their life around.

There are a ton of resources available to get sober and stay sober, and to document that to a court, if you are willing to do the work. But you have to do the work every day. This person did that work, and gave me the tools to work out a plea where they will serve a few days in jail instead of years in prison. This is a great outcome for a very deserving person.

06/01/2025

We are proud and honored that Joe St. Louis was named a top attorney by Superlawyers for the 17th year in a row, and that Ryan Huffman was named a Rising Star. Read our blog to find out why this is a designation that matters when you are choosing a lawyer.
https://www.azdefense.com/blog/2025/05/27/not-all-attorney-recognition-awards-220187/

12/04/2024

Going through two trials together with a client always forges a lasting bond between the two of us. But this case is especially near and dear to my heart. My client turned down a probation-available plea to a felony and put his trust in the jury and in me, when the judge would have been required to sentence him to 5 years in prison if he had been convicted of the most serious charge. We finished one trial, where he was found not guilty of any offense and was acquitted of 5 felonies and 1 misdemeanor. We started a second trial (on 1 probation-available felony and 6 misdemeanors) which blew up when the alleged victims violated pretrial rulings. I finally got the plea I'd been asking for for two years, to a misdemeanor, with no jail time. My client really deserved this outcome and I love, love, love how he gave credit to the everyone in the office - it was absolutely a team effort and I couldn't have done it without everyone's help (Liz Farkas and Krystina deserve special recognition for going above and beyond to help us get this result). Thank you, on behalf of our whole office, for your kind words.

Joe