Joseph P. St. Louis
Joseph P. St. Louis, who has been practicing law for over 25 years, is a Partner in the Law Firm of Nesci & St. Louis, P.L.L.C.. Mr. St. Louis has been recognized for his expertise in handling a variety of criminal defense cases, including major felony cases in both State and Federal courts, as well as DUI defense, DUI homicides, drug offenses, sexual offenses, violent crimes, and murder cases, including death penalty cases. For a sampling of comments made by clients who have been represented by Mr. St. Louis, click here
Mr. St. Louis received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Arizona in 1984, graduating with departmental honors. In 1987, he obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Arizona College of Law. Mr. St. Louis is Certified by the Arizona State Bar as a Specialist in Criminal Law (June 2000 to the present). Only approximately five percent of attorneys currently practicing are certified as specialists in any area of the law.
Mr. St. Louis has been chosen as being one of the best attorneys in Arizona by Superlawyers magazine and AZ magazine. He has been chosen as one of Tucson’s best attorneys in both Criminal Defense and DUI Defense by Tucson Lifestyles Magazine. Nesci & St. Louis has the highest rating possible given by Martindale-Hubbell, an AV-Preeminent rating, and has been recognized as one of the best law firms in the Country by U.S. News & World Report.
Mr. St. Louis is a sought-after speaker on legal issues, and has spoken on a variety of legal topics at legal education seminars sponsored by a variety of State Bar and Defense Attorney organizations in Arizona, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Wisconsin. Mr. St. Louis is also the co-chair of Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice’s annual Aggressive Defense of the Accused Impair Driver seminar.
Mr. St. Louis is a graduate of the National Highway Traffic Administration’s Student Course on Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, the National Highway Traffic Administration’s Instructor Course on Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, and the American Chemical Society’s Forensic Chromatography Course.
In 2003, at the request of the then-presiding chief judge of the Pima County Justice Courts, Mr. St. Louis served as a part-time Justice of the Peace. In 2006, he also served as the president of Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice Arizona's leading defense attorney organization, with over 400 members.
Mr. St. Louis is death penalty-qualified, both in state court where he was lead counsel in Pima County’s first death penalty case tried completely to a jury (the client received a prison sentence after Mr. St. Louis convinced the jury not to impose the death penalty), and in federal court where he was found to be qualified as “Learned Counsel,” a designation reserved for only the most qualified attorneys handling these cases. Mr. St. Louis has the unique distinction of having had two back-to-back first-degree murder cases in which the judges dismissed all murder charges during trial.
Mr. St. Louis has tried over 150 cases to juries, on both misdemeanor and felony charges, in Federal court and in State courts throughout Arizona. He has also argued cases before the Arizona Court of Appeals, the Arizona Supreme Court, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Admissions:
Arizona State Bar, 1987.
United States District Court, District of Arizona, 1987.
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1993.
Professional Associations:
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member
National College for DUI Defense, Sustaining Member
Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice, Member.
President, 2006.
Vice President-South, 2001-2002, 2002-2003.
Arizona State Bar Association, Member.
Pima County Bar Association, Member.
Arizona State Bar Criminal Jury Instruction Committee, 2003-2006.
Arizona State Bar Criminal Rules Committee, 2009-2010.
Arizona State Bar Member Assistance Committee, 2001 to present.
Chairman, 2003.
Arizona State Bar Legal Services Committee, 1995-2000.
Education:
BA, Departmental Honors, University of Arizona, 1984
Major: Political Science
Minor: MIS/Philosophy
JD, University of Arizona College of Law, 1987
Published Opinions:
Carrillo v. Houser, 224 Ariz. 463, 232 P.3d 1245 (2010)
State v. Zaragoza, 221 Ariz. 49, 209 P.3d 629 (2009)
State v. Getz, 189 Ariz. 561, 944 P.2d 502 (1997)
United States v. Ramos, 39 F.3d 978 (9th Cir. 1994)
United States v. Ramos, 815 F.Supp 1304 (D.Ariz. 1993)
State v. Rowland, 172 Ariz. 182, 836 P.2d 395 (App. 1992)
State v. Greenway, 170 Ariz. 155, 823 P.2d 22 (1991)
Awards, Certifications & Significant Courses:
| Certified Specialist in Criminal Law | State Bar of Arizona | 2000-present. |
| NHTSA/IACP Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Practitioner Course | 2007 | |
| NHTSA/IACP Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Instructor Certification Course | 2007 | |
| The Top Attorneys in Arizona and New Mexico | Super Lawyers | 2009 |
| The Top Attorneys in Arizona and New Mexico | Super Lawyers | 2010 |
| District Award of Merit | Boy Scouts of America | 2010 |
| The Top Attorneys in Arizona and New Mexico | Super Lawyers | 2011 |
| Top Lawyers in Tucson - DUI | Tucson Lifestyles Magazine | 2011 |
| Top Lawyers in Tucson - Criminal Defense | Tucson Lifestyles Magazine | 2011 |
| American Chemical Society Forensic Chromatography III Course | 2011 | |
| The Top Attorneys in Arizona and New Mexico | Super Lawyers | 2012 |
Seminars, Lectures & CLE Taught:
Top 10 Challenges to Blood Tests, TACDL 2011 DUI Conference
Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Nashville, Tennessee, October 21, 2011.
Breakout Session on Gas Chromatography, Winning at Every Level
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers/National College for DUI Defense
Las Vegas, Nevada, September 17, 2011 (with James Nesci).
Understanding Gas Chromatography, Winning at Every Level
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers/National College for DUI Defense
Las Vegas, Nevada, September 16, 2011 (with James Nesci).
Breakout Sessions Co-Leader, Summer Session 2011, National College for DUI Defense Cambridge, Massachusetts
July 29, 2011 (with Doug Murphy).
Blood Metrology, 24th Annual Seminar on Aggressive Defense of the Accused Impaired Driver Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice
Tucson, Arizona, May 7, 2011 (with Chester Flaxmayer).
Investigating & Preparing a Successful DUI Defense, 24th Annual Seminar on Aggressive Defense of the Accused Impaired Driver, Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice
Tucson, Arizona, May 7, 2011 (with Michael Bloom and Stephen Barnard).
Judges Answer the Top 10 Questions of DUI Defense Attorneys, 24th Annual Seminar on Aggressive Defense of the Accused Impaired Driver, Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice
Tucson, Arizona, May 6, 2011 (Moderator, with Hon. Robert Doyle, Hon. Wendy Million and Hon. Paul Simon).
True Blood? Identifying Issues in Blood Alcohol Testing and Communicating Those Issues to Jurors, Defense of Drinking Drivers Institute, Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia, December 3, 2010.
The Latest in Blood Forensics, DUI XXV, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law Alumni Association, Phoenix, Arizona, November 19, 2010.
Blood Testing Laboratory Issues in DUI Cases, Whatever Happened to the Science in Forensic Science?, Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Wisconsin Dells
Wisconsin, October 9, 2010 (with Janine Arvizu).
Breakout Sessions Co-Leader, Summer Session 2010, National College for DUI Defense Cambridge, Massachusetts
July 28-29, 2010, (with George Stein).
Advanced DUI Blood Issues, 8th Annual APDA Statewide Conference
Arizona Public Defender’s Association
Phoenix, Arizona, June 9, 2010.
Can They Do That?: What about Ethics?, 23rd Annual Seminar on Aggressive Defense of the Accused Impaired Driver, Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice
Tucson, Arizona, May 8, 2010 (with Stephen Barnard and Michael Bloom).
Voir Dire and Mini-Openings: Your Best Chance of Getting a Receptive Jury
23rd Annual Seminar on Aggressive Defense of the Accused Impaired Driver
Tucson, Arizona, May 7, 2010.
Blood Testing - What Lawyers Need to Know About Forensic Gas Chromatography
17th Annual Mastering Scientific Evidence in DWI/DUI Cases
National College for DUI Defense/Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
New Orleans, Louisiana, April 8, 2010.
Death Penalty Jury Selection Co-Leader, Pima County Public Defender’s Office
Tucson, Arizona, February 11-13, 2010
(with David Wymore, Richard Miller and Natman Schaye)
Breakout Sessions Co-Leader, Summer Session 2009, National College for DUI Defense, Cambridge, Massachusetts, July 15-16, 2009 (with Steve Jones).
The Time is Now: Learn How to Use PowerPoint in the Courtroom
7th Annual APDA Statewide Conference, Arizona Public Defender’s Association
Phoenix, Arizona, June 17, 2009.
Jury Selection, DWI on Trial - The Big Apple IX,
New York State Bar Association
New York City, New York, May 8, 2009.
Blood Alcohol Testing, Save Your Breath for Tunica
Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Tunica, Mississippi, October 30, 2008.
Lessons Learned from Recent Capital Trials, Death Penalty Seminar
Arizona Capital Representation Project
Phoenix, Arizona, October 17, 2008 (with Natman Schaye, Julie Hall and John Bailey).
Jury Selection Method Demonstration, Death Penalty Seminar
Arizona Capital Representation Project
Phoenix, Arizona, October 17, 2008 (with Natman Schaye and John Bailey).
Voir Dire: A Capital Idea (Lessons Learned from Death)
Summer Session 2008, National College for DUI Defense
Cambridge, Massachusetts, July 19, 2008.
Breakout Sessions Co-Leader, Summer Session 2008
National College for DUI Defense
Cambridge, Massachusetts, July 17-18, 2008 (with Tracey Wood).
DUI: Challenging Blood Test Results, 6th Annual APDA Statewide Conference
Arizona Public Defender’s Association
Phoenix, Arizona, June 17, 2008 (with Chester Flaxmayer).
When a DUI is in the Big Court: From Child Abuse to 2nd Degree Murder
21st Annual Seminar on Aggressive Defense of the Accused Impaired Driver
Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice
Tucson, Arizona, May 3, 2008 (With Stephen Barnard, Michael Bloom and Steve Jones).
Blood Tests: So Easy a Cave Man Can Do It
21st Annual Seminar on Aggressive Defense of the Accused Impaired Driver
Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice
Tucson, Arizona, May 2, 2008 (With Chester Flaxmayer).
I Within 3 Hours of D, “I Know What You Did Last Legislature:” A DWI Seminar
New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 19, 2007.
Blood from A to Z (and Then Some), DUI XXI Seminar, Arizona State University College of Law Alumni Association, Phoenix, Arizona, September 7, 2007 (with Michael Bloom).
Breakout Sessions Co-Leader, Summer Session 2007, National College for DUI Defense, Cambridge, Massachusetts, July 19-20, 2007 (with Gary Trichter).
Getting Involved: How Public Defenders Can Make a Difference in the Justice System
5th Annual APDA Statewide Conference, Arizona Public Defender’s Association
Phoenix, Arizona, June 20, 2007 (Panel Discussion with Chris DuPont, Daniella De la Torre, and Jeremy Mussman).
Blood from A to Z (and Then Some), 20th Annual Seminar on Aggressive Defense of the Accused Impaired Driver, Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice
Tucson, Arizona, May 19, 2007 (with Michael Bloom).
Using Death Penalty Jury Selection in a DUI Case, Pima County Public Defender’s Office, Tucson, Arizona, March 2, 2007.
FOIA Talk, Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice
Prescott, Arizona, January 15, 2007 (with Chris Dupont).
Victim’s Rights: Ethical Considerations, Strategies in Handling DWI and DUI Cases in Arizona
Lorman Education Services, Tucson, Arizona, November 17, 2006.
Dismantling the Blood Test, Strategies in Handling DWI and DUI Cases in Arizona
Lorman Education Services, Tucson, Arizona, November 17, 2006.
Using Death Penalty Jury Selection in a DUI Case, Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice,
Flagstaff, Arizona, August 19, 2006.
Death Penalty Panel Discussion, 5th Annual APDA Statewide Conference
Arizona Public Defender’s Association, Phoenix, Arizona, June 22, 2006.
Recent TV Ads: Aimed at DUI Abatement or the Abatement of Right to Counsel?
DUI XX Seminar, Arizona State University College of Law Alumni Association
Phoenix, Arizona, February 3, 2006.
Working With Experts to Develop a Social History, Mitigation and a Defense
Mitigation and Mental Health Seminar, The Arizona Capital Representation Project and the Pima County Public Defender’s Office, Tucson, Arizona, October 21, 2005.
Using a Forensic Psychologist In the Mitigation Case: Views from a Trial Lawyer
Making the Case for Life VIII, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, October 1, 2005.
Defending a DNA Case, DNA Seminar
James E. Rogers College of Law, Tucson, Arizona, September 14, 2005.
Victim’s Rights, Ethical Issues for Civil Attorneys with Criminal Clients
Pima County Bar Association, Tucson, Arizona, August 31, 2005.
Death Penalty Panel Discussion, 4th Annual APDA Statewide Conference
Arizona Public Defender’s Association, Phoenix, Arizona, June 24, 2005 (Panel Discussion) .
They Used to Call it Assault: The New Phlebotomists
16th Annual Seminar on Aggressive Defense of the Accused Impaired Driver
Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice, Tucson, Arizona, May 9, 2003.
Monitor Training, Monitor Training Program, State Bar of Arizona Member Assistance Program/Law Office Management Assistance Program, Phoenix, Arizona, November 9, 2001.
The Blood Case Primer: A Whole New Ball Game, 14th Annual Seminar on Aggressive Defense of the Accused Impaired Driver, Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice
Tucson, Arizona, April 28, 2001 (with Michael Bloom and Suzanne Crawford).
Monitor Training, Monitor Training Program, State Bar of Arizona Member Assistance Program/Law Office Management Assistance Program, Tucson, Arizona, March 30, 2001.
DNA Y2K: The New Generation of Tests, Victory at Sea
Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice
Long Beach, California, September 9, 2000 (with Simon Ford).
LOMAP Monitoring: Helping Lawyers Comply with Their Programs and Make Meaningful Changes in Their Practice, Monitor Training Program, State Bar of Arizona Member Assistance Program/Law Office Management Assistance Program, Phoenix, Arizona, April 21, 2000.
