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Joseph A. Bonasera

  • Profile
  • Credentials
Bio

Joseph A. Bonasera is a litigator specializing in Criminal and DUI offenses who has spent his entire legal career representing the criminally accused. Joe’s victories for his clients range from winning a jury acquittal for a sexual assault charge to negotiating the dismissal of charges ranging from DUI to Aggravated Assault. In one case, he convinced a grand jury to bring no charges against his client, after successfully arguing that the first presentation of the case was racially biased. Since joining Nesci & St. Louis, Joe has focused on pretrial litigation and trial work in DUIs, misdemeanors, and felonies in courts throughout Arizona.

Joe speaks Spanish proficiently and can represent Spanish-speaking clients. Before joining the firm, Joe worked for four years as a lawyer at the Pima County Public Defender’s Office, representing clients in both misdemeanor and felony cases.

While attending law school at the University of Arizona, he interned for the Federal Public Defender’s Office in Tucson and was the winner of an appellate moot court competition. He also served on the editorial board of the Arizona Journal of International and Comparative Law and had his own note regarding European extradition law selected for publication in the journal. He earned his juris doctor degree cum laude in 2018.

Joe is originally from Huntington, New York, and he attended high school in Phoenix. He speaks Spanish proficiently and can represent Spanish-speaking clients. In his free time, he enjoys attending concerts, running, watching documentaries, and traveling abroad.

Accolades

Journal:

  • Arizona Journal of International and Comparative Law: Senior Articles Editor (2017-2018); 2L Board Member (2016-2017).

Awards:

  • F. Britton Burns Award (Highest Final Round Score in 2017 Samuel M. Fegtly Moot Court Competition);
  • Outstanding Performance in Oral Advocacy;
  • CALI Award for Highest Grade: Legal Writing; Contracts; Arizona Civil Procedure; International Trade Law
    • B.A.S., Political Science, Spanish - Cum Laude, University of Arizona

Education
  • JD, cum laude, James E. Rogers College of Law, 2018 College
Admissions
  • Arizona State Bar 2019
A National Leader In the Legal Field

A two-time national top 10 speaker of the year (National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2015 & 2019), Joe St. Louis has given over 125 presentations for State Defense Organizations and State Bar Groups in 18 states. (See the full list on his Seminars & Lectures section of his bio page). He has served on the faculty of the National College for DUI Defense’s Serious Science seminars, held in Arlington, Texas, for the past 5 years, a seminar recommended as an “excellent training course” by the University of Indiana, Bloomington. Mr St. Louis serves as a Regent of the National College for DUI Defense, a national organization with over 1,400 members, and is the Past President of Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice.

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