Board Certified in Criminal Law, AV Rated, tried over 100 jury trials and a published author, I wrote the book on DWI defense.  Before you talk to ANY lawyer get a copy of my DWI Survival Guide, A Citizen’s Protection Manual for a DWI Arrest.  While other lawyers “advertise” experience I will show you how my trial experience of over 100 trials can help in your case.

My name is Stephen Hamilton; I am a Board Certified Criminal Defense Attorney who focuses on DWI cases.  I have spent my sixteen years of practice on the defense side.  I began to focus on DWI cases in early 2000 after becoming a member of the National College for DUI Defense.  I have hundreds of hours of continuing legal education on criminal law issues and specifically on DWI/DUI defense.

I am married to an amazing woman, Ressa Hamilton.  Ressa was born and raised here in Lubbock.  We have two wonderful children, Jaxon and Raygen Hamilton who have been a true blessing in my life.  My family and I are blessed to live in Lubbock and have many close family members and friends who we enjoy spending time with often.

Because my practice focuses on DWI defense and criminal law, I often speak and lecture to other lawyers about how to try a DWI case.  Local media in cases and issues involving DWI or other intoxication issues has interviewed me.

My goal is to focus on each case that I take and provide personal client attention.  I try more cases in a year than most criminal lawyers try in ten years and I believe that is for several reasons.  First, I like my clients.  If I can help them in their time of stress I want to do whatever I can.  Second, I like trials.  I enjoy the stress that comes with being in trial.  I believe that when I walk in that courtroom, as arrogant as this might sound, I am in charge and the goal is to help my client.

19 years since Stephen Lyle Hamilton was first licensed to practice law in Texas.

Stephen Hamilton graduated from Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1998 with a degree of JD- Juris Doctor.

Position	Duration
Lead Trial Attorney and CEO at Hamilton, Hull & Byrd Attorneys at Law	2013–present
Lead DWI Trial Attorney at Stephen L. Hamilton, P.C.	2009–present
Partner and Trial Attorney at Boatwright & Hamilton, P.C.	1999–2009
Attorney at Law at King & Gregory, PLLC	1998–1999

Award Name	Granting Organization	Date
Certificate of Completion	The Scientific Truth About HS-GC-FID & Pharmacology of Etoh, Marijuana, & Benzodiazepines	2011
Certificate of Completion	Mastering Scientific Evidence in DWI/DUI Cases	2011
Membership	American Chemical Society	2011
Fellow 2010	State Bar of Texas	2010
Certificate of Completion	Dr. Paul Homoly Communication	2010
Gas Chromatography: Fundamentals and Troubleshooting	American Chemical Society	2009
Certificate of Completion Forensic Blood/Urine Seminar	Headline Marketing Corporation	2008
Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Behavioral Perspectives	Steve Rubenzer, Ph.D., ABPP –Diplomate in Forensic Psychology	2007
Graduate of NCDD Summer School-Harvard	National College for DUI Defense	2007
Board Certification in Criminal law	Texas Board of Legal Specialization	2005
Instructor Qualification for Intoxilyzer 5000	C.E.S. Consulting	2004
Mastering Scientific Evidence in DUI Cases	NCDD	2003
Borkenstein Class on Alcohol and Highway Safety	Indiana University Center for Studies of Law in Action	2003
Maintenance Course Intoxilyzer 5000 Breath Test Instrument	C.E.S. Consulting, Inc.	2003
Operator Course Intoxilyzer 5000 Breath Test Instrument	C.E.S. Consulting, Inc.	2003
Mastering Scientific Evidence in DUI/DWI Cases	NCDD	2002
Student Course Completion of Standardized Field Sobriety Testing	National Highway Traffic Safety Administration via LaPier & Associates	2001

Member	Fifth Circuit Bar Association	2005–present
Member	National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys	2000–present
General Member	National College of DUI Defense	2000–present
Past President	Lubbock Criminal Defense Lawyers Association	1999–present
Member	Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association	1999–present

Local media in cases and issues involving DWI or other intoxication issues has interviewed Stephen Hamilton.

State of Texas v. R.C.

Practice Area: Criminal Defense

Outcome: Case Dismissed

Description: Client was on felony probation and was charged with a new offense. The new offense was used by the state to file an application to revoke his/her probation. I entered my appearance and after a review of the case was able to negotiate with the state. Based upon an affidavit I obtained from a witness, the state dismissed all charges against my client including the application to revoke his/her probation.

 

State of Texas v. S.D.

Practice Area: DUI / DWI

Outcome: Case Reduced/ No conviction

Description: Client was charged with a DWI after being stopped for speeding. Client was a minor at the time who according to the trooper failed three field sobriety tests. Client also failed a breath test, blowing over the legal limit. After negotiations, the State agreed to amend the charge to a charge that could be deferred and client entered an agreement that if successful will result in no conviction on the record and the case being dismissed.

 

State of Texas v. M.A.

Practice Area: Criminal Defense

Outcome: Case Dismissed

Description: Defendant was charged with the offense of falsely identify himself/herself to the police/ law enforcement with a fugitive from justice. I was hired by the defendant in the case and negotiated with the district attorney’s office for a dismissal of all charges.

State of Texas v. M.C.

Practice Area: Criminal Defense

Outcome: Case Dismissed

Description: Client was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance. This offense was a felony third degree, meaning the minimum time of any prison would be two years and the maximum sentence would be ten years. The first offer by the DA was 5 years. After numerous negotiations, the DA agreed to dismiss the case.

State of Texas v. S.C.

Practice Area: DUI / DWI

Outcome: Case Dismissed

Description: Client charged with felony DWI with child in car under the age of 15. I entered my appearance in the case and started working on the case. We had several plea conferences with the DA’s office and the case was settled for a one year informal stay out of trouble setting. At the end of the year, the case was dismissed. Client has no conviction on his record.

State of Texas v. W.S

Practice Area: DUI / DWI

Outcome: DWI Not Guilty

Description: Client charged with DWI 2nd. Client had prior arrest and was placed on probation for an offense that was not a DWI. Upon my review of the prior offense I proved to the court that this was not a DWI 2nd rather a DWI first, client tried case to bench and was found NOT GUILTY of DWI. Client had a CDL so with the finding of not guilty client’s CDL suspension is reversed and client gets back the CDL.

State of Texas v. E.B

Practice Area: Criminal Defense

Outcome: Case Dismissed

Description: Client was arrested for Public Intoxication. I set the case for trial and informed the prosecutor my client was not guilty. After plea negotiations, the prosecutor offered to dismiss the case for a small donation and an alcohol class. Client joyfully accepted the deal and the case was dismissed. No conviction will be on my client’s record.

 

State of Texas v. S.B.

Practice Area: Criminal Defense

Outcome: Case Dismissed

Description: Client was charged with securing documents by deception, a felony. Client had been receiving “public assistance” and the state failed to consider some mitigating circumstances of the client. Initially the state was opposed to any reduction in the case and sought a felony conviction with a five year probation. With the client’s permission, we rejected that offer and set the case for trial. Prior to trial the state offered to dismiss the case. Client accepted the State’s offer.

 

State of Texas v. C.H.

Practice Area: DUI / DWI

Outcome: Felony DWI stop suppressed, case dismissed

Description: Client was stopped for failure to maintain a single lane and not using a turn signal. Based upon my review and research, I filed a motion to suppress in the case. After I conducted a hearing in front of the trial judge and provided a brief, the court granted my motion to suppress and ordered that no evidence from the stop could be used. The DA dismissed the case and client has NO conviction on his record.

 

State of Texas v. M.B.

Practice Area: DUI / DWI

Outcome: Felony DWI reduced to 1st offense DWI

Description: Client was arrested for DWI after failing field sobriety tests. Client had two prior DWI convictions so the State of Texas filed the case as a felony. After reviewing the video, police report and prior judgments, I was able to work a deal. The State dismissed the felony case and reduced the charge to a first offense DWI in which my client did no probation.

 

State v. J.B.

Practice Area: DUI / DWI

Outcome: DWI Breath Test Case Reduced

Description: Client was stopped for a traffic violation by the Texas Highway Patrol. After investigation, the trooper arrested my client for DWI. My client took the breath test and was above the legal limit. Even though the breath test was above the limit, after my investigation the case was a good case as my client did well on the balance tests. We rejected a DWI plea offer and set the case for trial. After several negotiations, my client accepted a reduction in the charges to a non dwi. After probation there will be no conviction on my client’s record.

 

State v. L.K.

Practice Area: DUI / DWI

Outcome: No prison time for 2nd Felony DWI

Description: Client was on probation for a felony. Client had already had probation for a felony DWI. While on felony probation, client was arrested on another felony DWI. The video was bad and showed lots of signs of intoxication. We reached an agreement with the State for client to go to rehab. Upon completion of Rehab client continued on probation. This was a very rewarding case for me because somebody who needed help got it and not a trip to the pen.

 

State of Texas v. T.D.

Practice Area: Criminal Defense

Outcome: Case Dismissed

Description: Client was arrested for evading arrest, resisting arrest and public intoxication. We negotiated with the State to place client on a diversion program and when he is successful, there will be no conviction on his record.

 

State of Texas v. R.V.

Practice Area: DUI / DWI

Outcome: Pre Trial Diversion-No DWI Conviction

Description: Client was stopped for failure to respond and slow down while passing an emergency vehicle. Police officer followed my client, saw client fail to maintain a single lane and slow down and then run a stop sign. Client was stopped and failed field sobriety testing and was arrested. Client took a breath test at the station and his results were twice the legal limit. After negotiations with the district attorney’s office, client accepted a pre trial diversion offer which means his case will be dismissed if once he completes certain requirements.

 

State of Texas v. A.C.

Practice Area: Criminal Defense

Outcome: Deferred Probation, no conviction

Description: Client charged with multiple crimes including possession of drugs, evading arrest and assault. I entered my appearance in the case and after a review of the discovery in the case we were able to come to an agreement with the prosecutor. Client accepted a deferred probation and if client successfully completes the program the cases will be dismissed.

Presentation Name	Conference	Date
Attacking DWI Blood Test Warrants	Lubbock Criminal Defense ” Prairie Dog Lite”	2009
How to try a DWI Breath Test Case	DWI 101	2006
How to try a DWI Breath Test and Win	LCDLA Seminar	2004
Breath Testing in DWI	2nd Annual Texas Forensics Seminar	2004
Ideas on DWI trials	TCDLA DWI	2003

Title	Publication	Date
Protect your Future, Know your Riights- A Citizen’s Guide to a Marijuana Arrest In Texas	Hamilton, Hull and Byrd Publication	2015
Texas DWI Survival Guide	A Citizens Guide to understanding their DWI Charge	2012
Mandatory Blood Draws by the Police, Coming to Your Local 7-11 Parking Lot?	Lubbock Law Notes	2009