Finding Top-Rated Michigan DUI Lawyers Near Me

Published on: September 24, 2022 | by Barone Defense Firm

Our drunk driving defense team is often asked this question: how do I find a top-rated DUI lawyer in Michigan? For OWI Michigan charges, our lawyers for DUI in Michigan always answer this question the same way – there is only one way to find a top-rated Michigan DUI lawyer, and that is by finding one who has honestly and objectively developed the reputation for getting great results.

And there’s only one way for those facing DUI charges to do that, and that one way is the hard way. The best Michigan DUI attorneys have earned it by knowing Michigan DUI laws from every angle. That includes being willing and able to go to trial to win, and also knowing when a plea bargain is going to provide the likely best outcome.

OWI vs DUI Michigan. Do not get confused about acronyms for the criminal charge of impaired driving. Nationally, DUI is the most widely used, but in Michigan, OWI is written into our intoxicated driving statutes.

Top-Rated Michigan DUI Lawyers Near Me

Published on: July 8, 2022 | by Barone Defense Firm

Michigan DUI lawyer Patrick Barone knows Michigan DUI law and how to beat a DUI.
We are often asked this question; how do I find a top-rated DUI lawyers in Michigan? We always answer this question the same way – there is only one way to find a top rated Michigan DUI lawyer, and that is by finding one who has honestly and objectively developed the reputation. And there’s only one way to do that, and that one way is the hard way. The best Michigan DUI attorneys have earned it. It’s easy for a lawyer to post on a website “best DUI lawyer in Michigan,” It’s quite another to spend decades doing the hard work to earn this distinction – and then to be recognized by one’s peers for having earned it.

A top-rated Michigan DUI lawyer will meet with you during a free initial consultation and go over the criminal charges you are faced with. We then develop a defense strategy to help you avoid OWI conviction penaltis like more jail time, court fines, and driver's license suspended.
So how does a DUI lawyer become recognized as one of the best? Considering the subject matter, earning the reputation requires dedication, focus and a commitment to excellence. Dedication is required due to the complexity of the subject matter. The top Michigan DUI lawyers must dedicate themselves to learning the science of infrared breath testing and gas chromatography blood testing. Most lawyers attend law school after first obtaining an undergraduate degree in a related field of study, such as political science, English or philosophy. Few lawyers have science degrees, and the old joke among lawyers is “I went to law school because I wasn’t good at math.”

A science education is helpful because DUI cases with drugs or alcohol almost always involve a chemical test of the driver’s breath blood or urine. The science behind this testing must be understood because without it a lawyer cannot adequately represent his slash her client in court. If you can’t beat the test, you can’t win the case.

Barone Defense Firm Paralegal to Attend Northwestern Law

Published on: March 30, 2022 | by Barone Defense Firm

The Barone Defense Firm is pleased to announce that Madeline Barone will be attending Northwestern Pritzker School of Law this fall. Madeline is currently a paralegal at the firm.

Northwestern Law School, located in Chicago, Illinois, was founded in 1859. Since that time, Northwestern has continued to develop its standing as an elite law school, consistently being ranked among the nation’s top law schools. For example, Northwestern is a T-14 law school, meaning it is consistently among the top 14 law schools that are ranked in U.S. News & World Report. In fact, the law schools listed in T-14 are the only schools to have ever been in the top 10. Because of their high status, graduates of T-14 law schools are typically employed in the highest levels of government, the most prestigious Big Law firms, or hold C-level positions at Fortune 500 corporations. Madeline intends to pursue Northwestern’s Environmental Law concentration with the goal of future leadership in international environmental law and governmental policy.

Madeline began pursuing a career in environmental law as an undergraduate student. She is a 2019 honors graduate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with a B.S. in Environmental Science and a B.S. in Psychology. She also is well-versed in Mandarin Chinese, with six years of formal Mandarin education. Due to her diverse academic background, Madeline is hoping to combine her knowledge of the environmental and energy sector with her Mandarin language skills to specialize in international environmental law.

Warning: It is a 5-Year Felony to Possess Self Defense Pepper Balls in Michigan

Published on: March 17, 2022 | by Barone Defense Firm

At the Southfield Freeway exit on Eastbound I-96, there is a large billboard selling Byrna Pepper Balls as a self-defense method. The pepper-filled paintballs are fired by a launcher that is essentially a pistol-shaped paintball gun. The billboard states, “Works Like a Gun, Without the Consequences.” However, it misses the severe consequence that, under Michigan law, it is a 5-year felony to possess these cartridges.

Specifically, Michigan Compiled Laws sec. 750.224(1)(e) prohibits any cartridge designed to render a person disabled by the ejection, release, or emission of a gas or other substance. The pepper balls are clearly a cartridge designed to disable by the release of a substance. This easily meets the prohibition under that section.

The penalty for violation of this law is up to five years in a state prison or a fine of up to $2,500.00, or both. That means, if you are convicted of simply possessing pepper balls, you can be charged with a felony. A felony on your record would prevent you from ever exercising your 2^nd Amendment Rights. This significant consequence is not well known and many gun stores in Michigan carry pepper balls. Byrna will even ship the pepper-balls to you, making it as easy as possible to break Michigan law.

Early Discharge on Probation for an Operating While Intoxicated in Michigan

Published on: March 8, 2022 | by Michael Boyle

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Early Discharge on OWI Probation in Michigan

The Michigan DUI Lawyers at the Barone Defense Firm have be advising our clients in Oakland County and throughout the State of Michigan, that if you are convicted of operating while intoxicated (OWI) then you should expect to be placed on a term of probation.

While on probation, you will have a variety of conditions of probation and these will be based in part on whatever “rehabilitative goals” are set by the Judge.

Gun and Assault Felonies Reduced to Misdemeanors with No Jail

Published on: February 23, 2022 | by Michael Boyle

Barone Defense Firm Partner Michael Boyle recently obtained a great result for a client charged with several gun and assault crimes. But that wasn’t the end of the story. It was only the beginning.

A Judge told my client he’s lucky. Is he right?

Imagine you are charged with a combination of three felony gun and assault crimes. Next imagine that if you’re convicted of these crimes, you’re facing a possible total sentence of 8 years in prison. And on top of that, you could also end up having to pay several thousand dollars in fines and costs. Now, imagine that after facing all that, you end up with two misdemeanors, no jail time and a small fine. Sound good? The Judge presiding over the case thought so. He told our client he was “lucky” to have gotten such a great deal. But was it luck, or was it the result of hard work and good lawyering?

Michael Boyle Explains How He Will Help You Decide if Trial is Your Best Option

Published on: January 29, 2022 | by Barone Defense Firm

Being charged with a crime is most certainly one of the most traumatic events you can experience, and then attempting to retain the right attorney or law firm might also feel like a daunting task. The Criminal Defense Trial Attorneys at the Barone Defense Firm understand that difficulty and that trauma, therefore we want to address some important factors in hiring the right trial attorney for your case.

Trial is an Endangered Species

The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) recently published a report that 3% of all criminal cases in State and Federal Court are resolved through Trial compared to 20% of cases from 30 years ago. A related article lists that some of the reasons for this decrease include fear of what is known as a trial penalty or trial tax, meaning a worse sentence after a loss at trial. This is balanced against the fact that a lesser sentence can be arranged as part of a plea agreements. Certainly, another reason is the lack of ability or lack of experience of the trial attorney themselves. The very fact fewer cases reach trial every year is reason enough to seek an attorney that does not have significant trial experience, and who will not be afraid to go to trial.

Barone Defense Firm to Present ABCs of DUI Expungement Lawyer Training Seminar

Published on: January 21, 2022 | by Barone Defense Firm

On February 4, 2022, Michigan DUI Lawyers Ryan Ramsayer and Michael Boyle will present The ABC’s of OWI Expungement. The seminar his hosted by the Michigan Association of OWI Lawyers and will be presented via zoom. The cost to attend this seminar is $75.00 and is open to all lawyers wishing to learn about Michigan’s new DUI expungement law.

The seminar will be led by Barone Defense Firm senior associate Ryan Ramsayer and will be moderated by Michael Boyle, who is a partner at the Firm. Mr. Boyle is also a is a Board member with the seminar’s host, the Michigan Association of OWI Lawyers.

Michigan’s new DUI expungement has an effective date of February 19^th, and this will allow most people convicted of a first offense drunk driving offense to request that their conviction be expunged. It is expected that winning expungement in many courts will be a daunting prospect, and not one that should be undertaken without significant knowledge of the law combined with thorough and informed preparation together with a deft courtroom presentation. Mr. Ramsayer will be covering all these topics, and more, at the OWI expungement seminar.

Mike Boyle Presents Michigan’s Self Defense Laws at CDAM

Published on: November 22, 2021 | by Barone Defense Firm

Senior Trial Attorney Michael J. Boyle of the Barone Defense Firm recently presented on the Michigan Self Defense Laws at the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan (CDAM) Fall Conference at Boyne Mountain. At the seminar Mike discussed, described, and distinguished between Michigan’s Castle Doctrine and Michigan’s Stand Your Ground Laws. The title of his presentation was: Defending Self-Defense: Understanding Stand Your Ground, the Castle Doctrine, and Defending the Victim.

This topic and presentation were unique at CDAM and covered an area of criminal defense law that has rarely been presented in any significance in any forum. In addition to the didactic portion of the lecture Boyle also offered a trial skills portion which allowed those present to take what they’d just learned, assimilate it, and practice using the information on a “real” sample case.

In preparing for his lecture, Mike utilized both the knowledge he’s gained over the years handling these kinds of cases as well as his trial skills expertise. In addition to decades of trial practice where Mike honed his own trial skills, he is also a graduate of the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyer’s College.

How to Defend an Alleged SCRAM Violation According to Boyle

Published on: November 16, 2021 | by Barone Defense Firm

Barone Defense Firm Partner and Senior Trial Attorney Michael J. Boyle recently was one of the guest presenters at the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan (CDAM) Fall Conference at Boyne Mountain. The annual seminar was attended by hundreds of criminal defense attorneys from throughout the State of Michigan. CDAM is one of the largest and well-respected membership groups in the State and is dedicated to the improvement of criminal advocacy across all practice areas in the criminal justice system.

Boyle accepted the invitation to speak and was the only attorney that presented on two topics. He presented on Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring, known as SCRAM, and he also did a presentation on Self-Defense and understanding Michigan’s Stand Your Ground and the Castle Doctrines.

Boyle has enjoyed the opportunity over the last several years to be part of the process of educating and teaching other lawyers the complex understanding and best practice techniques in representing clients on multiple disciplines. He has presented on numerous occasions for the Michigan Association of OWI Attorneys (MIAOWIA), the State Bar of Michigan Marijuana Law Section, CDAM, and the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (OACDL).