LAW FIRM PROFILE - DUI AND CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS

The firm's primary focus is the defense of individuals accused of criminal conduct. Mr. Gillespie's extensive experience as a successful criminal defense attorney and former Deputy County Prosecutor has resulted in years of success in handling difficult DUI/criminal cases. In mid 2007, attorney Karyn Klausner joined the firm, bringing a different perspective to the practice having completed eleven (11) years on the bench as a Phoenix Municipal Court Judge. The firms success stems directly from the attorney's unique expertise developed over years of practicing, prosecuting, and or presiding over DUI and criminal cases. The firm prides itself on the methodical attention paid to every detail of each clients pretrial investigation in the preparation of his or her case. The firm's commitment to excellence through thoroughly investigated, carefully prepared and aggressively litigated cases drives our attitude and belief there are very few hopeless cases.

Although this office represent clients from all walks of life, our success has led to the representation of many local professionals including attorneys, doctors, federal agents, police officers, professional athletes and executives of Fortune 500 companies and/or members of their families. Other individuals seeking our services for prompt solutions to their legal problems have included public officials, private business owners, commercial drivers, commercial passenger airline pilots and even members of the clergy. We are frequently consulted by other lawyers to help win cases, and regularly speak at continuing legal education seminars attended by other lawyers and legal professionals.

ARIZONA DUI / CRIMINAL DEFENSE
Our firm routinely handles all aspects of DUI and criminal litigation including, but not limited to, pre-trial investigations, suppression and evidentiary hearings, plea negotiations, trials, appeals, Rule 32 post-conviction petitions and forfeitures. Moreover, our office provides aggressive representation in all Department of Motor Vehicle hearings, criminal traffic, misdemeanor and felony matters including, but not limited to:

JURISDICTIONS
We regularly appear in Arizona's Appellate Courts, the Maricopa and Pinal County Superior Courts, and Municipal and Justice Courts in the following jurisdictions:

Craig C. Gillespie

is a former Deputy County Attorney and Prosecutor for the City of Phoenix and the City of Chandler. Mr. Gillespie was born in Phoenix, Arizona in 1960. He graduated in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies from Arizona State University, and in 1988 with a Juris Doctor from Golden Gate University. Mr. Gillespie is a member of the State Bar of Arizona, Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice, the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, the American Trial Lawyers Association, the Arizona Trial Lawyers Association and the Maricopa County Bar Association. Mr. Gillespie is admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the United States District Court for the District of Arizona and the Arizona Supreme Court.

As a former prosecutor of vehicular crimes, DUI/DWI and other serious offenses, Mr. Gillespie gained invaluable experience as a criminal trial attorney and litigator. In excess of 90% of the cases he was responsible for trying to juries resulted in convictions. Mr. Gillespie now has trial experience in hundreds of cases and has successfully handled well over one thousand criminal cases. In addition, the City of Phoenix Law Department awarded Mr. Gillespie the "Barrister Award" for Outstanding Trial Advocacy Skills, and he has been quoted by the Arizona Republic, the Arizona Daily Star and the Associated Press. Mr. Gillespie has also distinguished himself by successfully arguing before Arizona's highest appellate court, the Supreme Court of Arizona.

an attorney, and former Phoenix Municipal Court Judge, was admitted to practice in Arizona in October, 1987 after receiving her Juris Doctorate from the University of Arizona College of Law in August of the same year. Upon becoming licensed at both the State and Federal levels, Ms. Klausner practiced predominately in criminal defense, with an emphasis on D.U.I. offenses. Ms. Klausner worked as a solo practitioner for several years and in 1991 joined Toles & Associates, a premier criminal defense firm.

In 1995, Ms. Klausner was appointed to serve as a full time judge pro tem with the City of Chandler, where she remained until her appointment as a full time judge with the City of Phoenix Municipal Court. While sitting as a municipal court judge, Ms. Klausner presided over hundreds of criminal cases including D.U.I.'s, assaults, thefts, zoning violations, shoplifting offenses and a multitude of other types of criminal traffic and non-traffic cases. She presided over order of protection and injunction against harassment hearings, as well as issuing thousands of these orders. Ms. Klausner remained on the bench for over eleven years, until joining The Gillespie Law Firm, P.C. Ms. Klausner is married to the Hon. Michael K. Carroll, a retired Phoenix Municipal Court judge. She has a thirteen year old daughter.

The Gillespie Law Firm, P.C. has compiled an extensive law library to remain on the cutting edge of legal research and changing legal trends in the area of criminal law and winning courtroom strategies. Some of the materials in our library include:

SELECTING THE RIGHT LAWYER
A criminal investigation by a federal, state or local law enforcement agency will be an experience unlike any other you have ever faced. Unfortunately, some individuals in law enforcement are over-zealous and even self-righteous. On occasion, police officers and prosecutors are capable of losing track of notions of fair play and objectivity in their drive to seek convictions. Often, law enforcement officers jump to conclusions before reasonable alternatives have been properly investigated, and the "investigation" then becomes a search only for evidence which may support their opinion you are guilty. In many cases, evidence inconsistent with the client’s guilt is ignored, abandoned, or glossed over.

The experienced criminal defense attorney thinks in terms of attacking the prosecution’s case, focusing on what the other side is required to prove so that this 'proof' can be rebutted, countered and picked apart, piece by piece. The prosecution must prove its case against the client "beyond a reasonable doubt," a standard of proof much higher than that applied in civil cases.

The job of the criminal defense attorney includes thorough legal research and factual investigation. In some cases, the attack on the state’s case will include the preparation of pretrial motions to suppress statements or evidence. Often evidence is scientifically unreliable or illegally seized from one’s person, office, home, vehicle, or computer. The lawyer’s experience and knowledge of the complex and ever changing rules and case law relating to criminal law, procedure, and evidence are the tools used to seize upon the subtle factual nuances of the particular case which will permit the construction of a winning defense.

Although we prepare each case from the beginning as if a jury trial is inevitable, in many cases, a case is won through successful plea negotiations. Following a thorough factual investigation, we are often able to convince the prosecution that the weaknesses in its case justifies a compromise on either the nature of the offense charged or its punishment. That is, identifying problems with the State’s case creates bargaining power. The prosecutor must also understand the defense attorney knows how to try a case, and, in fact, is very competent in trial. If the prosecutor wants to avoid the time and expense of a jury trial, and the risk of losing the case, a favorable plea agreement with a substantial up-side to the defendant will have to be offered.

The criminal courtroom is almost always a very intimidating environment. When you have been targeted by the government, you need a criminal defense lawyer who can protect you from the processes at work in the criminal justice arena. Retaining an experienced and skilled criminal defense attorney is the only way to ensure that your individual and constitutional rights will be protected in the unfamiliar world of judges, prosecutors, indictments, search warrants, proof beyond a reasonable doubt, and the Bill of Rights.