Joseph P. St. Louis takes over as dean of DUI defense college

Arizona attorney Joseph P. St. Louis has begun a one-year term as dean of the National College for DUI Defense, where he will oversee education programs for attorneys across North America. The role puts a longtime DUI defense specialist in charge of training that increasingly centers on scientific evidence in DUI and DUI homicide cases.

Why it matters: - The National College for DUI Defense trains attorneys on the science and law that shape DUI and DUI homicide cases. - The college’s work affects how lawyers challenge breath testing, blood testing, toxicology and pharmacology evidence in court. - Expanded access to advanced training may help attorneys in both large firms and under-resourced public defender offices.

What happened: - Joseph P. St. Louis began serving as dean of the National College for DUI Defense on July 23, 2026. - St. Louis is the managing partner of St. Louis Huffman Law in Tucson, Arizona. - St. Louis has practiced exclusively in DUI, DUI homicide and criminal defense for nearly four decades. - The National College for DUI Defense is a nonprofit educational organization serving more than 1,700 attorneys in the United States and Canada.

The details: - St. Louis will serve a one-year term. - His responsibilities include overseeing educational programming, faculty development and initiatives to expand advanced DUI defense training across North America. - Since joining the Board of Regents in 2014, St. Louis has focused on helping attorneys challenge complex scientific evidence. - St. Louis has taught at the college’s Serious Science seminars at the University of Texas at Arlington. - He helped develop a nationwide educational webinar for public defender offices that drew more than 850 attorneys. - St. Louis is board certified in Criminal Law by the State Bar of Arizona and in DUI Defense by the National College for DUI Defense. - He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America for DUI Defense every year since 2013.

Between the lines: - The appointment underscores how DUI defense has become increasingly dependent on specialized scientific literacy. - The college appears to be pairing leadership selection with a broader push to widen access to advanced training for public defenders. - Bruce Edge, dean emeritus of NCDD, said St. Louis has earned respect through years of leadership and is well suited to serve as dean.

What's next: - St. Louis is expected to guide NCDD’s programs, faculty and outreach efforts through the end of his term. - NCDD says it will continue presenting advanced educational programs and supporting specialized training initiatives for public defenders. - The college’s mission remains focused on providing advanced-level training for DUI defense lawyers across North America.

The bottom line: - St. Louis’s appointment puts a longtime DUI defense specialist at the center of training for a field where science can determine case outcomes.