Top Best Criminal Defense Lawyers | 14570 Available

I was born in St. Louis County, raised in Sullivan, and have lived in Columbia since 2001 when I began attending Mizzou.  In addition to Boone, Cole, and surrounding counties, I am very open to taking criminal and traffic cases in and around Franklin County.  I will also take certain types of cases throughout the state.. I am a big sports fan.  My favorites are Boxing, Baseball, and Football, as well as Hockey.  My teams are the Cards, Rams, and Blues, as well as Mizzou.  I never miss a game of any of these teams, nor a boxing match on TV.  I am also working on becoming a boxing judge.. I also like to keep myself updated on politics, and enjoy learning about family history and history in general.. I attend Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Columbia, and sometimes also the St. Thomas More Newman Center on campus.. I speak German a little, and Spanish a VERY little.. My favorite movies include Braveheart, Anchorman, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Rob Roy, and Rocky (all except 5).  My favorite muscians/bands include George Strait, Breaking Benjamin, Johnny Cash, Seether, Three Days Grace, The Offspring, Garth Brooks, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Each client is important to me, and I believe it is critical to provide one on one personal attention to truly understand each client's unique circumstances. I'd be happy to provide a free consultation to personally discuss your legal matter and determine how to best assist you.

I have been defending the rights of clients in the Missouri Courts for over 25 years.. I have worked 13 years in the St. Charles County Prosecutor's Office where I tried many complex and serious felony cases including murders, sexual assaults, child abuse, domestic violence and narcotics cases.. Prior to my work in the prosecutor's office I had the privilege of workinging as an Assistant Public Defendaner and two years in the law firm of Charles M. Shaw, a preeminent criminal defense attorney.. I am a graduate of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy’s (NITA) Master Advocates Program and the National Association of District Attorney's Career Prosecutor College.

As a police officer, I conducted the types of investigations and written the reports that are used by law enforcement in a criminal case.  As an assistant prosecutor I've had to use those types of reports to evlauate cases for trials and used them to negotiate pleas.  I've seen a criminal cases from handcuffs to conviction. I know where to look and what to look for to see if a case is going to hold up.  Let me put this unique insight to work for you.  Call me for a free case review.

I graduated from Tulane University in 2005 Summa Cum Laude, with departmental honors in English Literature. I was also admitted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. I graduated from Tulane Law School in 2008, Summa Cum Laude with honors in Trial Advocacy. I was also a member and then a Notes and Comments Editor for Tulane Law Review, a respected legal journal.. While in law school, I obtained valuable experience with both the Missouri Public Defender System and the Tulane Criminal Law Clinic as a student-attorney authorized to practice law on a limited basis pursuant to Missouri Supreme Court Rule 13 and Louisiana Supreme Court Rule 20. Through these oppurtunities, I was able to begin practicing in court rooms while still in law school and even obtained my first "not guilty" verdict before I graduated.. After graduation, I decided to return home to fulfill my dream of working with my Father, Charlie James. I've been able to learn from his years of experience while gaining extensive court room experience primarily handling criminal defense cases, and, more recently, civil rights cases.. After more than 15 years of practice, I've defended thousands of cases, taken hundreds of deposiitons, and continue to try case regularly. I have obtained dismissals and not guilty verdicts in all kinds of criminal defense cases including, but not limited to, DWI, simple possession, possession with intent, assault, abuse, and murder. My civil rights practice focuses primarily on wrongful arrest, excessive force, unlawful incarceration, malicious prosecution, wrongful death, and other cases of police misconduct.

Michael Boyd has the knowledge and experience necessary to achieve the results that you need.  His hard work and attention to detail have proved to be the difference in many of the cases that he has handled.  Michael's promise is to treat every legal matter as if it were his own and it is that vigourous approach to the law that his client's have come to appreciate and depend on.

David James was born in Columbia, Missouri. David graduated cum laude from Southeast Missouri State University with a major in English Literature.. David received his Juris Doctorate from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. While in law school, David received the Trial Advocacy Outstanding Advocate Award.

One of the things that I think is critical to being a quality lawyer is to enjoy what you do.  I am very thankful that since I graduated from law school 15 years ago, I have always enjoyed being a lawyer.. As a lawyer, I spend lots of hours preparing cases for trial, holding the State to their burden of proof and researching whatever evidentiary issues all my cases may have.  In fact, most of my blog entries focus on the in-and-outs of these issues.  However, I learned very early in my career nothing is more valuable than the time you spend meeting with the client.  Quite frankly, it’s the part of the career that I enjoy the most.  It’s during these meetings that I feel I can make the most difference.  It is my opportunity to get to know my client.. When my clients come to the office, it is usually during the most difficult time in their life   As one can imagine this is usually not an easy time for people when they are accused of a crime.  Often there is a lot more going on than just the stress of a pending criminal case, whether it’s an addiction issue, going through a difficult loss, or simply trying to navigate the emotional aftermath following an accusation.. These are sometimes difficult discussions but they are well worth the time.  As our society becomes more and more computer oriented clients ask if it is truly necessary to spend the time meeting in my office.  They will always be necessary and can never be replaced by a phone call, email or quick conversation in the courthouse hallway.  The personal connection is the foundation of a strong attorney/client relationship.. When I am arguing to a judge at a final sentencing, I am amazed how many times I reference back to something my client and I discussed in my conference room several months earlier at the beginning of the case.  If I spend the time getting to know my client, I can then in turn paint my client as a person, not just a “Defendant” to the State, to the Jury, or to the Judge.. Throughout my career I have had many former clients approach me and tell me how well they have been doing the last several years.  I have been blessed to see many people get their life back on track and live productive successful lives.  When I see people take advantage of these second chances it is a living example of the part of my criminal defense work that I find most satisfying.  It is why I enjoy doing this work.. A lot of people think that the accused do not deserve a second chance or could not possibly pull it together to take advantage of a second chance.  My experience shows otherwise.  As a lawyer, my relationship to my client is often the same we have to close family members – they may have their flaws, but I am not going to sit back and watch someone else push them around.

20+ years experience providing honest straight answers to emotional legal questions, with the fight to follow through in the courtroom.. I attended the University of Kansas, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree majoring in Psychology in 1992.  I attended the University of Missouri at Columbia Law School earning my Juris Doctorate in 1995. I was licensed to practice law in October of 1995.. On December 28, 1995, I was appointed an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney of St. Francois County, Missouri becoming First Assistant in 1998.  During my time as an assistant prosecuting attorney I volunteered to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the Southeast Missouri Family Violence Council, helped form a family violence task force, and was a guest lecturer at the Mineral Area College Law Enforcement Academy.. On August 21, 1998, I joined the Ramshur Law Office of Piedmont, Missouri, where I learned and provided the solid, practical legal representation essential to my country based clients.. On May 14, 2001, I returned to Farmington to join the Law Office of Kenneth Seufert.. In May of 2013, I established the Law Office of Blake Dudley located on Jackson Street in Farmington, Missouri, a mere two blocks from the St. Francois County Courthouse. We provide solid, competent and experienced legal representation to individuals and families throughout the Southeast Missouri area, and in particular the counties of St. Francois, Washington, Madison, Ste. Genevieve, Iron, Reynolds, Wayne and Crawford.

I am in Washington Missouri, near the Missouri river. I meet with clients * By Appointment Only * For over 25 years I have served my clients in State Courts in approximately 70 counties and in numerous Municipalities throughout the state. I look forward to meeting with you and helping you resolve your issues.