Michael Paul Bruckheim

I was born and raised in Montgomery County, Maryland, and graduated from Walt Whitman High School in 1989. I attended Brandeis University where I graduated cum laude with a B.A. in economics in 1993. I received my juris doctor from the American University Washington College of Law in 1996. While in law school, I was a member of the Law Review and the Moot Court Executive Board. In my third year, I participated in the Criminal Justice Clinic, and had the opportunity to represent clients in criminal matters in the Montgomery County District and Circuit Courts. I also spent a semester prosecuting criminal matters as a Rule 16 student in the State’s Attorney’s Office for Montgomery County.

Prior to opening my law office in April, 2010, I enjoyed a diverse career litigating in the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia (OAG) for over 11 years. I began my OAG career as a prosecutor in the Criminal Section where I conducted numerous bench and jury trials in traffic and criminal misdemeanor matters. Later in my OAG career, I served as Chief of the Criminal Section where I supervised the prosecution of DUI offenses in the District, and directed a staff of over 20 attorneys. I was responsible for formulating office policy for the prosecution of DUIs, as well as all traffic and criminal offenses under OAG’s jurisdiction.

I have successfully completed a variety of intensive trainings that has him uniquely prepared to attack the prosecution of every type of DUI case.   I am trained to administer field sobriety tests according to NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) standards, and also trained as a NHTSA field sobriety test Instructor.  I’ve completed trainings in Forensic Chromatography, which is the process used to analyze blood and urine samples in DUI and drug cases. I have been trained in the use of and weaknesses of the Intoximeter EC/IR II, which is the breath testing machine used in the District of Columbia and Maryland.  I have been trained in Drug Recognition, which is the same training officers have taken for purposes of prosecuting DUI-drug cases.   I am one of a small number of DUI lawyers in America to be named a Forensic Drug and Alcohol Lawyer Specialist by the American Chemical Society.

I also spent several years practicing in OAG’s Civil Division where I represented the District of Columbia in all phases of litigation in a variety of subjects, including employment discrimination, failure to accommodate disabilities, police misconduct, and personal injury. I gained additional experience in the Personnel, Labor & Employment Division where I represented the District’s interests in all employment-related matters, including workers’ compensation, disciplinary actions, and discrimination complaints.   During my tenure at OAG, I also served as the Attorney/Advisor in the District of Columbia Office of Human Rights. I reviewed hundreds of cases alleging disparate treatment, hostile work environment, retaliation, failure to accommodate disabilities, and violations of the District of Columbia Family and Medical Leave Act.

I am a trained mediator and arbitrator, and I have successfully mediated several employment discrimination claims. I am an Adjunct Professor of Law in the Trial Advocacy Program at the American University Washington College of Law. Since 2008, I have taught courses in Evidentiary Foundations and Objections, Evidence, and Pre-Trial Civil Litigation. I served as an Adjunct Faculty Coach for the American University Mock Trial Honor Society where I coached teams of law students in trial advocacy competitions.

I have several publications to my credit.  I have written a book entitled "Facing a DUI Charge in DC."  I also have contributed chapters for two publications from Aspatore Publishing:  Trends in DUI Discovery and Witness Preparation and Examination for DUI Proceedings.  I also edited the Criminal Traffic Offenses chapter in the 2014 Edition of the District of Columbia Practice Manual.

I am admitted to the Bars of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and the United States District Courts for the District of Columbia and Maryland. I am a member of the National College of DUI Defense where I am serving as the District of Columbia Delegate.  I am a Founding Member of the DUI Defense Lawyers Association.  I also am a member of the Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys Association, the District of Columbia Superior Court Trial Lawyers Association, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.  In my spare time, I enjoy reading, traveling, and being with my family.