After being charged with the serious offence of DUI, I expected the worst: severe driving restrictions, higher insurance, consequences affecting my business, and a permanent mark on my record. Quite frankly, I was terrified of the outcome and what could prove to be a life changing event. Thanks to the aggressive defense of Gretchen Taylor, I avoided a DUI conviction.

I’ve never had a need for a lawyer before, but knew these charges were not something to face alone. After release from jail, I immediately went to work on selecting a lawyer. Gretchen was recommended by a friend, and also a highly respected Fairfax DUI attorney, who does not practice in Federal Court. After my consult with Gretchen, I knew she was well-suited to deliver the results needed. She quickly outlined the gaps the US Attorney would have to overcome for a conviction and assured me that there was reason for optimism.

Throughout the coming weeks, she prepared the case and was in contact updating me on the progress. We even made a trip to the place where I was arrested, so we could provide the court with an accurate photographic description of the roadway for trial.

In the courtroom you can tell Gretchen is in her element; she backed the US Attorney into a corner right away by requesting a jury trial. She whole heartedly felt a jury of my peers would see the deficits she was beginning to unravel in the case. After Gretchen made a motion for trial, the US attorney offered to reduce all charges (DUI & Refusal) to “improper driving”, one of the lowest traffic violations which is similar to running a stop sign or failing to signal.

Gretchen Taylor is your best advocate when it comes to a successful DUI defense. I am eternally grateful for all her hard work, expertise, and care applied to my case. If I am ever in need of an attorney, Gretchen will be the first and only call I make.

Gretchen Taylor is probably the only lawyer I know who believes in going the extra mile. She is very knowledgeable, approachable, friendly, and an out of the box thinker. In dealing with my case, she was always available when I had questions and always gave honest and fair advice of substance (which I felt was very important). She definitely knows how to put your concerns to ease and make you feel comfortable no matter how uncomfortable your situation may be.

I would highly recommend Gretchen Taylor, a lawyer who I believe will always go the extra mile to provide quality advice to her client.

Thanks Gretchen for being by my side during my ordeal.

I hired Gretchen on appeal after being convicted on a DUI charge in District Court.

Why:
Gretchen Believed: After explaining the case details. She was excited about all the opportunities my case provided to obtain a dismissal or not guilty verdict. We encountered several obstacles with logistics and evidence, but she never seem discouraged; or waned in our ability to win.

Gretchen's Resourceful: As an asthmatic, I needed a medical expert to provide credible testimony of the challenges asthmatics can sometimes face providing breath samples. She was able to identify and retain an expert in less than 10 days; whereas my withdrawing attorney initially opted not to and later could not find one with 90 days time.

Gretchen Communicated: Clearly, concretely, and regularly about what needed to be done, by who and when. Between Gretchen, the medical expert and I, it felt like I was a member of my own "high-power legal team." We all had our part to play, not only in trial, but research and preparation. The more and better tools we placed in her arsenal, the more dynamic her defense.

Gretchen is good with detail: She understands and/can quickly learn great detail. She demonstrated command of breath testing machinery, variances between devices and limitations. Gretchen was able to draw out uncertainty and contradiction in the officer's testimony; while also spotlighting the officer attestations to behaviors the officer testified I demonstrated properly.

Gretchen's Cool Under Pressure: We drew a prosecution friendly judge who was very "generous" to the prosecution on objections, frequently rushed ; who, at the end, effectively pleaded for the prosecution to give him case law that would allow him to convict beyond the statute both the prosecution and defense agreed was applicable. Gretchen was able to use the judge's zeal for throwing out testimony or sustaining objections against defense witnesses against the prosecution’s witnesses; in one case totally eliminating one witness’s ability to testify all together (the officer was dismissed prior to answering a single question about the case).

Gretchen's Adaptive: Gretchen was able to take the feedback I provided during the trial of the officer's testimony and integrate it into her cross to further tease out questionable testimony.

Bottom Line: Gretchen Argued The Case That I Was Totally Satisfied, Regardless of the Verdict.

nevertheless . . . the verdict was: NOT GUILTY