James Bruce Lewis

if you find yourself in need of an attorney because you have recently been charged with a DUI, then do yourself a favor, stop scouring the internet, because I already have. I met with 3 of the other most highly rated DUI attorneys in Honolulu. At the end of the day, I knew James Lewis was the Smarte...st, Hardest Working, Most Strategic, Caring, Diligent, and kind DUI attorney anywhere on Oahu. James exudes class and is always the best-dressed person in the courtroom. His aptitude to He is well-known and respected by all the judges and prosecutors,and this helps! My arresting officer never even asked me if I had been drinking at all (because I anxiously anticipated it) yet he wrote that without being asked I told him "I had a few beers after work but was good!" I was pulled over within 50 feet of making a left turn where a poorly placed and barely visible "No Left Turn" sign was, and the officer immediately treated it as a DUI stop. Everything he did during the stop told me that he was out to get me at all costs. I refused all tests and was arrested for refusal. I knew by his every move that the officer was not "protecting and serving" but rather was determined to arrest me for a DUI I didn't deserve. I was so pissed! I needed the BEST representation I could find. I first 2 met of highest rated DUI attorneys on the island. RH and K O’G, were both veterans in the field. Both of them started my consultation out with absolute certainty that they could win my case and both were very sure to make me aware of their roughly 97% victory rate. They were too busy bragging about their skills to actually take the time to learn and understand MY OWN case… Both informed me that their price was roughly $9,xxx and that they would get my case thrown out when the cops missed 3 times, before realizing who my arresting officer was. Officer W&*G, apparently known as the “Rudy” of the HPD and is awarded by MADD every year for his number of DUI arrests. Officer W&*G is also known to conduct all of his stops on his own, and always attends court. Both highly rated and expensive attorneys after seeing the officers name, told me that it would be a tough one, and was likely a toss-up… $9,000 for a coin flip?? The next attorney had an office laden in gold. He was extremely sure of his ability for finding the one way to win in a haystack, but never actually was able to convey how he intended on doing that in my case. He was upset when he heard I was meeting with James immediately after him, likely because he knows he is losing that client! I finally met with James. James opened the door, greeted me with a big smile and welcomed me in. It wasn’t the James show, he wanted to know about MY case, and every detail. After reading my arrest report, James was the first person to actually show confidence in his ability to win my case, regardless of the Officer involved. We had a long talk about strategy, and his approach was COMPLETELY different than all the others. He was strategic, and let me know various ways which he was cleverly developing an edge in cases like mine. I could tell he was extremely genuine and extremely intellectual. Every single time I called, James either picked right up, or let me know he was in court and returned my call within a couple hours. It was over a year since we met that I had the money to hire James, and although his rates had gone up since, he honored the price he had quoted me. We found out that there were 2 other charges which I hadn't realized at the time that were in conjunction with my DUI and James took care of them as well for no extra charge! I moved off-Island, and James was able to appear several times for me. Court dates were stress-free because I KNEW that I was in the best hands possible. The case went to trial and James ran circles around the officer the other attorneys feared. We WON! THANKS JAMES!

Being an out-of-state resident that was arrested on the suspicion of a DUI (I was pulled over for no head lights), I had originally planned on retaining the services of an attorney recommended to me by some friends - but ultimately decided that it would be in my best interest to find a lawyer that ha...d past and SUCCESSFUL experiences with out-of-state clients. After doing a bit of research, I elected to go with James Lewis and the decision turned out to be the right one! James' calm and clear-headed demeanor was visible from our first interaction together. He was up front and transparent in telling me that I should be prepared in returning to Hawaii on more than one occasion - something that I appreciated from the get go. Throughout our conversations, I told James' I was troubled by the arresting officer's inconsistency in his account of the events. At the first hearing, the State was not ready to proceed with our case (officer out sick). During the second hearing (8 months from my original arrest date), we went to trial. It should be said that of the dozen or so other cases during our assigned time slot - we were the only case that actually ended up going to trial. James' presence and eloquence helped him decisively cross-examine the arresting officer and present the facts about the case. He was ultimately able to demonstrate that the State could not prove - beyond a reasonable doubt - that I was under the influence.

Arrested for a DUI, and was scared of what could have been (a criminal record). James took my phone call and agreed to meet me within a couple hours (unlike a couple other lawyers). He clearly explained my situation, and what I could expect, both good and bad. It was his quiet confidence that won me ...over. Its hard to choose (and pay in advance for) a lawyer, since there aren't any "stats" like a win/loss percentage to judge him or her. My experience now is that you must just trust the lawyer's judgement and try to not worry. My trial went on for an entire year; it could've ended sooner for better or worse, I think; but James played the long game as that always increases the chances of a dismissal (like if the police officer doesn't show up). After having to appear in court 4 or so times, we had no choice but to go to trial. It was fascinating to watch James dismantle the police officer's inconsistent testimony, and along with the smart move of convincing the judge of toss out a key piece of evidence against me, James was able to give me a Not Guilty verdict. I watched many other lawyers handle DUIs in my hours sitting in court, and James seemed like the most well put-together package in terms of rapport with the judge, making sure that the client felt better about his/her unfortunate situation, and knowing how to work the law and trial process to the client's eventual advantage. Highly recommended... he's not the cheapest (but not the most expensive either), but a DUI is a costly mistake anyhow, and you must do what you can to keep your record clean.

James was highly recommended to me by a close friend, and I couldn't be happier with his services. My case was especially challenging because I lived so far away, and having a lawyer with an in-depth knowledge of the local courts and judges proved invaluable. Though my case took awhile to resolve its...elf, James remained a dedicated advocate in my favor and my case was dismissed. He is intelligent, understanding, and the consummate professional. I can't recommend him highly enough.