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About James
Biography
James Nesci is a 1994 graduate of the University of Arizona College of Law and was a solo practitioner for ten years in Tucson, Arizona before becoming the managing partner in the firm; Nesci, St. Louis & West, P.L.L.C. in January, 2005. The firm is now known as Nesci & St. Louis, P.L.L.C. where, in addition to writing books on DUI Defense, he works on large-scale challenges to DUI laws and investigatory techniques. Mr. Nesci is AV-Rated® by Martindale-Hubbell and has been named one of The Best Lawyers in America® for 2010. Mr. Nesci was also named as one of the Best Lawyers in Tucson in the area of DUI Defense by the Tucson Lifestyles Magazine. Only three other lawyers have received such distinction.
In 1999 Mr. Nesci became a Sustaining Member of the National College for DUI Defense. In 2001, he was Board Certified by the National College for DUI Defense, Inc. and one of less than fifty in the nation (as of January, 2009). Board Certification is recognized by the American Bar Association. In 2006, he was appointed Regent of the National College for DUI Defense, Inc. He was formerly the chair of the Curriculum Committee for the NCDD, is the Chair of the State Delegate Committee and is currently the Treasurer. He has served as an oral argument judge for the Board Certification Committee.
He is the author of Arizona DUI Defense: The Law & Practice, 3rd Edition, a legal treatise written for DUI defense attorneys and published by Lawyers and Judges Publishing Company. He is co-author of DUI DEfense books in Colorado, Florida, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. He is a contributing author for the 5th Edition of the treatise: Medical-Legal Aspects of Alcohol which is a text used by forensic toxicologists across the world and serves as the text for the Borkenstein School at Indiana University.
His firm’s practice is devoted almost entirely to defense of vehicular crimes. At any one time, he typically defends about 20 DUI cases in several jurisdictions.
Mr. Nesci often defends cases well into the .30 blood-alcohol range. He has caught more than one police officer lying during cross-examination and some police officers have even refused to grant pretrial interviews to him without a prosecutor or their own counsel present. He was one of the lead attorneys on the Intoximeters® RBT-IV breath-testing issue in Southern Arizona which resulted in the suppression of breath tests in over 7,000 cases and the removal of the RBT-IV from the streets of Arizona. He also spear-headed the effort to obtain the manufacturer’s source code and software for the CMI Intoxilyzer 8000. Although the source code was never obtained, he almost single-handedly ground 90% of all DUI prosecutions within the City of Tucson to a halt for nearly three years and obtained breath test suppressions and dismissals in hundreds of DUI cases.
He has represented former Supremes lead singer Diana Ross and Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Tight-End Jerramy Stevens on Extreme DUI charges and fitness guru Richard Simmons on an assault charge.
Mr. Nesci is a team-player within the Southern Arizona DUI Defense Community. He is often involved in large-scale challenges to DUI investigative methods and chemical testing. His opinion is sought by DUI Attorneys across the nation on various issues. He is one of only a handful of attorneys in the country who holds a DOT-Compliant Permit to operate an Intoxilyzer® 8000. He owns both an Intoxilyzer® 5000 & 8000 which are used for in-court demonstrations and for research purposes. He is qualified to administer Standardized Field Sobriety Tests under National Highway Traffic Safety Administration & International Association of Chiefs of Police Guidelines.
Mr. Nesci has lectured from coast-to-coast for such organizations as The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, Arizona State University College of Law Alumni Association, the University of Mississippi CLE Department, South Texas College of Law CLE Department, Arkansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice, Arizona Public Defenders Association, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, City of Phoenix & Maricopa County Public Defender's Offices, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Indiana Public Defender’s Council, Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Maricopa County Bar Association, Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys Association, the Mexican-American Bar Association at Loyola, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the National College for DUI Defense, the Nevada State Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Pima County Bar Association, Pima County Bar Association Young Lawyer’s Division, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Tucson City Public Defender’s Office and the Washington Foundation for Criminal Justice.
He has taught seminars on the subjects of Ethics, 4th Amendment Law, Drug Recognition Evaluations (DUI-Drugs/DRE), Cross-Examination, Trial Tactics, Jury Selection, Field Sobriety Testing, Blood Alcohol Calculations, Opening & Closing Arguments, Source Code Litigation, Frye & Daubert Challenges, Intoxilyzer 8000 Operator’s Course, Headspace Gas Chromatography, Blood and Breath Testing.
He is a frequent guest of the John C. Scott radio program in Tucson. The Tucson Weekly named Mr. Nesci "King of the DUI Defense" (December 19, 2002). He has appeared on CNN, Inside Edition, Celebrity Justice, Fox News, Access Hollywood, Court TV and National Public Radio.
Mr. Nesci is married with twin daughters. He is an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Navy. His interests are traveling, fine wines, port and fast cars. He is an amateur race car driver, mechanic, and a Corvette fanatic.
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Arizona for 31 years
State: Arizona
Acquired: 1994
No misconduct found
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James Nesci's Reviews
Showing 1 - 4 of 4 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by anonymous | December 4, 2015 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
DUI at University of Arizona
I hired Jim Nesci to represent my son in a DUI case in Tucson. I was given his name from a friend(attorney in Phoenix). I was told that he is "the best".......and after watching him in action......I CONCUR! Because their were so very many charges racked up against him......to come away with a co...
Posted by anonymous | March 4, 2015
Dismissed! Not Guilty!
I was pulled over for a questionable traffic violation that resulted in multiple charges including Extreme DUI. I believed these charges were worth a fight so I had a consultation with Jim and he thankfully agreed to take on my case. From the very beginning, Jim treated me with upmost respect and wi...
Posted by anonymous | October 29, 2013
My license was NOT suspended and the DUI charges were dismissed.
I consulted with seven attorneys about my DUI arrest and each recommended I meet with Mr. Nesci. His thorough knowledge of the applicable case law, ability to explain procedural complexities and consequences of various outcomes made working with James an easy choice. I hesitated only long enough to r...
Posted by anonymous | April 13, 2012
He took over my case when my original attorney said it was hopeless... and won!
After my first attorney advised me that there is no chance of winning my DUI case, and that I should just plead guilty, and on the advice of a friend worked in the state attorney’s office I asked Mr. Nesci to take over my case. He accepted, and I then switched attorneys. During that time he uncov...
James Nesci's Lawyer Endorsements
"I met James through the National College for DUI Defense where he currently serves as Dean. James works very hard for both the College and for his clients. He also takes the time to share his wealth of knowledge with other lawyers. He truly cares about his practice and the good of the profession. Arizona is lucky to have a lawyer like James."
"I endorse and recommend this lawyer for DUI cases. Jim Nesci is one of the best lawyers in Arizona and the country."
"To state the obvious, James Nesci is among the best and the brightest of DUI attorneys in Arizona and in the country. While he is a most prominent attorney and highly repected among his peers and has a busy schedule as a result, he remains accessible and caring and will patiently take the time to expalin in understandable terms to anyone seeking his expert advice how the crininal justice system works and how he can help you achieve the best possible fair and just result. I highly endorse James Nesci."
"I met Mr. Nesci at a seminar during law school. Part of my current practice is municipal prosecution for misdemeanors, including DUIs in a town in Yavapai County. Attorney Nesci's advice is spot on; as shown by the answers to the legal questions he has posted, eh takes the time to answer questions in a common sense manner and addresses criminal legal issues. I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer. He has exceptional knowledge in DUI cases, particularly those involving police laboratory blood tests. He is respected nationally as a speaker on DUI defense topics."
"I both admire and endorse Attorney Nesci's work. Whether it has been watching him in court, or hearing him speak at the National Conventions on DUI Defense, he is a top-notch attorney in his field. Whenever we have Arizona clients seeking our assistance, we refer them to Attorney Nesci's office first. Especially if you get a call at 2am that you have a son or daughter who's been arrested for any drinking-related offense, he is the guy to call."
"I attended a seminar conducted by Mr. Nesci on breath testing. I found him to be a charismatic and engaging speaker who had an obvious command of the science of breath testing and court rules and procedures. I endorse this lawyer."
"My experience with Jim Nesci is through the National College for DUI Defense, where he is a highly respected member. I have also met and seen Jim present at numerous DUI related CLEs around the country. Jim was in fact one of the faculty when I went through the NCDD summer session in Boston. I highly recommend him as DUI attorney."
"I've seen Mr. Nesci all over the country teaching me how to fight and win DUI breath test cases. The man is a great teacher and I enjoy his presentations very much. He is 100% passion. He's real good. I endorse this lawyer. He is raising the DUI Defense bar."
"James Nesci has established himself as one of the best DUI lawyers in the country. I have personally worked with Jim and found him to be on top of the science and the law, and a persuasive trial lawyer. If a friend or family member or mine are ever in need of a lawyer in Arizona, Jim Nesci will be their lawyer."
"Literally the guy whom wrote the book. TOP NOTCH DWI DUI defense lawyer. If a personal friend or family member got arrested in Tucson, Jim would be the guy I'D call. Well respected in the legal community. Smart, compassionate and hard working. A "lawyer's lawyer." Bill Powers, Charlotte NC"
"I endorse this lawyer. Attorney Nesci is without question one of the best DUI defense attorneys in the nation. I consider him a mentor and a friend."
"Mr. Nesci is one of the best DUI lawyers in the country. His trial skills and scholarship are both irrefutable."
"Attorney Nesci is one of the most important and influential DWI lawyers in the nation. He routinely teaches other attorneys to become better at their craft, and he does an excellent job. I know this, because he taught me, and I am a better attorney for it. There is no denying the career accomplishments of Attorney Nesci. Very simply, if I were in trouble in Arizona, I would hire James Nesci."
"I met James Nesci about five years ago when he was a speaker at a seminar I attended. To say the knowledge he possesses is impressive would be an enormous understatement. If fact, you would be hard pressed to find an attorney anywhere that has a similar ability to present a client’s case to a judge or jury. His results speak for themselves. James has continued to educate myself and other attorneys though out the country on how to become the best possible advocate for our clients. James Nesci’s impact on the legal field continues to expand based upon the numerous presentations he makes to other attorneys, the books he authors, and most importantly, the results he gets for his clients through preparation and courtroom litigation. I would not hesitate contacting James on a legal matter and would advise anyone facing a situation where he could help to do the same."
"I endorse this lawyer's work.There are many lawyers to choose from. However, there is only one that deserves your trust. Attorney Nesci is more than just a gifted litigator he truly cares about those who have entrusted their cases to him. This compassion for others is translated into his innate ability to pursuade others to his/your view with great success. With years of trial experience behind him his advocacy skills exceed those that oppose him. I am not sure what is more recognized, his reputation as an exceptional litigator or his passion to assist others in their time of need. Without hesitation Attorney Nesci is the lawyer I trust to help you"
"Having been a member of the National College for DUI Defense for over 10 years now, and as an annual attendee of two to three national DUI defense seminars, I have been privileged to get to know many of our nation's finest DUI defense attorneys. Jim Nesci is undoubtedly amongst this group. His reputation for professional excellence is not limited to the borders of Arizona. He has a national reputation of being one of our nation's most experienced, well trained, ultra talented, compassionate DUI defense attorneys that you will find anywhere in America. Not to mention one of our nation's foremost authors on DUI Defense.I loudly and proudly endorse Jim Nesci. The citizen accused could find no better. The fact he is a dear friend is but a bonus!"
"I have had the pleasure working with James Necsi for a dozen years,during which Jim has always demonstrated the highest levels of professionalism, legal knowledge and compelete dedication to his clients,which have ranged from the famous(Diana Ross,Richard Simmons,and many others) to many other Arizona Citizens.He has authored/co-authored DUI treatises in his home state and with DUI Attorney's in their home states.Jim is a great credit to the Legal Profession and has my highest endorsement."
"What can I say about Jim Nesci? Seeing as how I only have 960 characters to write with here, there is absolutely too much to be stated that will not fit within this endorsement! So here goes . . . . I have known Jim since the spring of 2005, when I attended an Intoxilyzer 8000 seminar and observed firsthand the masterful brilliance and knowledge that Jim has regarding anything-and-everything related to DUI defense. Since then, I have the privilege of attending numerous national seminars that Jim has instructed at and attended. An unrelenting leader in the prestigious National College for DUI Defense, Jim has authored numerous works that I have read and continue to study to enable my own performance to be the best it can be. Simply put, what he has written, I have read; and when Jim speaks, I (and you) listen! Jim is one of the best DUI defense attorneys in the world, and his clients undeniably have the highest quality person and attorney that they could ask for."
"His efforts and passion to represent his clients is unmatched. He has a vigor for justice that is exemplified in his constant effort to seek fairness and protection of his clients rights. His understanding of blood and breath testing is knowledge that is unmatched. He is a DUI Attorney that other DUI Attorneys strive to be like. I endorse this attorney."
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Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Guides
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