DUI & Professionals
Michael, a summa cum laude law graduate, have exhaustive experience in all aspects of DUI & vehicular offenses litigation. From jury trials to appeals; to motor vehicle licensing, to professional and career consequences, Michael is called upon to advise and help professional clients navigate the thicket of confusing and surprisingly harsh Arizona DUI laws and regulations. Repeatedly asked to lecture at attorney seminars on the collateral and professional consequences of DUI & other charges, Michael recently authored a chapter in Trends in DUI Discovery, 2014 ed. (Thompson Reuters; Aspatore). Read More
Criminal Defense
A former prosecutor, named in Best Lawyers In America® 23rd ed., 2017-18 as one of the best Tucson Criminal Defense Lawyers: White Collar, Michael has amassed what many clients think is an astonishing track record. Click here to see results. Numerous healthcare professionals; law enforcement officers; university and graduate students; loan officers & other financial professionals; licensed real estate agents; CPA’s; and many company owners & business principals have all entrusted Michael to handle worrisome government investigations and criminal matters. Michael is known for making clients and their families comfortable through some of the most trying moments of their lives. Read More
Notable Cases
Having handled numerous criminal matters receiving national and focused local media attention, Michael advocates aggressively but with the thoughtful discretion, patience, care, attention to detail, and empathy demanded when clients are subjected to intense public scrutiny. A few of Michael’s cases receiving such attention are: Read More
In the News
Marijuana Laws: Some New, Some Old | Morning Edition – NPRMichael Harwin
A former prosecutor, Michael Harwin graduated summa cum laude from University of Arizona College of Law in May 1993, where he served on the editorial board of the Arizona Law Review and was inducted into the Order of the Coif. Recognized for his work in white collar criminal defense, Michael was listed in Best Lawyers America®,23rd ed., 2017-18 and rated by Martindale Hubbell® A-V 5/5 Preeminent. He was listed in Arizona Superlawyers® in 2017-18 as one of the top Tucson DUI lawyers and named by Tucson Lifestyle Magazine® as one of the Best Lawyers in Tucson (May 2017). Named by the National Trial Lawyers® as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer, Michael was honored with a fellowship by the Litigation Counsel of America® . Michael was also named by BestofUS.com as one of the Best Lawyers in the United States, and rated by AVVO® 10/10 Superb. Michael has received dozens of public client reviews. The largest firms in Arizona entrust Michael with their valued clients. Read More
Client Reviews
Honored with two Martindale-Hubbell Client Distinction Awards for 2012 and 2013, and two AVVO Client’s Choice Awards for 2015-16, based almost entirely upon client reviews and ratings, Michael is grateful to his many clients, dozens of whom have written and published comprehensive reviews, lauding not just outcomes, but explaining Michael’s honesty, responsiveness and compassion for those facing some of the most difficult moments in their lives. Read More
What Our Clients Are Saying
Latest Articles
Pretextual Stops for DUI in Tucson – Part 4
Today, we’re going to talk about four other types of questionable “equipment violations” that the police in Arizona tend to rely on for thin DUI stops: License Plate covers, window tinting, rear-view mirror hanging placards, and “mud flaps”
Pretextual Stops for DUI in Tucson – Part 3
Headlights, taillights, brake lights, and license plate lights– claimed vehicle equipment lighting violations police tend to use as an excuse or pretext to stop a vehicle late at night and conduct a DUI investigation.
Pretextual Stops for DUI in Tucson – Part 2
Last time, we spoke about one particular sometimes spurious excuse that DUI police in Arizona tend or in some cases love to use to justify late night stops: ARS 28-729.1 “touching” or momentarily “crossing” a lane divider. Today I want to speak with you about some other sometimes equally spurious reasons police use to justify late night DUI stops.