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I’m Gordon Thompson, a Surprise DUI lawyer, and I know an arrest can feel like you’ve lost control of your life overnight
One phone call to police, one traffic stop, and suddenly a court in Surprise or the Northwest Regional Court Center is deciding things about your license, your job, and your freedom. Here’s what a DUI charge can put in motion if it isn’t handled right:
- Your license gets suspended before you’ve even had a hearing
- You’re ordered into random alcohol/drug testing and electronic monitoring
- You have to show up in court over and over, putting your job at risk
- Jail time becomes a real possibility
- You’re sentenced to counseling sessions that stretch on for months
- You can only drive a car fitted with an ignition interlock device, sometimes for years
Since 1979, I’ve helped more than 6,000 clients take back control of their lives
When someone hires me, here’s what I go to work doing right away:
- I fight to prevent the immediate suspension of your driver’s license
- I work to limit how many times you have to appear in court in person
- I put my 47 years of experience to work trying to get you the best result possible — that could mean a dismissal, a reduced charge, or a not guilty verdict at trial
- And if a conviction can’t be avoided, I work to help you avoid or lessen the many adverse consequences that come with it
As your Surprise DUI lawyer, my job is to see your case through your eyes
No two clients are affected by an arrest the same way. Some are worried about a commercial license, others about custody, others about simply making it to work on Monday. My job is to anticipate how your case will affect you and your family specifically, which is exactly what I walk through in my video AZ DUI and the Family.
I built my Surprise DUI Lawyer practice the way I’d want it built if I were the one facing charges
My clients are hardworking people, same as me. If I were the one hiring a lawyer, I’d expect that lawyer to:
- Keep me fully informed as my case moves forward
- Anticipate problems before I even know to worry about them
- Help me get done whatever I’m required to do
That’s exactly what I provide. Personalized service is my responsibility, and it doesn’t end when your last court date does.
How I stay in touch with Surprise DUI clients
- Encrypted email for every report and case update
- Text messages for notices and reminders, so nothing slips through the cracks
- Secure online access to your dash cam or body cam video
- One-click, secure video conferencing whenever you need to talk
My standard fee agreement has no hidden fees, no hidden costs, and no extra charge if your case goes to trial. It’s an all-inclusive, reasonable flat fee, and I offer affordable payment plans so cost isn’t what decides how your case gets defended.
Take the first step toward a better outcome than you might think is possible.
Call Or Video Conference Now For Your Free Consultation
My Arizona DUI Guide explains how the Surprise Municipal Court and Maricopa County Justice Courts work
Surprise, Arizona DUI Questions I Get Asked Most Often
Every client comes to me with questions, and most of them come up over and over. Here are honest answers to the ones I hear most from people facing a DUI arrest in Surprise.
What does a DUI lawyer cost in Surprise, and can I pay over time?
I handle Surprise DUI cases under a flat fee, not an hourly rate, so you know the full cost upfront with no hidden charges and no extra bill if your case goes to trial. I also offer affordable payment plans, because I don’t think cost should determine how hard your case gets fought. You can read the details of my standard flat fee agreement here.
I was arrested for DUI in Surprise. How fast do I need to act on my driver’s license?
Fast. In Arizona, you generally have just 30 days from the date of your arrest to request a hearing with the MVD to challenge an automatic license suspension. Miss that window, and you typically lose the right to fight the suspension administratively, regardless of how your criminal case turns out. If you were arrested recently, this is the first thing to talk to a lawyer about.
Is a first-time DUI in Surprise handled differently than a repeat or extreme DUI?
Yes, significantly. A first-time DUI in Surprise Municipal Court or one of the Northwest Regional courts usually carries different mandatory minimums and different negotiating room than an extreme DUI (BAC of .15 or higher) or a second or subsequent offense within seven years. Repeat and extreme DUI charges come with steeper mandatory jail time, longer interlock requirements, and less flexibility from prosecutors, which is why the defense strategy has to be tailored to which category your case falls into.
Where will my Surprise DUI case actually be heard?
Most DUI arrests within Surprise city limits are filed in Surprise Municipal Court. Depending on exactly where the stop occurred, some cases instead land in one of the Maricopa County Justice Courts at the Northwest Regional Court Center — Arrowhead, Hassayampa, Manistee, or North Valley. I appear regularly in all of these courts and can tell you early on which one your case will likely be in and what that means for scheduling.
Will I still be able to drive while my Surprise DUI case is pending?
In many cases, yes, at least in a limited capacity, but that depends on your specific facts, your BAC, and how quickly you act on the MVD hearing deadline above. Part of my job in the first days after your arrest is fighting to preserve as much of your ability to drive to work and handle daily life as possible while the case is resolved.
Latest Blog Posts
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Maricopa County has many municipal and justice courts where DUI cases are tried. On the Westside of Maricopa County, in addition to cases in the Surprise Municipal Court, I also take cases in Avondale, Buckeye, Glendale, Goodyear, and Peoria Municipal Courts, and many Maricopa County Justice Courts, including Agua Fria, Arrowhead, Country Meadows, Hassayampa, Ironwood, North Valley, Manistee, Maryvale, and White Tank.
Surprise Municipal (or City) Court
16081 North Civic Center Plaza, Suite 105, Surprise, AZ 85374
Phone: (623) 222-4800
Fax: (623) 222-4801
E-Mail: mu************@********az.gov
Court Website: https://www.surpriseaz.gov/238/City-Court#courtcalendar
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed on legal holidays)
NORTHWEST REGIONAL COURT CENTER: Arrowhead Justice Court – Hassayampa Justice Court – Manistee Justice Court – North Valley Justice Court
14264 West Tierra Buena Lane, Surprise, AZ 85374
Arrowhead:
Phone: (602) 372-2000
Fax: (602) 372-2620
Court Website: http://justicecourts.maricopa.gov/Locations/index.aspx
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed legal holidays)
For Fiscal Year 2014, there were 12,770 original case filings in the Arrowhead Justice Court, with 84 non-jury and 2 jury trials.
Hassayampa:
Phone: (602) 372-2000
Fax: (602) 372-2620
Court Website: http://justicecourts.maricopa.gov/Locations/index.aspx
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed legal holidays)
For Fiscal Year 2014, there were 11,896 original case filings in the Hassayampa Justice Court, with 152 non-jury and 3 jury trials.
Manistee:
Phone: (602) 372-2000
Fax: (602) 372-2620
Court Website: http://justicecourts.maricopa.gov/Locations/index.aspx
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed legal holidays)
North Valley:
Phone: (602) 372-2000
Fax: (602) 372-2620
Court Website: http://justicecourts.maricopa.gov/Locations/index.aspx
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed legal holidays)