Arizona Court of Appeals
The short answer: The Arizona Court of Appeals upheld two aggravated DUI convictions from a DUI jury trial even though several jurors had overheard the defendant’s mother in the courthouse hallway begging him to “take the plea.” The court ruled that simply knowing a defendant turned down a plea offer does not make a juror…
By Gordon Thompson, Phoenix DUI & Criminal Defense Attorney (Arizona State Bar, licensed since 1982) — Published August 29, 2026The Arizona Court of Appeals just affirmed a Maricopa County man’s convictions for aggravated DUI and unlawful flight from police — even though the prosecutor asked a question during trial that touched on evidence the judge…
State v. Puga: How Arizona Courts Are Interpreting the End of Peremptory Challenges — And What It Means for DUI Jury Trials By Gordon Thompson, Phoenix DUI & Criminal Defense Attorney — Licensed in Arizona since 1982In January 2025, the Arizona Court of Appeals issued the first published opinion squarely interpreting how trial courts must…
Gordon Thompson — DUI & Criminal Attorney Call (602) 467-3680 Arizona DUI Case Study · Court of Appeals · 2022 State v. Dean: What Arizona DUI Defendants Need to Know About Missing Body Camera Evidence and Aggravated DUI With a Suspended License By Gordon Thompson, Arizona DUI Attorney — 47 Years Experience Published:…
Arizona Court Blocks State’s Attempt to Upgrade DUI Charge: Meza v. LaFave and Your Double Jeopardy Rights By Gordon Thompson Attorney at Law Published: July 11, 2024 Updated: July 15, 2026 Practice Area: Arizona DUI Defense Case at a Glance: Meza v. LaFave Citation: Meza v. LaFave, 1 CA-SA 24-0084 (Ariz. App. Jul.…
Home › Blog › Arizona Aggravated Drug DUI: State v. Diakhate (2026) Arizona Aggravated Drug DUI Conviction Upheld: What State v. Diakhate Means for Arizona Drivers 📅 Published: June 24, 2026 ✍️ By Gordon Thompson, Arizona DUI Attorney ⚖️ Arizona Court of Appeals, Division One 📋 Case at a Glance Case Name: State…
Arizona Marijuana DUI Conviction Upheld: What State v. McKinley Means for You 📅 Published: June 2024 | Updated: June 2026 ✍️ By Gordon Thompson, Arizona DUI Attorney ⚖️ Case: 1 CA-CR 23-0202 | Arizona Court of Appeals, First Division Arizona has legalized recreational marijuana — but that does not mean driving after using…
Arizona can be a harsh state for criminal and DUI cases, and a defendant in Navajo County recently found out just how harsh in a recent case, court of appeals case, State v. Tafoya. He didn’t go to prison for the crash that started his case. He went to prison for missing one court date.…
Can a DUI Conviction Survive a Recanting Witness? What Arizona’s State v. Padilla Ruling Means for Your Case By Gordon Thompson, Phoenix DUI & Criminal Defense Attorney | Licensed in Arizona Since 1982 | 47 Years of Experience One question I hear constantly from clients and their families is some version of: “What if the…