Jim Butler is Board Certified in DUI Defense by the DUI Defense Lawyer's Association. He earned the American Chemical Societies designation as an ACS-CHAL Forensic Lawyer Scientist. Jim understands the science of breath and blood alcohol testing and uses that knowledge for his clients benefit. Jim received certification by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the Administration and Interpretation of the Standardized Field Sobriety Test Battery, as well as certification by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) as an Instructor of the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. He knows how the sobriety tests are supposed to be administered and scored by Police Officers, and makes sure they followed proper procedure.
Jim is a 2013 graduate of The Trial Lawyers College in Dubois Wyoming, where he learned how to discover and tell the client's story from legendary criminal defense lawyer Gerry Spence. Jim is a Founding Member of the DUI Defense Lawyer's Association, a member of the National College for DUI Defense, The Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association, and The Harris County Criminal Lawyer's Association. Finally, Jim is a Member of The College of The State Bar of Texas, "a professional society of legal scholars who are leaders in the Texas legal community and champions of legal education."
- South Texas College of Law
- J.D. (1992)
- Baylor University
- B.A. (1988)
- Owner
- Butler Law Firm
- - Current
- For over 30 years, The Butler Law Firm has helped people charged with DWI.
- Using Science In DWI Trials - Using the State's Elimination Rates To Build Your Closing Argument
- Counterpoint - The Journal of Science and the Law, Vol. 7, Issue 3, Article 4
- Preparing Your DWI Case For Trial, DUIDLA Fall Seminar, Austin, Texas
- DUIDLA
- I spoke to DWI Lawyers from across the country on DWI trial preparation. I shared how I prepare a DWI case for trial, from initial investigation to trial preparation, including winning strategies for defending DWI breath and blood test cases.
- Using Science to Win in Trial, Top Gun DWI Defense, Austin, Texas
- Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
- I presented on a method I had used in trial, which manipulated elimination and absorption rates to suggest alternative possible BAC results.
- ACS-CHAL Forensic Lawyer Scientist
- American Chemical Society
- Board Certified in DUI Defense
- DUI Defense Lawyers Association
- Certificate of Completion Forensic Chromatography XXIX: Theory and Practice
- Axion Labs
- I went back for a second helping of Gas Chromatography (and Chicago Pizza).
- The ACS Forensic Lawyer-Scientist Designation
- American Chemical Society
- The ACS Forensic Lawyer-Scientist Designation as recognized by the Chemistry and the Law Division of the ACS
- DUIDLA Board Certification in DUI Law
- DUIDLA - The DUI Defense Lawyers Association
- I was one of the first three lawyers in the country to pass the DUIDLA Board Certification exam.
- Graduate of the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College at Thunderhead Ranch, Dubois Wyoming
- The Trial Lawyer College
- I took three weeks out of my life to learn how to discover and tell the client's story from Gerry Spence at the Trial Lawyers College at Thunderhead Ranch, Dubois, Wyoming.
- DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Instructor Course
- NHTSA and the International Association of Chiefs of Police
- I completed the course where officers learn how to teach the standardized field sobriety testing battery to other officers.
- DUI Defense Lawyers Association (DUIDLA)
- Founding Member
- - Current
- National College of DUI Defense (NCDD)
- - Current
- National College of DUI Defense (NCDD)
- - Current
- Texas State Bar  # 00785738
- Member
- - Current
- Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
- Member
- - Current
- Texas
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Free Consultation
A consultation with me is free of charge. If you decide to hire me, I charge an affordable "flat rate fee." That means you will know the entire cost of legal representation, so you can budget accordingly. I accept all major credit and debit cards, and in most cases, payment plans can be arranged. -
Credit Cards Accepted
I accept all major credit and debit cards, including American Express. I also accept cash and personal checks. -
Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
I charge an affordable "flat rate fee", and payment plans can be arranged in most cases, to help with the cost of legal representation.
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
- DUI & DWI
- English
- Spanish
- Q. I have caught three dwi in less than one year
- A: If I understand your question correctly - and assuming these are the only charges you have on your record - the maximum jail time you could receive is up to 180 days in jail and up to a $2000 fine. But those are the maximum punishments - not what's likely to happen. It's fortunate that all three DWI's are "pending" and that you have not plead to any of them. It's like a first DWI, a second first DWI, and a third first DWI. But the same cannot be said if you plead to them. A prosecutor will want you to plead to two of these DWI cases so that if you ever pick up a third DWI in the future - you will be charged with a felony. I'm sorry to hear about your problem, ... Read More
- Q. I got a dwi in june 2023 at 17 then i picked up another one the same year but was only charged for the second one
- A: You need to hire an experienced DWI Defense Attorney to help you with this one. That would be my first call. Most attorneys will give you a free consultation. My second call would be to a Bonding Company. Are you currently out on bond on the second DWI - the one you were charged with? If so, I would call that same bonding company and ask them if a bond was set on the first DWI. They can look it up in the computer and tell you if there is a bond set. Then I would go and make that bond. As far as jail time is concerned - a Judge can always decide that your current bond is inadequate or insufficient to protect the public - and raise it at the arraignment setting - that's why we always have ... Read More
- Q. I'm 13 and I got caught with 3 disposables on school prpty and 2 were empty one was full of honey, what am I facing.
- A: We are talking "honey", "budder" - the vape cartridges that contains Delta 8,9, or 10 ? I'm not sure what your schools policy is if you are caught with a vape that contains one of these oils. If it turns out to be Delta 9 they could charge you with possession of marijuana but they probably would have already done that. The school could suspend you and put you in an alternative school . I know they like to do that sort of thing here in Houston where I practice law.
School is confusing enough without vape, and you are so young. Vape adds a whole other layer of stress and potential addiction to nicotine that you don't need.
This is from the Texas Comptrollers Office ... Read More
- Website
- Butler Law Firm - The Houston DWI Laywer