OWI

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Sunday, March 8, 2015

Mike Nichols Shows Why He is a Leader in Criminal Defense: Judge Suppresses SFSTs in trial of Michigan State Police Trooper

By Michael Nichols
Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

"I think he was pretty intent on arresting him ..." were the words of a District Court Judge in Ludington on Friday March 6, 2015. Judge Peter Wadel of the 79th Judicial District suppressed the use of so-called Standardized Field Sobriety Tests or "SFSTs" in the trial of a Michigan State Police Trooper charged with OWI. The judge did not go so far as to dismiss all of the evidence in the case finding that the existence of an empty container in the trooper's personal car coupled with 2 driving "cues" and the presence of glassy bloodshot eyes and the odor of intoxicants were just barely enough to support the warrantless arrest. The trooper was off-duty when he was arrested by a Ludington Police officer after the bars closed in Ludington at 2 am on January 17th. He remains on "desk duty" pending the outcome of the case.

Nichols, a resident of Meridian Township, says more motions may be coming and there are other issues in the case. "For now, we prepare for trial. Everyone should get a fair shot and the same consideration when charged by the government with a crime," he says.

A full link to the article can be found here:

http://www.shorelinemedia.net/ludington_daily_news/news/local/article_4b0f7212-c435-11e4-8d4d-db7a4ea8c7a6.html?mode=jqm

For the lawyers who are committed to results, call Mike Nichols at 517 432 9000 or email mnichols@nicholslaw.net

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Peer Recognition

Mike Nichols is a national leader in drunk driving defense. He is a member of the Forensic Committee and Michigan delegate to the National College for DUI Defense. He is also a Sustaining Member of the College. Nichols is also a founding member of the Michigan Association of OWI Attorneys; a member of the American Chemical Society; an associate member of he American Academy of Forensic Science, Adjunct Professor of Forensic Evidence in Criminal Law and OWI Law and Practice at Cooley Law School. He is also author of the West OWI Practice book and several chapters in other books on science and the law.

Mike Nichols is recognized by his peers in Michigan as a “SuperLawyer” in DUI/Criminal Defense. Nichols has also been asked to speak at conferences by groups such as the NCDD; Various Bar Associations in other states.