National College for DUI Defense
Encyclopedia
The National College for DUI Defense (NCDD) is a professional, non-profit corporation dedicated to the improvement of the criminal defense bar, and to the dissemination of information to the public about drunk driving law and related issues. With almost 1000 attorney members nationwide, the organization consists of a dean
, a governing board of regents
, a founding membership, a sustaining membership and a general membership, and is headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama.
was founded in 1994 in Chicago by 12 DUI defense attorneys, who formed the original Board of Regents. Subsequently each served as dean of the college for one year prior to automatically retiring from the board as a fellow
of the National College. As the original board retired, new Regents were brought in to serve.
The college's mission statement
states that "In sum, the mission of the College is to vindicate the promise of the United States Constitution, that a citizen accused has the right to the effective assistance of his or her counsel". As part of this mission, the College presents seminars to the profession on a regular basis. These include a 3-day summer session conducted annually at the Harvard Law School
since 1995; a 3-day fall seminar in Las Vegas, Nevada, in conjunction with the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
; a spring Mastering Scientific Evidence seminar in New Orleans, and a 2-day winter seminar at changing locations.
recognized DUI Defense Law as a specialty area in the practice of law, and awarded its "Certificate of Accreditation
" to the board certification
program. In 2008 the American Bar Association re-accredited the National College's specialty certification program in DUI Defense Law. The NCDD is currently the only organization in the country accredited to certify lawyers as DUI Defense Law specialists.
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
, a governing board of regents
Board of Regents
In the United States, a board often governs public institutions of higher education, which include both state universities and community colleges. In each US state, such boards may govern either the state university system, individual colleges and universities, or both. In general they operate as...
, a founding membership, a sustaining membership and a general membership, and is headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama.
History and purpose
The CollegeCollege
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
was founded in 1994 in Chicago by 12 DUI defense attorneys, who formed the original Board of Regents. Subsequently each served as dean of the college for one year prior to automatically retiring from the board as a fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of the National College. As the original board retired, new Regents were brought in to serve.
The college's mission statement
Mission statement
A mission statement is a statement of the purpose of a company or organization. The mission statement should guide the actions of the organization, spell out its overall goal, provide a path, and guide decision-making...
states that "In sum, the mission of the College is to vindicate the promise of the United States Constitution, that a citizen accused has the right to the effective assistance of his or her counsel". As part of this mission, the College presents seminars to the profession on a regular basis. These include a 3-day summer session conducted annually at the Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
since 1995; a 3-day fall seminar in Las Vegas, Nevada, in conjunction with the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers is an American criminal defense organization. Their stated mission is to "Ensure justice and due process for persons accused of crime. Foster the integrity, independence and expertise of the criminal defense profession...
; a spring Mastering Scientific Evidence seminar in New Orleans, and a 2-day winter seminar at changing locations.
Accreditation
In 1999, the college instituted board certification to recognize lawyers within the college who exemplify the program's standards, and who meet the criteria established by the board: extensive experience trying DUI cases and litigating pre-trial issues, a broad knowledge of the science involved in testing for intoxicants, and a command of the legal process on which DUI cases are framed. In 2003, the American Bar AssociationAmerican Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
recognized DUI Defense Law as a specialty area in the practice of law, and awarded its "Certificate of Accreditation
Professional certification
Professional certification, trade certification, or professional designation, often called simply certification or qualification, is a designation earned by a person to assure qualification to perform a job or task...
" to the board certification
Certification
Certification refers to the confirmation of certain characteristics of an object, person, or organization. This confirmation is often, but not always, provided by some form of external review, education, assessment, or audit...
program. In 2008 the American Bar Association re-accredited the National College's specialty certification program in DUI Defense Law. The NCDD is currently the only organization in the country accredited to certify lawyers as DUI Defense Law specialists.
External links
- National College for DUI Defense
- John Lang. "Defense lawyer to accused drunk drivers: We'll get you off". Rocky Mountain NewsRocky Mountain NewsThe Rocky Mountain News was a daily newspaper published in Denver, Colorado, United States from April 23, 1859, until February 27, 2009. It was owned by the E. W. Scripps Company from 1926 until its closing. As of March 2006, the Monday-Friday circulation was 255,427...
. February 11, 1996 - National effort targets drunken drivers: NHTSA sponsors mass crackdown. Detroit Free PressDetroit Free PressThe Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
. August 17, 2006