I am Jim Butler, and I hold a Board Certification in DUI Defense from the DUI Defense Lawyer's Association. Additionally, I have been designated as an ACS-CHAL Forensic Lawyer Scientist by the American Chemical Societies. My understanding of the science behind breath and blood alcohol testing allows me to effectively use this knowledge to benefit my clients. I am also certified by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the Administration and Interpretation of the Standardized Field Sobriety Test Battery, and by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) as an Instructor of the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. I am well-versed in the proper administration and scoring of sobriety tests by police officers, ensuring that they adhere to correct procedures.
In 2013, I graduated from The Trial Lawyers College in Dubois, Wyoming, where I was trained by the legendary criminal defense lawyer Gerry Spence on how to uncover and articulate the client's story. I am a Founding Member of the DUI Defense Lawyer's Association and belong to several prestigious organizations including the National College for DUI Defense, The Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association, and The Harris County Criminal Lawyer's Association. Additionally, I am 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."
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
- DUI & DWI
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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.
- Texas
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- English
- Spanish
- Owner
- Butler Law Firm
- - Current
- For over 30 years, The Butler Law Firm has helped people charged with DWI.
- South Texas College of Law
- J.D. (1992)
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- Baylor University
- B.A. (1988)
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- 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
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- National College of DUI Defense (NCDD)
- - Current
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- National College of DUI Defense (NCDD)
- - Current
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- Texas State Bar # 00785738
- Member
- - Current
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- Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
- Member
- - Current
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- 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
- Website
- Butler Law Firm - The Houston DWI Laywer
Houston DWI Lawyer Jim Butler Attorney At Law Located in Houston, TX
- Q. How to address potential license cancellation during probation with interlock requirement?
- A: The good news is that you have done all that you need to do at this time. What you described is common. Once a court order is entered, saying that you are required to have an interlock installed in your vehicle, a copy of that order is sent to DPS in Austin, who then sends you the notice of cancellation. All you have to do is send them the $10.00 and they will send you a replacement license - which carries the "interlock restriction" endorsement on the back of it. That way, if you are ever stopped and an officer checks your license, they will know that you are required to have an interlock in your car.
- Q. Can statute limitations start from arrest date not incident?
- A: The question I have is when did they file the criminal information for the DWI and the carrying a weapon cases? The statue of limitations on a Misdemeanor in Texas is two years. So they had two years from December 2022 to file charges. So hypothetically, if charges were not filed until January of 2024, then they were filed one month beyond the statute of limitations. Check the date when the information was filed. The "information" is the charging instrument in a misdemeanor case.
- Q. I am being charged with a second DWI I have a the blood test results no drugs or alcohol can I be convicted??
- A: I sure hope not. A person can only be convicted of DWI if they are "intoxicated" at the time they operated their motor vehicle. "Intoxicated" means that the person has lost their normal mental and/or physical faculties, due to the introduction of alcohol, a controlled substance, a drug, a dangerous drug, a combination of two or more of those substances, or any other substance into the body. The blood test seems to exonerate you in this case. That's great news for you. The blood was tested twice - once using gas chromatography looking for ethanol, and when none was detected, the blood was sent out for additional testing for drugs, using liquid chromatography. The drugs ... Read More
