How much does a criminal defense attorney cost? There are hundreds of people in the state who say they practice criminal law. But there are very few who are actual criminal defense attorneys who solely practice criminal defense and are seen as leading practitioners in the field. At the outset, let me state that I charge more than most defense lawyers. But there’s many reasons for that. You get what you pay for. After years of experience solely dedicated to criminal defense, thousands of results for clients, multiple jury trials per year, and a proven record, I am selective what cases I take ..read more

Should you refuse to take a breath test for a DUI and OWI in Michigan? As the saying goes, “Don’t walk, don’t talk, don’t blow.” A DUI breath test refusal makes sense in many circumstances. There’s almost never a good reason to “blow” on the side of the road after a police stop. Usually a DUI or OWI arrest begins after some sort of simple traffic stop. The officer will observe a speeding vehicle. Maybe he or she will see a car crossing the line dividers in a road. Sometimes a taillight is out. But every drunk driving arrest begins with some sort of police contact. Usually (but not always) the ..read more

In 2023 alone, top Macomb County criminal attorney William Barnwell has so far tried six jury trial cases. Each client walked away without a conviction. Five of those cases resulted in Not Guilty verdicts. Of those five Not Guilty verdicts, three of the juries came back with acquittals after less than 15 minutes of deliberating. One case was a mistrial when a juror spoke negatively about the prosecutor’s case during a recess. The prosecutor then decided not to re-try the case. The jury trials took place in: The 37th District Court in Warren (Two separate trials) The 16th Circuit Court in Mou ..read more

One of my favorite courts to practice in is the 44th District Court that is located in Royal Oak. The 44th District Court handles cases that arise in Royal Oak and Berkley. While I have practiced extensively in courts around Michigan, Royal Oak is considered one of my “home bases.” One of my offices is located directly across the street from the Court and I have served the community myself as a prominent local leader for over 11 years. Furthermore, as a criminal defense attorney I have taken cases to jury trials and have prevailed in Royal Oak. All of this combined brings a level of resp ..read more

If you are facing a criminal case in the 39th District Court, which has jurisdiction over Roseville and Fraser, there are two newer judges who have taken the bench recently. Those judges are the Honorable Alyia Hakim and the Honorable Kathleen Tocco. Prior to taking the bench, Judge Hakim’s practice focused primarily on criminal defense and family law. Judge Tocco’s practice primarily focused on family law. Both have proven to be effective judges upon taking the bench. The court’s Chief Judge, the Honorable Joseph Boedecker, remains on the bench as well. Barnwell Law has proven experienc ..read more

Royal Oak is a popular Metro-Detroit destination for bars, parties, and fun. Unfortunately, this also means a high number of people in Royal Oak and Berkely charged with offenses such as drunk driving, OWI, DUI, possession of marijuana, disorderly conduct, public intoxication, and other related offenses. The 44th District Court, located in Royal Oak, hears all cases that originate in the cities of Royal Oak and Berkley. Too add perspective, Royal Oak is roughly half the population of the city of Warren but has roughly the same amount of drunk driving, DUI, and OWI cases. And it has more publi ..read more

With marijuana likely to be legalized in the upcoming November election, are people STILL actually going to jail for non-violent pot possession cases in Port Huron and St. Clair County? The short answer is yes. The purpose of this blog is not to talk about what should be true, but what is true. Now, is it likely that a first-offender is likely to go to jail for possession of marijuana in the 72nd District Court? Not likely. But it still has to be treated as a real concern. More likely, and a bigger concern, is when somebody is put on probation for possession of marijuana and violates their pr ..read more

If you have been charged with a misdemeanor or felony offense in the 43rd District Court, your case will be heard in one of the three branches of the 43rd District Court that exist in Ferndale, Madison Heights, or Hazel Park. Depending on where the offense was alleged to have occurred will determine which branch of the 43rd District Court will hear your case. The 43rd District Court of Ferndale, Madison Heights, and Hazel Park is located in Oakland County. Oakland County is considered to be one of the “toughest” Counties in the state for criminal defendants. The presiding Judge in Ferndale is ..read more

Being charged with drunk driving, DUI, OWI, OUIL, or whatever other term one wants to call it, is a very scary situation for anyone involved. It’s why you need an experienced criminal defense attorney that will take your case very seriously from start to finish. This is true whether your case is originating out of Warren, MI, Macomb County, or anywhere else in Michigan. There are several different types of Drunk Driving cases: DUI or OWI first offense– This carries with it a maximum possible penalty of 93 days in jail, fines, costs, and driver’s license sanctions. DUI or OWI second offe ..read more

As a criminal defense attorney whose practice focuses solely on criminal law and criminal defense, Barnwell Law, PLLC is well-known in many counties throughout Michigan, including Genesee County. If you’ve been charged with a misdemeanor offense in Genesee County such as DUI, OWI, or drunk driving, or a felony, you are likely very concerned and want excellent defense representation. Genesee County, Flint, and many cities inside Genesee County see a lot of drug and alcohol related cases. Other common misdemeanors in Genesee County and most other courts are drug crimes, inclu ..read more