Washington's Premier DUI Defense Firm

With over 100 years of combined legal experience, the lawyers at Fox Bowman Duarte have earned the reputation as the premier DUI defense firm in Washington State. Fox Bowman Duarte is Washington's largest DUI defense firm and provides DUI defense in every corner of Washington State while emphasizing King, Snohomish, Pierce, Skagit and Whatcom counties. Fox Bowman Duarte is the only firm to have a section of its firm dedicated solely to fighting DOL license suspension orders. The firm's attorneys have encyclopedic knowledge of DUI laws and are regularly called upon to educate judges, defense attorneys, civil attorneys, and even law enforcement about the complex DUI laws and procedures.

The firm's attorneys have variously been selected as "Super Lawyers" and "Rising Stars" by their peers, have been founding members of the most significant state and national DUI defense legal organizations, have co-authored the lawyer's reference maual, Defending DUIs in Washington, and have been asked to testify before the Washington State Legislature regarding DUI laws. The partners are the only DUI defense attorneys in the state to have attended the Washington State Patrol's highly technical breath test technician training program. The firm attorneys are regularly called upon to provide commentary to radio and TV media regarding DUI issues and high profile trials. The firm has represented clients from every walk of life, bringing a creative and effective approach to each case.

The focus of the law firm is steadfast: A commitment to providing the most effective representation for clients who find themselves charged with DUI. To that end Fox Bowman Duarte vows to continue to earn its reputation for excellent representation - one client at a time. Welcome to our firm. If you have been arrested for DUI, we know what's at stake, we know how to help and we understand the anxiety that you may be feeling. Contact us through this page or by calling us at (425) 451-1995 (Bellevue office) or 360-671-4384 (Bellingham office).

Jon Scott Fox
Jon Fox has 25 years of experience defending DUIs and has acquired a national reputation as one of the most knowledgeable critics of alcohol breath testing machines in the United States.

He has been repeatedly recognized as one of this state's "Super Lawyers" by Washington Law & Politics magazine, and has been named to Seattle Magazine's list of "Seattle's Best Lawyers".

Mr. Fox devotes his practice exclusively to DUI defense. Mr. Fox's extensive experience includes:

• Founding and faculty member of the National College for DUI Defense with seminars held at Harvard Law School
• Founding member and first chair of the Northwest Academy of DUI Defense
• Founder and former board member of the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Chair of Washington State Bar Association Criminal Law Section
• One of only three attorneys ever (the other two are FBD partners) who have attended the lengthy and intensive DataMaster Breath Test Technician Training Program given by the Washington State Patrol for its own breath testing experts
• Co-author of "Defending DUIs in Washington", the definitive reference for DUI defense attorneys
• Prolific author of articles critical of breath testing and unjust DUI laws
• Featured speaker at DUI trial practice seminars in eight states including annual speaking engagements at the Washington State Bar Association's Criminal Justice Institute, the annual trial practice seminar of the Washington Foundation for Criminal Justice, and the National Institute for Trial Advocacy
• Featured speaker at the DUI Issues Update seminar presented at several locations to the Washington State District and Municipal Court Judges Association
• Featured speaker at the National Institute for Trial Advocacy
• Lectured at Washington State Patrol Basic Training Academy, civil law firms, public defense organizations, and local law enforcement regarding DUI Laws
• Featured in the Washington State Bar News, Trial News, Defense and Overruled magazines and numerous media appearances.
• Admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.

An innovative trial lawyer, Mr. Fox created the first "e-brief" ever filed in a trial court in the State of Washington and authored Washington State's first website dedicated to DUI defense. He is known for his masterful cross-examination of expert witnesses and few can compete with his encyclopedic knowledge of alcohol breath testing machines. In the last two decades, Mr. Fox had led numerous legal challenges to Washington's DUI laws, establishing new legal precedent in the defense of DUI cases.

Mr. Fox is a private pilot and has represented accused citizens in nearly every county in the State of Washington.

Bill Bowman
Bill Bowman's accomplishments as an exceptional trial lawyer are widely recognized. A former public defender and Deputy King County Prosecutor, Mr. Bowman has successfully defended DUI cases in over 18 counties across the state.

He has been repeatedly selected as a "Super Lawyer" by Washington Law & Politics magazine and has been named to Seattle Magazine's list of "Seattle's Best Lawyers."

Using his innovative style of jury selection and creative trial techniques, Mr. Bowman continues to achieve impressive results in DUI cases across the State of Washington. His extensive knowledge of breath alcohol testing has led to significant legal challenges to Washington's DUI breath testing program and has affected the admissibility of breath test evidence in hundreds of DUI cases throughout the state.

Mr. Bowman is active in the legal community and his experience includes:

• Graduate of the National College for DUI Defense seminars at Harvard Law School
• Founding Member of the Northwest Academy for DUI Defense
• Vice-President West of the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Past Chair of Washington State Bar Association's Criminal Law Section
• One of only three attorneys ever (the other two are FBD partners) who have attended the lengthy and intensive DataMaster Breath Test Technician Training Program given by the Washington State Patrol for its own breath testing experts
• Author of numerous published articles on trial practice and DUI law
• Past editor of Overruled Magazine
• Author of Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyer's Monthly DUI Updates
• Author of the successful constitutional challenge to a municipal DUI ordinance that resulted in dismissal of hundreds of DUI cases
• DUI legislative analyst for the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Featured speaker at numerous legal education seminars including Washington Foundation for Criminal Justice Annual Trial Seminar, Washington Association of Criminal Defense Attorney's Continuing Legal Education Programs, Island County Bar Association CLE’s, and Washington Bar Association Trial Training Programs
• Featured speaker at the DUI Issues Update seminar for the Washington State District and Municipal Court Judges Association
• Has been called to testify repeatedly before the Washington State Legislature regarding DUI legislation
• Member of the Washington Foundation for Criminal Justice
• Television and radio consultant regarding DUI legal issues
• Lectured at Washington State Patrol Basic Training Academy, civil law firms, public defense organizations, and local law enforcement regarding DUI Laws

Francisco Duarte
Francisco A. Duarte, a partner at the firm of Fox Bowman Duarte, is a former Assistant Attorney General for the State of Washington and Deputy King County Prosecutor. Mr. Duarte is a director and former chair of Lawyers Helping Hungry Children, a non-profit corporation, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Seattle Shakespeare Company. He is also past chair of the WSBA Criminal Law Section, the WSBA Criminal Justice Institute, and the Public Education Committee of the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Mr. Duarte has taught trial practice at the Northwest College for DUI Defense, the WYLD Trial Advocacy Program and at the regional National Institute of Trial Advocacy. In 2006, Mr. Duarte was appointed to serve on the faculty of the Trial Lawyers College in Dubois, Wyoming.

Mr. Duarte is a frequent lecturer at legal education programs on criminal law topics and has appeared on Northwest Cable News and radio programs as a legal analyst. Mr. Duarte has published articles on criminal law in Defense, Trial News, and The Warrior magazines. At FBD, Mr. Duarte practices criminal law exclusively, defending DUIs, felonies, and other serious traffic and criminal matters.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Staff/Instructor,
  Trial Lawyers College
  2006
• Instructor,
  University of Washington Law School
  2006
• Recognized among the Top Twenty-five Super Lawyers in Criminal Defense
  Washington Law & Politics Magazine
  2006
• Named Super Lawyer by Washington Law & Politics
  2004 – 2006
• Instructor,
  Regional National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA)
  2005 – 2006
• Lecturer,
  Washington Young Lawyers Division, Trial Advocacy Program
  2003 – 2006
• Former Chair and Current Board of Director,
  Lawyers Helping Hungry Children (non-profit corporation)
  2002 – 2006
• Former Chair and Current Executive Committee Member,
  WSBA Criminal Law Section
  2002 – 2006
• Former Chair and Current Steering Committee Member,
  WSBA Criminal Justice Institute
  2002 – 2006
• Secretary,
  Board of Directors, Seattle Shakespeare Company
  2005 – 2006
• Member of Motor Vehicle Crimes Subcommittee,
  Washington Pattern Jury Instructions
  2003 – 2005
• Lecturer,
  Northwest College for DUI Defense
  1999 – 2003
• Chair, Public Education Committee,
  Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (WACDL)
  2001 – 2002
• Robert J. Connelly Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy,
  University at Buffalo School of Law, SUNY
  1994

EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE

• Partner,
  Fox Bowman Duarte, PLLC – 1998 to Present
  Trial attorney representing individuals accused of misdemeanor and felony offenses, including serious traffic offenses, vehicular homicides, and vehicular assaults.
• Deputy Prosecuting Attorney,
  King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office – 1995 to 1998
  Trial attorney responsible for prosecuting individuals charged with criminal offenses from simple misdemeanors to Class A felonies.
• Assistant Attorney General,
  Office of the Washington State Attorney General – 1994 to 1995
  Attorney assigned to represent the Washington Department of Corrections, including a federal litigation practice involving habeas corpus petitions.
• Law Clerk,
  Bermingham & Cook, PC – 1992 to 1994
  Law clerk assigned to research and writing projects for a general practice law firm.
• Legislative Budget Analyst for Higher Education,
  Ways and Means Committee, Assembly, New York State Legislature – 1987 to 1991
  Legislative analyst responsible for New York’s higher education accounts, including the State University of New York (SUNY), the City University of New York (CUNY), the Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), and the Public Services Corporation.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

• University at Buffalo School of Law, JD
  State University of New York
  1991 – 1994
• University at Albany, BA Mathematics
  State University of New York
  1983 – 1987

Diego Vargas
Mr. Vargas, a gifted trial lawyer and former Assistant General Counsel for the State Bar of Texas, has litigated more than 100 jury trials to verdict. His trial technique and courtroom presentation has earned him admiration from the judiciary, his peers and most importantly, his clients. As a result of his hard work and dedication to the aggressive defense of his clients, Washington Law & Politics magazine has repeatedly recognized Mr. Vargas as a "Rising Star."

Mr. Vargas devotes his practice exclusively to defending individuals accused of Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol, Vehicular Assault and Vehicular Homicide. Mr. Vargas' experience includes:

• Repeatedly named a "Rising Star" by Washington Law & Politics magazine
• Instructor – "Defending DUIs" Seminar (Washington Foundation for Criminal Justice) 2002
• National College for DUI Defense
• Northwest Academy of DUI Defense
• Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Washington State Trial Lawyer's Association
• Washington State Bar Association
• Texas State Bar
• Federal Bar for the Northern District of Texas
• Federal Bar for the Eastern District of Texas
• Federal Bar for the Southern District of Texas
• Federal Bar for the Western District of Texas
• Featured speaker/instructor at dozens of legal education programs
• Trial Attorney: 100+ trials litigated to verdict
• Commentator regarding high profile trials for local media

Steve Childress
Mr. Childress is of counsel to Fox Bowman Duarte and he is widely known as Whatcom County's most experienced and innovative DUI defense attorney. Mr. Childress is a graduate of the University of Washington (1971) and thereafter was awarded his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree with honors and distinction, Cum Laude, from the University of Gonzaga School of Law (1974). He has been practicing law for more than 30 years.

Mr. Childress' accomplishments include the following:

• Awarded the prestigious Bureau of National Affairs award for the most outstanding achievement by all law school senior year students.
• Served as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps, stationed at El Toro, Santa Ana California.
• Senior Judge Advocate – Criminal Prosecutions, later assisting the Department of Defense in civil litigation with the State of California.
• Member of the National College for DUI Defense, twice attending the NCDD curriculum for advanced DUI defense conducted at Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
• Completed factory instruction in the theory and science of breath alcohol testing, including alcohol and human physiology, theory and operation of infrared breath alcohol testing, and field and laboratory applications. The instruction was conducted at the National Patent factory in Mansfield, Ohio, the manufacturer of the DataMaster breath testing device used by all Washington police agencies to obtain breath samples from arrested motorists for testing breath alcohol concentration. This training qualifies Mr. Childress as a DataMaster Supervisor. He is certified by the manufacturer to operate, perform essential diagnostic verifications, and calibration checks on the DataMaster device.
• Brought the landmark case of State v. Claymore before the Whatcom County District Court which held the State Legislature’s attempt in 2004 to amend the DUI statutes was unconstitutional. Mr. Childress has successfully used this court decision in Department of Licensing litigation to defend against the DOL's attempt to suspend or revoke the driver’s license of citizens accused of DUI.
• Brought the landmark case of State v. Heyrend, before the Whatcom County District Court which held that road-side field sobriety testing was a search for evidence requiring the consent of the motorist prior to administration by law enforcement officers. This case restored some fundamental fairness during a roadside encounter between law enforcement and the motorist.
• Member, Washington State Bar Association,
• Admitted before the Washington State Supreme Court,
• Admitted to the Federal District Court for the Western Division of Washington,
• Admitted to the United States Court of Military Appeals,
• Certified by the United States Department of Defense as Judge Advocate.
• Featured speaker at numerous DUI defense seminars

Diana Lundin
Diana has been with Fox Bowman Duarte for over seven years. Today she leads the firm's Department of Licensing and appellate practice, focusing her practice on administrative hearings before the Department of Licensing as well as litigating both civil and criminal appeals. Diana graduated summa cum laude from Humboldt State University, after which she received her Juris Doctor degree from the U.C.L.A. Law School. In 1996, she relocated to Washington and became a member of the Washington State Bar the same year. Since then she has been an advocate for individuals facing criminal offenses and argues before the Superior and Appellate courts of Washington regularly.

Diana is well known for her extensive and detailed investigation and preparation of her cases. Her enthusiasm and creative thinking have led to successful results in many cases, but Diana's commitment to client satisfaction is what truly makes her one of our most valuable resources.

Diana's credentials include:

• Lecturer on Administrative Actions and Driving Under the Influence.
• Counsel of record in over 50 appeals to Superior Court and Court of Appeals.
• Member of the Washington State Bar Association Criminal Law Section

Jonathan Rands
Jonathan Rands is well known throughout Washington State and in particular in Whatcom and Skagit Counties for his creative, uncompromising and tenacious defense of citizens accused of DUI. Jonathan heads Fox Bowman Duarte's Bellingham office and has earned his reputation as a premier DUI defense attorney one case at a time. He has taken over 100 DUI cases to trial by jury. He has argued over one hundred Department of Licensing administrative hearings and persuaded appellate courts to stay administrative suspensions in over fifty cases. Mr. Rands believes that each client is entitled to the best possible legal defense.

• Graduate, Seattle University School of Law.
• Member, Washington State Bar Association.
• Member, National College for DUI Defense.
• Member, Washington Foundation for Criminal Justice.
• Member, Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
• Member, Whatcom County Bar Association.
• Member, Skagit County Bar Association.
• Elected to the Board of Directors, Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
• Repeatedly selected as "Rising Star" by a peer vote (Washington Law & Politics magazine).
• Graduate, National College for DUI Defense advanced DUI defense course.
• Speaker, numerous legal education seminars to other attorneys regarding DUI issues.
• Successfully argued that Washington's new DUI law (SHB 3055) is unconstitutional.
• Extensive knowledge of Canadian/United States immigration DUI consequences.
• Featured speaker at numerous DUI defense seminars

Mr. Rands limits his practice to DUI and other serious criminal traffic offenses.

Nate Webb
Nathan "Nate" Webb was born in Denver, Colorado and raised in South Texas. He received his B.B.A. from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas and honed his analytical and negotiation skills as an insurance adjuster in Austin, Texas. Nathan earned his Juris Doctorate at the University of Tulsa where he was president of the American Bar Association Law Student Division.

Nathan comes to Fox Bowman Duarte from his solo practice at the Webb Law Firm, PLLC where he successfully defended dozens of persons charged with DUI. Nathan concentrates solely on DUI defense and utilizes his skills to represent clients at all hearings both as an experienced negotiator and as an experienced trial lawyer.

Nathan is devoted to offering caring and personal attention to each client while at the same time providing an aggressive defense. Nathan believes in being honest and truthful with each client and will discuss in great detail the merits and drawbacks of the case. He will not promise you specific results, but will evaluate your case and inform you of the likely outcome. Negotiation skills are extremely important in criminal defense and Nathan has garnered and fine tuned these skills over the years to offer you the best result in your case, while at the same time being prepared to take the case to a jury trial when that best serves your interests. Nathan is a member of the following organizations:

• Washington State Trial Lawyers Association
• Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Snohomish County Bar Association
• King County Bar Association
• Washington State Bar
• Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Fraternity