Phoenix criminal lawyer Derek Oliverson provides aggressive DUI and criminal defense representation across Arizona’s capital city, the fifth-largest metro in the United States with a population exceeding 1.6 million. As a former Maricopa County prosecutor, Derek understands the strategies used inside the Maricopa County Superior Court and Phoenix Municipal Court — and knows how to dismantle them. Call (480) 582-3637 for your free case evaluation.
Phoenix spans over 517 square miles across the Salt River Valley, making it the largest state capital by land area in the country. That geographic footprint means criminal cases arise in dramatically different contexts — from the high-rise nightlife district of downtown Phoenix and Roosevelt Row to the suburban neighborhoods of North Phoenix near the I-17 corridor, the working-class communities of south Phoenix along Baseline and Southern avenues, and the affluent Camelback Corridor stretching toward Paradise Valley.
Each part of Phoenix generates its own enforcement patterns. The Phoenix Police Department’s Central City Precinct aggressively patrols the entertainment zones along Washington Street and Roosevelt Row, where DUI and assault arrests spike on weekend nights. The Desert Horizon Precinct in north Phoenix targets I-17 traffic stops where drug interdiction units look for narcotics moving between Phoenix and Flagstaff. South Phoenix precincts see higher domestic violence and weapons case volumes.
Derek Oliverson’s Camelback Corridor office places him within a 15-minute drive of both the Maricopa County Superior Court at 201 W Jefferson Street and the Phoenix Municipal Court at 300 W Washington, the two courthouses where the vast majority of Phoenix criminal cases are adjudicated.
2375 E Camelback Rd #600
Phoenix, AZ 85016
Camelback Corridor — 10 minutes from Maricopa County Superior Court
(480) 582-3637
Phoenix DUI enforcement includes saturation patrols on Indian School Road, Camelback Road, and the I-10/I-17 stack interchange. Derek challenges breath tests, blood draws, and DUI checkpoint legality across all Phoenix precincts.
Maricopa County prosecutes drug trafficking on I-10 and I-17 corridors aggressively. From marijuana possession to fentanyl distribution, Derek defends clients facing state and potential federal charges originating in Phoenix.
Bar fights in downtown Phoenix, road rage incidents on the freeways, and aggravated assault charges involving weapons. Derek has tried violent felonies from both sides of the courtroom in Maricopa County Superior Court.
Phoenix PD responds to domestic violence calls in all precincts. Arizona’s mandatory arrest policy means officers must take someone into custody. Derek fights for clients facing false allegations and overzealous prosecution.
Felony possession of prohibited weapons, misconduct involving weapons, and firearms enhancements that add prison time. Derek handles weapons cases in Phoenix Municipal Court and Maricopa County Superior Court.
Retail theft at Biltmore Fashion Park and Scottsdale Fashion Square, embezzlement, fraud, and identity theft. Cases range from misdemeanor shoplifting to complex multi-count felony indictments.
The Maricopa County Superior Court in downtown Phoenix is the third-largest court system in the nation, processing over 50,000 criminal cases annually. Felony cases originating anywhere in Maricopa County — Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Mesa, Chandler, Glendale — all funnel into this courthouse at 201 West Jefferson Street. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, one of the largest prosecution agencies in the country, handles these cases with substantial resources.
Derek Oliverson spent years inside this courthouse as a prosecutor before shifting to defense. He knows which judges run strict courtrooms and which are open to alternative sentencing. He understands the grand jury process that initiates most Maricopa County felonies. He has standing relationships with prosecutors that allow him to negotiate effectively while preparing aggressively for trial when negotiations fail.
Phoenix Municipal Court at 300 W Washington handles misdemeanor cases originating within Phoenix city limits. This includes first-offense DUI, simple assault, disorderly conduct, and petty theft. Cases are prosecuted by the Phoenix City Prosecutor’s Office, which operates independently from the County Attorney. Derek appears in both courthouses regularly and understands the different prosecution styles and plea negotiation norms in each venue.
After a DUI arrest in Phoenix, you are typically cited and released or booked at the 4th Avenue Jail. Misdemeanor DUI cases are filed in Phoenix Municipal Court where you will be arraigned, have a pretrial conference, and either negotiate a plea or proceed to trial. If your BAC was .15 or above (extreme DUI) or .20 or above (super extreme DUI), penalties escalate sharply — including mandatory jail time of 30 to 45 days. Aggravated DUI (third offense, wrong-way driving, or driving with a suspended license) is a class 4 felony heard in Maricopa County Superior Court and carries mandatory prison time. Derek Oliverson builds the defense strategy from the moment of arrest, examining officer body camera footage, calibration records, and procedural compliance.
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office is one of the largest and most aggressive prosecution agencies in the western United States. With over 300 deputy county attorneys, they have specialized units for DUI, drugs, gangs, domestic violence, and white-collar crime. Maricopa County historically pursues tougher plea offers and longer sentences than rural Arizona counties. The sheer volume of cases — over 50,000 felony filings per year — means having a defense attorney who understands the system’s bottlenecks and negotiation windows is critical. Derek’s inside experience as a former prosecutor within this system gives his clients a strategic advantage that outside counsel cannot replicate.
Arizona does not offer traditional expungement, but ARS 13-905 allows you to petition the court to set aside a conviction after completing all terms of your sentence, including probation, fines, and restitution. A set-aside does not erase the conviction, but it adds a notation that the conviction has been vacated and the case dismissed. This can significantly help with employment background checks, housing applications, and professional licensing. Most misdemeanor and many felony convictions in Phoenix are eligible. Certain offenses — including those requiring sex offender registration, dangerous crimes against children, and offenses involving a deadly weapon — are not eligible. Derek assists Phoenix clients with set-aside petitions as part of his post-conviction services.
Former prosecutor. Maricopa County insider. Your defense starts with one phone call.
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