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George A. Scharmen

Founding Attorney

DWI LAWYER GEORGE SCHARMEN

With decades of experience in trials involving DWI, DUI and intoxication cases, Criminal Law Expert, George Scharmen, has earned recognition as one of the most accomplished DWI lawyers in Texas and the United States.

George is a frequent lecturer in continuing legal education seminars including lawyers, judges and experts in Texas involving DWI litigation.

George is board certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and has been since 1992.

Texas Board of Legal Specialization

  • A Note about Board Certification by the Texas Board Of Legal Specialization To become Board Certified in Texas is VERY rare. You must have tried many cases, both State and Federal. Only about 7500 out of over 100,000 lawyers have become Board Certified by the Texas Board since 1972,. That means only the truly qualified and top lawyers in their field are ever certified. Only Board Certified lawyers are ethically allowed to call themselves an expert. Board Certified Lawyers are truly experts in their field.

George has taken the time to practice and achieve the designation of “Criminal Trial Specialist” by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. This designation requires not only jury trials, but it includes appeals as well. You must also be Board Certified in your State to even be considered for this expert designation. There are currently only 33 lawyers in Texas with this certification.

National Board of Trial Advocacy

George Scharmen was recognized by Woodward White in Best Lawyers in America, one of the most prestigious peer-reviewed publications in the United States, as “one of the best DUI lawyers in America” in their publication “Best Lawyers in America” for the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Lawyer of the year

George has also been awarded by Woodward White and Best Lawyers in America as a DUI Lawyer of the Year for the San Antonio region in 2019, 2021 & 2023. George is the only lawyer in the area to receive this award.

George has been designated a Texas Super Lawyer by Thompson Reuters for 20 years, since the inception of the annual Super Lawyers list of lawyers. He has been the only DWI Super Lawyer in Bexar County for the years 2016-2019, and 2022.

Super Lawyer

George Scharmen is a founding member of the National College of DUI Defense.

National College for DUI Defense

George Scharmen is the founder and founding president of the San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (SACDLA). George received the first ever “Defender of the Year” award by SACDLA in 2006.

San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyer Association

George Scharmen is also a founding member and Past President of Texas DWI Lawyers Association

Texas DWI Lawyer

Double-Board Certified

George has appeared in the Supreme Court of the United States, an honor held by very few lawyers.

He has conducted numerous appeals and oral arguments before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, including en banc argument before the whole court of 15 Justices.

A search for “George Scharmen” in Google Scholar will reveal that George Scharmen has conducted more than 100 appeals in Texas and United States Courts.

In DWI litigation George received two of the most significant appellate opinions in DWI history in Texas: Hartman v. State and Mata v. State that greatly limited the evidence that the State prosecutors may use in DWI cases involving breath and blood tests. These cases no longer allow the State to give mere opinions about a person’s alcohol or drug levels. This type of evidence now requires the trial evidence from the prosecutor is limited to only scientifically reliable test results.

As a result of these cases, DWI trials have become scientific and technical tests of the prosecutors’ evidence. George Scharmen attended the Axion Lab course in gas chromatography in Chicago. Later with the assistance of a highly qualified PhD Toxicologist, George purchased the expensive laboratory equipment he was trained on and which is used by the testing labs in Texas. With this equipment George regularly taught lawyers how to understand the science and how to question the experts on their work.

I Know the Science Behind the Law

LABORATORY TEST

THROWN OUT

George has litigated DWI blood test cases involving both alcohol and drugs. With this powerful knowledge George was able to demonstrate to a court that the laboratory method of blood alcohol testing for the lab at the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office was false. The blood test was dropped by the court.

STATE’S DRUG EVIDENCE

THROWN OUT

– NOT GUILTY

In a DWI drug case George was able to demonstrate that the State’s evidence of drugs in the defendant’s blood was unreliable, and after a five day trial, the jury found the defendant not guilty.

STATE’S LABORATORY

SHOWN TO FALSELY ALLEGE A DRUG

– CASE DROPPED

In a felony intoxication assault case, George showed to the jury that the laboratory did not even own the necessary equipment that it needed to prove the actual drug that was alleged by the State to be present in the defendant’s blood. The jury could not find him guilty, and that case was dropped.

George has dedicated his career to DWI defense and has become one of the most respected and highly awarded DWI Lawyers in Texas.

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Rave Reviews in Our Clients' Own Words

Five-Star Client Testimonials

  • "He knows the law inside and out and uses that to your advantage."
    Allison M.
  • "He will shoot you straight and will handle the case better than anyone in Texas."
    Laura J.
  • "I truly had someone on my side."
    Jonathan R.
  • "The dismissal saved my career and my professional license."
    Bob V.
  • "Mr. Scharmen is the most dedicated attorney for someone who finds themselves in the need of his services."
    Patricia
Why Choose George A. Scharmen? How We Stand Out
  • Going the Extra Mile
    While we try to avoid the courtroom for clients, I promise to be ready for anything - including a jury trial.
  • Extensive DWI Experience
    For more than 40 years, I have exclusively practiced criminal law and DWI defense.
  • Recognized in the Community
    Highly respected among colleagues, I'm double-board certified and the recipient of many awards and accolades.
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