Education
University of Utah Law School | Salt Lake City, UT
- Juris Doctor, June 2016
Brigham Young University | Provo, UT
- Bachelor of Arts, Arabic Studies, 2013
Experience
- Criminal law
- DUIs
- Civil Litigation
Professional Licenses & Affiliations
Utah State Bar
Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers | Board Member
National Public Defense Task Force for the National College of DUI Defense
Advisory Committee on the Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure
Awards & Distinctions
Distinguished Service Award Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Scholarship
David Ferguson
David is the Executive Director of the Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (UACDL). Before becoming its Executive Director, he served on UACDL's Board of Directors and is a former recipient of its Distinguished Service Award. He currently serves on the advisory committee to the Utah Supreme Court on the Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure. He also occassionally serves on legislative working groups for the Utah legislature to develop criminal law reform.
As a former public defender, David has done dozens of jury and bench trials and attributes his trial successes to typically being the calmest person in the courtroom. His appellate advocacy includes an appearance before the Utah Court of Appeals in State v. Hintze, where he obtained a dismissal of his client's case on speedy trial grounds.
David is the principal author of an amicus brief to the United States Supreme Court and has contributed to amicus briefs in Utah's appellate courts. He is one of only a few Utah attorneys whose DUI practice is informed by having gone through the same Standardized Field Sobriety Tests program that police officers take. He formerly served on the Public Defense Task Force of the National College of DUI Defense.
David is published in respected law journals including on the science of jury selection. He has presented on jury science at the National Association of Public Defenders.
In addition to his background in criminal defense, David also operates a civil litigation practice, with a primary focus in civil rights and commercial litigation. He also appears and litigates in federal court.