DUI Defense
Two cases start at once: the criminal charge, and an administrative action against the driver license that runs on a far shorter clock.
Read more →State and federal criminal defense
Tallahassee Criminal Defense Attorney
Toby Norris began his career defending criminal cases and has tried dozens of them to juries in the Tallahassee courts.
Photograph: United States Courthouse, Tallahassee, by Carol M. Highsmith. Library of Congress (opens in a new tab), Prints & Photographs Division. Public domain.
Trial experience is the point
Most criminal cases resolve by plea. What determines the quality of that plea is the prosecutor’s assessment of what happens if the case is tried, and that assessment depends heavily on who is representing you.
Toby has tried dozens of criminal cases before juries in the Tallahassee courts and has argued before the First District Court of Appeal and in federal court. That record is not an abstraction; it is part of the leverage in every negotiation.
Talk to a lawyer before you talk to anyone else
You are not required to explain yourself to law enforcement, and you will not talk your way out of an investigation. Politely decline to be interviewed and ask for a lawyer. That single decision changes more case outcomes than any other.
Select a topic
Criminal Defense services
Drug Offenses
Possession, sale, and weight-based trafficking charges carrying mandatory minimum sentences.
Read more →Theft & Embezzlement
Theft, fraud, and workplace allegations that threaten your record and your ability to be employed.
Read more →Violent Crimes
Assault and battery through serious felonies, including Stand Your Ground immunity and firearm enhancements.
Read more →The consequences that outlast the sentence
For most people the sentence is not the worst part. A conviction affects employment, professional licensure, housing, student aid, firearm rights, and immigration status, often permanently. Some Florida offenses, including DUI and domestic battery, can never be sealed or expunged.
This is why the goal in many cases is not simply a shorter sentence but an outcome that preserves your record: a dismissal, a diversion program, a withhold of adjudication, or a plea to a different offense that leaves sealing available. Those options have to be identified early, because a resolution that seems convenient today can foreclose them for good.
Also handled by this office
These matters are handled regularly but do not have their own page. Call and ask. The first consultation is free.
- Criminal Appeals
- An appeal is not a second trial. It is a focused argument that the trial court made a legal error serious enough to require a new trial, a new sentence, or outright reversal.
Questions we hear every week
Criminal Defense questions
Should I talk to the police?
Not without a lawyer present. The right to remain silent and the right to counsel exist for exactly that moment, and exercising either cannot be used against a defendant. Officers may say that cooperating will help. Whether that holds in a particular case is a judgment to make with counsel, after reviewing the evidence the State has.
What is the difference between a withhold and a conviction?
When a court withholds adjudication, you are not formally convicted, which preserves certain rights and may leave you eligible to seal the record. It is a significantly better outcome than a conviction and is often the central objective in negotiating a resolution.
How soon should I hire a lawyer?
As early as possible, and ideally before charges are filed. Early representation can affect whether charges are brought at all, and evidence such as surveillance video is frequently overwritten within days.
Can my charges be dropped?
It happens, through a successful suppression motion, insufficient evidence, or a decision by the State not to proceed. Whether it is realistic in a given case depends on the facts, and any lawyer who promises that outcome at a first meeting is worth treating with skepticism.
Do you handle federal cases?
Toby has represented clients in federal court. Federal practice differs substantially from state court, particularly in sentencing, and we will tell you directly if a matter would be better served by other counsel.
Talk with Toby about your case
Every case starts with a conversation. Tell us what you are facing and we will explain the options in plain language, with no obligation.