Dwane Cates

Dwane Cates has been representing clients in Arizona for over 25 years. Mr. Cates attended Arizona State University where he graduated Suma Cum Laude in Communication, with an emphasis in persuasion. He then attended ASU Law School, (Now Sandra Day O'Conner School of Law.) After graduating, he started his own law firm. Fifteen years ago, he began concentrating primarily on Criminal Law, and was eventually designated as a Criminal Law Specialist by the State Bar of Arizona. In 1999, Mr. Cates was awarded the Tom Karas Award by the State Bar for his contributions to Criminal Law is Arizona. Mr. Cates has a variety of life experience that helps greatly in his current practice. In his younger days, he used to ride bulls and saddle bronc in rodeos. He worked in the oil fields of Wyoming and was a semi truck driver. He sold cars right before he went back to school later in life. Mr. Cates battled addiction when he was younger but is now clean and sober over 30 years. His website states "experience counts". By that he means both legal and life experience. Dwane Cates is very proud to serve all of Arizona as a Criminal Defense Lawver. Mr. Cates is a trial lawyer. He bus had great success throughout his career. He tried a murder case on Dateline NBC that was eventually dismissed. Mr. Cates got three jury verdicts overturned between verdict and sentencing. He also got the entire United States Attorney's Office for the District of North Dakota thrown off a case. He represented a person charged with first degree murder in a 30 year old cold case and the person received time served (3.75 years). Mr. Cates's partner, Aaron Reed, is a great trial lawyer in his own right, having won his last two trials. We are ready to fight for your rights in every Court in the Stale of Arizona. Awards and Honors Honors Board Certified Award-Winning Arizona Criminal Attorney State Bar of Arizona Tom Karas Award Winner, Lifetime Achievement Award, 2019 - 2020

• Managing Partner
• Languages
• English (Primary)

• Arizona, 1997
• U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 2015
• U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 2015
• U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota, pro hac vice, 2015

• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2006 - Present (Member)
• Arizona College of Trial Advocacy
• American Bar Association, Criminal Law Section, 2000 - Present (Member)
• Arizona State Bar, 1997 - Present (Member)
• State Bar of Arizona, Executive Committee of the Criminal Law Section, 2017 - 2020 (Member)
• American Association for Justice, Criminal Law Section, 2000 - 2014 (Member)