Marcos Garza

MARCOS M. GARZA attended Vanderbilt University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a double-major in Human & Organizational Development in 1996. In 1998, Mr. Garza received a Master of Science degree in Social Work (MSSW) from the University of Tennessee College of Social Work in Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Garza received his Doctor of Jurisprudence form the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2001. During Law School, Mr. Garza was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in 1999. While stationed at Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia, Mr. Garza's military experience included Criminal, Operational Law, Legal Assistance, Ethics, Administrative Law, and Income Taxation. Mr. Garza's billets also included that of a Prosecutor/Trial Counsel of Cocouselurts Martials and as Aide-de-Camp of a General Officer. Mr. Garza finished his Active Duty tour with the rank of Captain. Mr. Garza formerly worked in the areas of personal injury, family law and general civil litigation as a solo practitioner. Mr. Garza associated with the Law Offices of James A.H. Bell, P.C. from 2005 - 2007. In 2007, Mr. Garza began his own practice of The Garza Law Firm, PLLC. He has concentrated his practice on personal injury and criminal defense law. Mr. Garza is the only attorney in the state of Tennessee awarded the "Lawyer-Scientist" designation by the American Chemistry Society. Mr. Garza has the scientific training and proficiency to understand and challenge the science, testing and procedures that the government will attempt to use to obtain a conviction. Mr. Garza is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association, the Knoxville Bar Association, the Tennessee Association for Justice (formerly Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association), the Sevier County Bar Association, Life Member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the American Association for Justice (formerly American Trial Lawyers Association) and the American Bar Association. He is licensed to practice in both State and Federal Courts, the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees Marcos Garza included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers Association, 2019 - Present Top-Rated DUI/DWI Attorney, Super Lawyers, 2017 - 2019 AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell, 2012 - 2019 Best Car Accident Attorney in Knoxville, Expertise.com, 2018 - 2019 Best DUI Lawyer in Knoxville, Expertise.com, 2018 - Present Elite Lawyer of the South, 2017 - Present Knoxville’s Top Lawyers, CityView Magazine, 2015 - 2016 14 Best Criminal Defense Lawyers, Newsweek Magazine, 2014 - Present Rising Star Mid-South, Super Lawyers, 2010 - 2014 Legal Leaders—Tennessee’s Top Rated Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell Leading Criminal Defense Attorneys, Newsweek Magazine, 2013 - Present Top 40 Under 40, National Trial Lawyers Association, 2012 - Present Outstanding Lawyers, Newsweek Magazine, 2011 - Present Featured Tennessee Legal Profiles, Forbes Magazine, 2011 - Present Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal, United States Marine Corps, 2004 - Present Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, United States Marine Corps, 2004 - Present National Defense Service Medal, United States Marine Corps, 2003 - Present Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers Association, 2015 - Present Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers Association, 2014 - 2015 Knoxville’s Top Lawyers, CityView Magazine, 2012 - 2013 Other Sources of Feedback About Marcos Garza Included on the 2025Mid-South Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2024 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2023 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2022 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2021 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2020 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2019 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2018 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2017 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2014 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2013 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2012 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2011 Mid-South Super Lawyers list 2010 Mid-South Super Lawyers list

• Attorney at Law

• United States Marine Corps, Captain - Judge Advocate, 1999 - 2005
• Scientist, American Chemistry Society, Forensic Lawyer
• Solid Drug Dose Testing, Axion Analytical Laboratories, Inc., Forensic Chromatography
• Standardized Field Sobriety Test Instructor, Impaired Driving Specialists, LLC

• Self-Defense, Defense of Others, Escalation of Force, & Right to Counsel Issues, 2018
• U.S. Law Shield (Tennessee & Kentucky), 2017, 2018
• Trial Techniques and Issues Regarding Phase Two and Other Defenses, 2017
• Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Annual DUI Seminar, 2017
• Issues of Science McMinn County Bar Association, 2017
• How to Win Your Trial at Preliminary Hearing Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Annual DUI Seminar, 2016
• Implied Consent and other DUI Defense Issues TACDL Annual DUI Defense Conference, 2014
• The CSI Effect: All the bloody details about Blood Testing, Breath Testing & Field Sobriety Testing Smoky Mountain Paralegal Association Annual Seminar, 2014
• Preparing the DUI Case Knox County Public Defenders Office Training, 2014
• Drug Recognition Expert Cross Examination Attacks DUI Seminar – Cobb County Bar Association, 2014
• 20 Ways to Win a DUI Case TACDL’s 6th Annual DUI Seminar & Training, 2013
• Preliminary Hearings TACDL General Sessions Court Training, 2013
• Debunking the Drug Recognition Expert Ohio Assoc. of Criminal Defense Lawyers Advanced DUI Conference, 2013
• 20 Trial Tips for DWI Winning Arkansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Annual Seminar, 2013
• Drug Recognition Defense 2013 DUI Conference Breckenridge, CO, 2013
• Demystifying the Drug Recognition Evaluator TACDL’S DUI 2012 Seminar & Training, 2012
• Drugged Driving TACDL’s 2011 DUI Training, 2011
• NHTSA’s Standardized Field Sobriety Tests Standardized Field Sobriety Test Course, 2010
• DUI/DWI Strategies in Defending DWI and DUI Cases, 2009
• Planning your legal profession Planning your future as a legal professional, 2009

• Tennessee, 2001
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Tennessee, 2004
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, 2003
• U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 2006
• Specialties and Certifications
• Standardized Field Sobriety Test Training Certificate, LaPier & Associates

• Tennessee Bar Association (Member)
• Knoxville Bar Association (Member)
• Sevier County Bar Association (Member)
• Tennessee Association for Justice (Board Member)
• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Life Member)
• American Association for Justice (Board Member, NLD)