Jay Tiftickjian

Bar / Professional Activity

• Sustaining Member, National College for DUI Defense, (2012-Present), 2022
• Faculty, National College for DUI Defense, (2018-Present), 2025
• Legal Advisor, Adams County Drug Court Program, 17th Judicial District (2013-2018), 2022
• Lifetime Member, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, (2012-Present), 2022
• Chair, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, Adams County (2012-Present), 2022
• Member, Denver Bar Association (2004-Present), 2022
• Member, Colorado Bar Association, 2022
• Board of Directors, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, (2013-2019), 2019
• President, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, (2018-2019), 2019
• Colorado State Delegate, National College for DUI Defense, (2016-2018), 2018
• President, Colorado Criminal Defense Institute, (2017-2018), 2018
• President, Colorado Criminal Defense Institute (2017-2018), 2018
• Vice-President, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, 2017
• Treasurer, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, 2016
• Chair, Adams/Broomfield Bar Association, Criminal Law Section (2011-2016), 2016
• Secretary, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, 2015
• Chair, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, Professional Development Committee, 2014
• United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, 2004
• United States District Court for the District of Colorado, 2004

Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)

• Tiftickjian Law Firm, led by attorney Jay Tiftickjian, is widely recognized for its exceptional DUI defense services in Colorado. The firm has received numerous accolades, including a Tier 1 ranking for DUI/DWI Defense in Colorado by Best Law Firms and the prestigious "Lawyer of the Year" award in 2023 from Best Lawyers.Client reviews consistently praise the firm's professionalism, responsiveness, and effective legal representation. Clients have reported favorable outcomes, such as reduced charges and fair sentencing, attributing these successes to the firm's expertise and guidance. Tiftickjian Law Firm is highly regarded for its dedicated focus on DUI defense and its commitment to achieving the best possible client outcomes. Due to Jay Tiftickjian's law practice, we are not permitted to include verdicts/settlements to preserve client confidentiality., 2022

Videos

• The launch of legal marijuana in Minnesota is being met with a massive campaign to prevent impaired driving. Public service announcements on TV, radio, and online are all delivering the same message to drivers. “Driving high is a DWI.” Yet when it comes to identifying and prosecuting those under the influence, 5 INVESTIGATES found police across the country are still looking for answers., ‘Driving high is a DWI’ but enforcement can be difficult. Just ask Colorado., 2024
• NBC 9News story features Jay Tiftickjian, NBC 9News - Next w/ Kyle Clark: Breathalyzer Tests, 2017
• NBC 9News story about the felony DUI law features Jay Tiftickjian, NBC 9News: Felony DUI Law Takes Effect, 2017
• NBC 9News KUSA news story features Jay Tiftickjian, NBC 9News: Stoned Drivers Not as Dangerous as Drunk Drivers, 2015
• NBC 9News coverage of NBA athlete Ty Lawson's arrest on suspicion of DUI features Jay Tiftickjian, NBC 9News: Denver Nuggets Ty Lawson Arrested, 2015
• ABC 7News story regarding holiday DUI checkpoints, featuring Jay Tiftickjian, ABC 7News: DUI Checkpoints, 2015
• NBC 9News story featuring Jay Tiftickjian, NBC 9News: St. Patrick's Day DUI Enforcement, 2014
• NBC 9News Colorado 4/20 rally news story features Jay Tiftickjian, NBC 9News: 4/20 DUI Enforcement, 2014
• CBS News story features footage of Jay Tiftickjian testifying on behalf of the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, CBS News Denver - Felony DUI Debate, 2014
• ABC 7News Denver news story features Jay Tiftickjian, ABC 7News Denver: State DUI Lab Closed, 2013
• NBC 9News story counting down to marijuana legalization in Colorado, featuring Jay Tiftickjian, NBC 9News: New Year's Eve Countdown, 2013
• NBC 9News interviews Jay Tiftickjian at the State Capital regarding DUI THC Bill 111, NBC 9News: How will the Marijuana DUI Law Work?, 2013
• NBC 9News story about the shutdown of the Colorado State Toxicology Lab, featuring Jay Tiftickjian, NBC 9News - State Lab Shut Down, 2013
• NBC 9News story features interview with Jay Tiftickjian regarding Labor Day DUI checkpoints, NBC 9News: Summer of Heat DUI Crackdown, 2013
• NBC 9News discusses increased DUI patrol on Halloween with Jay Tiftickjian, NBC 9News: Colorado Halloween DUI Patrol, 2013
• ABC 7News interviews Jay Tiftickjian regarding Jessica Ridgeway murder, ABC 7News: Jay Tiftickjian commentary on Jessica Ridgeway Murder, 2012
• NBC 9News discusses questions regarding how much THC impairs driving with Jay Tiftickjian, NBC 9News: Setting THC DUI Limits, 9News Colorado, 2012
• NCB 9News talks to Jay Tiftickjian about the impact of a DUI arrest, NBC 9News: New Year's Eve DUI Warning, 2012
• Fox News discusses James Holmes case with legal panel including Jay Tiftickjian, Fox News: Aurora Theater Tragedy - James Holmes Case, 2012

Special Licenses / Certifications

• NHTSA Standard Field Sobriety Testing Instructor Certification, 2010
• NHTSA Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Practitioner Certification, 2009

Pro bono / Community Service

• Tiftickjian Law Firm accepts pro bono cases for clients who cannot otherwise afford legal representation (2010-Present), 2022
• Assisted the Colorado State Demographer’s Office in the creation of a state DUI arrest interactive map based on Colorado 5th Judicial District census data in an effort to combat drunk driving during the 2018 holiday season., 2018
• Testified in opposition of felony DUI bill on behalf of the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar to the Legislative Committee., 2014
• Provided pro bono legal advice to attorneys with pending DUI cases at the CCDB's Defense Roundtable, 2014
• Teen Court Judge, City of Brighton Municipal , 2002

Educational Background

• J.D., State University of New York, University at Buffalo School of Law, Best in Graduating Class, Evidence, 2000
• Joint B.A., cum laude, State University of New York, University at Buffalo School of Law, English Literature and Psychology, 1997

Scholarly Lectures / Writings

• The Colorado Traffic Safety Summit was created to educate and inspire Colorado transportation professionals to be safety champions and advance traffic safety culture in their community. The Traffic Safety Summit creates a space for law enforcement, engineering, community planning, education, advocacy, emergency response, and healthcare professionals to share information and best practices to address critical issues on Colorado’s roadways. , Speaker, Colorado Traffic Safety Summit - Colorado Department of Transportation, Law Enforcement, Policy, Judicial, 2025
• Expect engaging workshops, interactive challenges, and plenty of opportunities to network with your fellow warriors who refuse to settle for anything less than excellence. Whether you're a seasoned litigator or a rising star, this seminar is your ticket to leveling up., Speaker, A Shortcut to Nowhere: Why Partial DRE Exams Don’t Establish Probable Cause, National College for DUI Defense Summer Session 2025, DUI Lawyers, 2025
• Successfully Launching and Running Your Own Practice: The Essential Guide, Speaker, Successfully Launching and Running Your Own Practice: The Essential Guide, Colorado Bar Association, 2022
• This program is where Colorado’s small and solo firms get their start. Discover what it takes to open and run your own practice—where to work, how to market, how to price your services, and how to choose technology to keep it all running. Taught by attorneys who have started their own firms and lived to tell the tale. Don’t put it off another year —the time is now to start the practice you’ve always wanted.   - Marketing strategies and ethics - Dig deep into how pricing can create a practice that meets your needs - Network with other aspiring solo attorneys - 7 Ethics Credits, including trust funds, intake procedures, and more, Speaker, Hanging Your Shingle: Successfully Launching and Running Your Own Practice,, General Legal, Law Firm Management, 2023
• 2024 DUI Conference at Vail, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, June 12-13, 2024, Speaker, New Trends in DUI Defense - 2024 DUI Conference at Vail, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, June 12-13, 2024, Criminal Defense, 2024
• Successfully Launching and Running Your Own Practice: The Essential Guide 20th Annual Program, Speaker, From the Trenches: A Panel Presentation of Practical Advice and Traps to Avoid, Colorado Bar Association, 2021
• Published 2018, Co-Editor, Medicolegal Aspects of Marijuana: Arizona Edition, Lawyers and Judges Publishing, 2018
• Published 2019, Co-Editor, Medicolegal Aspects of Marijuana: Michigan Edition, Lawyers and Judges Publishing, 2019
• DUI & DUID: Advanced Practice, Program Chair, Updates for DUI and DUID Cases, Colorado Bar Association, 2019
• Annual DUI Conference, Speaker, Enter the Dragon: Legal Updates and New Strategies for Colorado DUI Cases, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, 2019
• Sotomayor Inn of Court, Speaker, Work-Life Balance, Sotomayor Inn of Court, 2019
• Denver Bar Association, Bench-Bar Committee Courtroom Chat Series, Successfully Launching and Running Your Own Practice: The Essential Guide 19th Annual Program, Speaker, The Ethical Practice of Criminal Law in Denver Courts, Colorado Bar Association, 2019
• Winter Session, Speaker, What If It Becomes Legal in My State? Navigating Through the Haze of Prescription and Legalized Marijuana, National College for DUI Defense, 2018
• Successfully Launching and Running Your Own Practice: The Essential Guide, Speaker, From the Trenches: A Panel Presentation of Practical Advice and Traps to Avoid, Colorado Bar Association, 2018
• American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators Workshop, Speaker, Legal Ethics, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), NHTSA/Federal Government, 2018
• Annual DUI Conference, Speaker, Exploring the Ethics of Handling the Media in a High-Profile Case, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, 2018
• Oklahoma City, OK, Speaker, Cannabis & DUID Cases, Oklahoma Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2017
• Published 2017, Author, Editor, Colorado DUI Defense: The Law and Practice, 2nd Edition., Lawyers and Judges Publishing, 2017
• Published 2016, Co-Editor, Medicolegal Aspects of Marijuana: Washington Edition, Lawyers and Judges Publishing, 2016
• DWI: Dark Side of the Moon, Speaker, Strategies in Handling the DWI Marijuana Case, New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2016
• DUI & DUID: Advanced Practice, Program Chair, Jury Selection: Winning Cases Before the Bad Evidence Comes In, Colorado Bar Association, 2016
• Criminal Defense Ethics Extravaganza, Speaker, Ethics in Business and Law, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, 2016
• Work/Life Balance, Faculty, Hot Topics in Employment Litigation - Managing High-profile Cases, Implicit Bias and Other Challenges, Colorado Bar Association, 2016
•  New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association 2016 DWI: Dark Side of the Moon: Strategies in Handling the DWI Marijuana Case, Speaker, 2016 DWI: Dark Side of the Moon, New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2016
• Changes to DUI Defense in the Wake of Marijuana Legalization, Speaker, Pharmacology of Marijuana and Where the Government Stands on Impairment; DUI Defense Strategies for DUID Cases, Alaska Bar Association, 2015
• Published Jan 12, 2015, Author, Felony DUI Bill Returns, Law Week Colorado, 2015
• Felony DUI: The Law and Penalties, Speaker, Introduction to Felony DUI, Colorado Bar Association, Criminal/DUI, 2015
• Published 2015, Author, Editor, Medicolegal Aspects of Marijuana: Colorado Edition, Lawyers and Judges Publishing Company, 2015
• Hanging Your Shingle (2013-2015), Speaker, Practice Panel Roundtable, Colorado Bar Association, 2015
• DUI Defense: Nuts and Bolts, Program Chair, Ethics Update in DUI Defense, Colorado Bar Association, 2014
• Published 2014, Editor, Colorado DUI Defense Manual, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, 2014
• Published 2014, Author, Understanding Changes to Colorado DUI Laws: What You Need to Know, Thomson Reuters, 2014
• Published 2014, Co-Author, CCDB Quick Reference Guide: DUI Revocations and Sentencing, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, 2014
• CCDB Roundtable: DUI Law, Speaker, Ethics Overview in DUI Defense, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, 2014
• June 20, 2014, Speaker, Recreational Marijuana CLE, CLE International, 2014
• Lorman Seminars, September 9, 2014., Speaker, Ethics Update in DUI Defense, Lorman Education Services, 2014
• Annual Ethics Seminar, Speaker, Ethical and Effective Marketing for the Criminal Defense Attorney, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, 2014
• Work-Life Balance, Speaker, Work-Life Balance, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, 2013
• CBA - CLE Home Studies, Speaker, Anatomy of a DUI Case, Colorado Bar Association, 2013
• Navigating the New DUI Laws, Speaker, Navigating the New DUI Laws, Colorado Bar Association, 2013
• Weld County Chapter, Speaker, Navigating the New DUI Laws, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, 2013
• Jefferson County, Speaker, Navigating the New DUI Laws, Jefferson County Bar Association, 2013
• Adams County, Speaker, Navigating the New DUI Laws, Adams County Bar Association, 2013
• Arapahoe/Douglas County, Speaker, Navigating the New DUI Laws, Colorado Public Defender's Office, 2013
• Colorado Alternate Defense Counsel, Speaker, Closing Arguments: How To Persuade (Almost) Anyone, Colorado Alternate Defense Counsel, 2013
• Warhorse Marketing Summit, Cancun, Mexico, Speaker, Effective and Ethical Marketing, Warhorse Marketing, 2013
• Published 2013, Author, Defending DUI Vehicular Homicide Cases, Thomson-Reuters/Aspatore, 2013
• Published 2013, Author, The Legality of Search and Seizure in DUI Cases, Thomson-Reuters/Aspatore, 2013
• Published 2013, Author, Facing DUI in Colorado: What You Need to Know, Thomson Reuters Westlaw, 2013
• Published June 10, 2013, Quoted, Colorado State Lab Accused of Mishandling Evidence, New York Times, 2013
• Published 2013, Co-Author, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar DUI/DMV Sentence Guide, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, 2013
• Published 2013, Author, Forensic Evidence in Criminal Cases, Thomson-Reuters/Aspatore, 2013
• Published 2013, Author, Jury Selection in Criminal Cases, Thomson-Reuters/Aspatore, 2013
• Published 2013, Co-Author, Colorado DUI Defense: The Law and Practice, 1st Edition, Lawyers & Judges Publishing, 2013
• Annual DUI Seminar, Speaker, Ethics Update, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, 2012
• Published 2013, Author, Navigating DUI Drug Cases, Thomson-Reuters/Aspatore, 2012
• Published 2012, Author, Defense Strategies for Drug Crimes, Thomson-Reuters/Aspatore, 2012
• Published 2012, Author, Trends in DUI Discovery, Thomson Reuters / West, DUI Defense, 2012
• KIDDS Seminar, Cambridge MA, Speaker, Dealing with the Non-Testifying Client in Jury Selection, Knowledge In DUI Defense Symposium, 2012
• Brighton, CO, Speaker, Drugged Driving Defense 101, Brighton Public Defender's Office, 2012
• Adam's County, CO, Speaker, DUI Driver's License Revocations, Adams County Bar Association, Colorado Bar Association, 2011

Honors

• Preeminent AV® Rating, Martindale-Hubbell, 2023
• Awarded 2023, Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers in America, 2023
• People's Choice Best DUI Lawyer, Law Week Colorado, 2023
• People's Choice Best DUI Lawyer, Law Week Colorado, 2022
• Best Law Firms Tier 1 Ranking: DUI Defense, Best Lawyers, 2024
• Best Lawyers in America: DUI/DWI Defense, Best Lawyers, 2024
• Recognized 2023, Best Lawyers in America: DUI/DWI Defense, Best Lawyers in America, 2023
• Recognized 2021-Present., Best Law Firms Tier 1 Ranking: DUI Defense, Best Lawyers in America, 2022
• Recognized 2016-Present., Best Lawyers in America: DUI/DWI Defense, Best Lawyers in America, 2022
• Recognized 2011-Present, Preeminent AV® Rating, Martindale-Hubbell, 2022
• Recognized 2010-Present, 10/10 Superb, AVVO, 2022
• Recognized 2019-2021, 2013-2017, People's Choice Best DUI Lawyer, Law Week Colorado, 2021
• Awarded 2019, 2017, 2016, Client's Choice Award, AVVO, 2019
• Recognized 2018, 2016, 2012-2013, Barrister's Best DUI Lawyer, Law Week Colorado, 2018
• Finalist, 2015, Best Litigators, Law Week Colorado, 2015
• Awarded 2012, Compleat Lawyer, Law Week Colorado, 2012
• Recognized for Best in Graduating Class in Evidence 2000, Adelbert Moot Award, State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law, 2000

Industry Groups

• Driving Impaired
• Driving Under The Influence Of Drugs
• Drug & Alcohol Offenses
• DUI
• DUI Attorney
• DUI Defense
• Dui Lawyer
• DUID Defense
• DWAI
• DWAI Defense
• DWI Defense
• Felony DUI
• Hit And Run
• Leaving the Scene
• OWI
• Reckless Driving

“Mr. Tiftickjian is one of the finest DUI lawyers in Colorado.”