About Douglas L. Wilder
Douglas Wilder is a graduate of Texas A&M (Class of 1989) where he was recognized by the College of Engineering as a Distinguished Student. He worked his way through law school where his first job was working for a prominent criminal defense attorney in Houston, where he gained valuable trial, motion, and brief writing experience. He subsequently worked for the Denver County District Attorney’s office in Colorado for the summer after completing his second year, and conducted hearings in Court on a law student bar card. During his final year of law school, Doug worked for the Harris County District Attorney’s in Houston and where he tried cases for the District Attorney.
Upon graduating from Law School, Doug worked for Vinson & Elkins, LLP in Houston and was assigned to a multi-billion dollar national lawsuit, which sent Doug all over the country. Making contacts in Washington, D.C., Doug then went to work for the Ambassador of Ecuador in Washington, D.C. as his legal liaison, where he assisted the Ambassador in all legal matters and international lawsuits affecting the Embassy and Ecuador.
Even though Doug was offered the opportunity to work for the Ambassadors’ international law firm in Ecuador, his passion for criminal trials brought him back to Texas where he began prosecuting for the Denton County District Attorney’s office in 1995. Doug quickly became a Chief Prosecutor, and had an excellent conviction rate. He earned the reputation for aggressively prosecuting the cases that were difficult to win, which he did with great success. Doug also took an active role in training police officers how to investigate, collect, and preserve evidence concerning DWI’s, and how to effectively testify in Court. Because of his excellent trial skills, Doug also trained other prosecutors how to be more effective trial lawyers.
In January 1999 Doug was hired by the Dallas County District attorneys office where he continued to have an excellent conviction rate. Doug tried a case against nationally known Houston attorney, Gary Trichter, who was assisted by nationally known jury consultant, Robert Hirshorn, along with three other well known lawyers. After several days in a hotly contested trial, the jury convicted. Doug continued to train officers, on job performance and courtroom testimony. It was obvious that Doug’s natural trial ability and his aggressive demeanor contributed to his continued success in trial.
After obtaining a conviction against a prominent defense attorney who brags of never losing, Doug was courted by him and joined his boutique firm in January 2000. Within two months, Doug’s aggressive trial style enabled him to get his first felony not guilty verdict from a jury for his client facing life in prison for the offense of a direct delivery of a controlled substance to an undercover officer in a crack house. The Judge was so impressed, she put Doug on her Court Appointment list.
Doug is known for successfully trying cases that are very difficult to win. After many of Doug’s jury trials, his peers often ask “how did you win that case?” to which he simply replies“you just had to be there.” After one specific Not Guilty, the Judge, in talking to Doug’s client about the verdict, described Doug’s performance as “magic.” It is also common for jurors to ask Doug for his business card, even those potential jurors who sat through the selection process but were not picked.
Doug is a member of the State Bar of Texas, National Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Dallas Bar Association, Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and the National Association of DUI Defense. He has a wonderful wife with whom he runs marathons, and he has a beautiful daughter.
Contact Us Today
At the Wilder Firm, DUI or DWI convictions are NOT an option! We believe the best verdict for you is NOT GUILTY. For a direct response to your DUI or DWI arrest, please contact our DWI/DUI attorneys at 469-227-0772 or simply fill out the contact us form below: