Welcome

NATIONALLY BOARD CERTIFIED CRIMINAL DEFENSE SPECIALIST 
Welcome to New Mexico's Premier Criminal Defense Website, sponsored by the Law Offices of David C. Serna, based in Albuquerque. Mr. Serna limits his practice to the defense of the accused and related matters. 

In 2007, and in every single year since, including this year,  Mr. Serna has been selected by  Super Lawyers as a Criminal Defense Super Lawyer, a White Collar Defense Super Lawyer, and as a DWI Defense Super Lawyer. 

Super Lawyers, published by Law & Politics, employs a rigorous selection process backed up with considerable polling and peer evaluation, including a detailed research process that evaluates each candidate based on twelve (12) indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only the top 5% of lawyers are selected each year. 

In 2013, Mr. Serna was the recipient of the Charles Driscoll Memorial Award. This award is given each year to one lawyer in the State who has most exemplified extraordinary commitment to the protection of life, liberty, and constitutional rights.

In a press release announcing the Driscoll award, one former recipient said, "As one of the go-to people on all matters in criminal defense, David is creative and helpful to many less experienced lawyers. He's always there for advice and help, on the listserv or in person. His work in trial and appellate courts in New Mexico has included several landmark cases. He is consistently prepared and effective."

In the same press release, another former recipient said, "No one is a more recognized, respected, and welcome figure over at the courthouse. I don't know anybody who isn't happy to see David."

In 2015, Mr. Serna was inducted into the National Association of Distinguished Counsel. Prospective inductees are thoroughly vetted by a research team, selected by a blue ribbon panel of attorneys from independently neutral orgainzations, and approved by a judicial review board. Due to the selectivity of the appointment process, only the top one percent (1%) of attorneys in the United States are inducted into the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.

In 2016, Mr. Serna recieved the Martindale-Hubbell Client Distinction Award. He was recognized for excellence in, 1) quality of service, 2) overall value, 3) responsiveness, and 4) communication ability.

Mr. Serna has also been named one of the Top Lawyers Of Albuquerque by Albuquerque Magazine.

The magazine asked a random sampling of other Albuquerque attorneys the following questions:

1) "Which three lawyers in the city of Albuquerque do you feel most uphold the spirit of your profession with demeanor, skills, methods, and the respect they command?", and

2) "Which individual lawyer in the city of Albuquerque would you most want representing you in a courtroom setting, based on their passion, skills, and desire to win a case?".

​We are honored that Mr. Serna received multiple votes and was selected as a Top Lawyer of Albuquerque  by the magazine. 

We have recently launched another website, dedicated strictly to DWI issues, which is linked to this page. We are proud to share with you New Mexico's Premier DWI/DUI Drunk Driving Defense Website, www.NewMexDWILaw.com. All other Criminal Defense matters are explored here. 

Mr. Serna is the only lawyer in New Mexico Board Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a Diplomate and Trial Advocate in Criminal Law. He is also Board Certified by the New Mexico Board of Legal Specialization as a Trial Specialist in Criminal Law. 

Additionally, Mr. Serna is the first New Mexico lawyer to be named as a Founding Member of the National College For DUI Defense, Summer Programs at at Harvard Law School. In 1995, when the organization was created, Mr. Serna was the only New Mexico lawyer chosen to attend, one of only sixty (60) lawyers chosen from across the nation.

A sole practitioner, Mr. Serna has been practicing criminal law since 1977.. 

During this time, he has logged many miles handling scores of cases in over eleven (11) states. For example, he was recently retained as lead counsel, and successfully defended a man charged with smuggling into Illinois the largest cocaine seizure in the history of the State of Illinois. 

He has garnered many coveted honors, held positions of distinction, and has gained the esteem of his fellow defense lawyers, prosecutors, and judges before whom he has appeared. For example, he was the only lawyer in the State to be interviewed by Lawyers Weekly USA, published in Boston, Mass., for its Sept. 2001 front page story, "Drunk Driving Attorneys Use Police Videotapes to Win Cases". 

This website is in its early stages. Exciting additions are in the works for the future. This site and its continued updates will provide you with detailed supporting information about David C. Serna, his professional qualifications, and his approach to the practice of criminal law.