How Has Herman Martinez Worked Both Sides of the Courtroom?
Herman Martinez founded The Martinez Law Firm in 2011 after building one of the most well-rounded legal careers in Harris County. His path to becoming a DWI and criminal defense attorney was not a straight line — it was a deliberate journey through prosecution, the judiciary, and private practice that gives him a strategic depth his opponents simply cannot match.
Before defending clients, Herman spent years building the cases against them — as Chief Prosecutor at the Harris County District Attorney's Office from 1997 to 1999. He knows exactly how prosecutors evaluate evidence, what they consider a strong case, and — critically — where cases can be attacked. That inside knowledge is the foundation of every defense strategy he builds today.
"Most defense attorneys have to guess what the prosecution is thinking. I spent years doing that job. I don't guess."
— Herman Martinez, Founding AttorneyHerman later served as an Associate Judge for the City of Houston in 2011, adding a judicial perspective to his already unique background. He understands how judges evaluate motions, what arguments land, and what the courtroom looks like from the bench — not just the defense table.
What Do Herman Martinez's Board Certifications Mean for Your Case?
Board certification is not automatic, and it is not the same thing as simply being licensed to practice law. The Texas Board of Legal Specialization requires attorneys seeking certification in Criminal Law to have practiced for at least five years, to have handled a minimum number of trials and contested hearings, to be favorably evaluated by judges and peer attorneys who have seen their courtroom work firsthand, and to pass a full-day written exam covering criminal procedure, evidence, and trial practice. The DUI Defense Lawyers Association applies a parallel standard for its DUI Law certification, built specifically around the science and procedure unique to breath, blood, and field sobriety testing rather than criminal law generally.
Herman Martinez holds dual board certifications — one in Criminal Law (TBLS) and one in DUI Law (DDLA). Fewer than 1% of Texas attorneys hold even a single board certification, and the exam and experience requirements are designed to weed out the vast majority of applicants. Dual certification across two related but distinct practice areas — general criminal defense and the specialized science of DWI defense — is genuinely rare, and it means Herman has been independently vetted twice, by two different certifying bodies, on the exact two areas of law that determine the outcome of a Houston DWI case.
DWI & Criminal Defense
Houston, Texas
What Is Herman Martinez's NHTSA Certification and How Does It Help Your Defense?
Herman Martinez is certified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the Standardized Field Sobriety Testing protocols — the same certification that law enforcement officers receive when learning to administer roadside sobriety tests.
This matters because field sobriety tests are highly technical. Officers receive specific training on how to instruct drivers, how to score the tests, and what constitutes a valid administration. When those protocols are not followed exactly, the results lose evidentiary value — and the charge becomes vulnerable.
Because Herman has the same NHTSA training as the officer who arrested you, he can identify every deviation from proper procedure — angle of incline on the walk-and-turn, exact position of the officer during the one-leg stand, instruction language for the HGN test — and translate those violations into legal arguments that can suppress evidence or undermine the prosecution's case entirely.
Learn more about how we challenge field sobriety test evidence or breath and blood test challenges.
Education
Herman Martinez earned his Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law (Class of 1996), where he served as President of the Hispanic Law Students organization and was inducted into the Order of Lytae honor society. His Bachelor of Arts degree is from Florida State University (Class of 1990).
What Bar Memberships and Professional Associations Does Herman Martinez Hold?
Herman is an active member of the organizations that shape DWI and criminal defense law in Texas and nationally. These memberships keep him current on evolving case law, testing technology, and defense strategies.
What Awards and Recognition Has Herman Martinez Received?
Herman Martinez has been named Top Lawyer and Top DWI Lawyer by Houston Texas Magazine in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011, and received Avvo's Top DUI Contributor and Clients' Choice DUI Lawyer designations in 2012 and 2013. His Avvo rating is 10.0 Superb — the highest rating category the platform awards. He is also a Super Lawyers honoree, is Peer Rated through Martindale-Hubbell — a designation based on confidential evaluations submitted by other attorneys and judges who have worked opposite him or observed his practice — and has continued to be recognized as a Top Attorney by H Texas Magazine. In 2026, ThreeBestRated named The Martinez Law Firm a Best Business, an independent ranking based on reputation, history, and customer experience rather than paid placement.
How Has Herman Martinez Served Houston's Legal Community Beyond the Courtroom?
Herman Martinez provides legal commentary for local radio stations and has appeared on local Houston television. His ability to explain complex legal situations clearly — in both English and Spanish — makes him a sought-after voice on criminal and DWI matters in the community.
As former President of the South Texas Hispanic Law Students organization, Herman's commitment to the Houston community extends beyond the courtroom. He serves clients across Houston, Harris County, and surrounding areas including Pasadena, Pearland, Sugar Land, and Missouri City.
Why Do Clients Choose Herman Martinez for DWI and Criminal Defense in Houston?
Clients who hire Herman Martinez retain an attorney who handles every case personally — from the first consultation through final resolution — with no hand-off to junior associates or case managers. His former role as Associate Judge means he also understands how judges evaluate arguments and what moves courts at every stage of a proceeding.
That judicial perspective, combined with his prosecutor experience, makes him uniquely effective in pretrial negotiations and motions practice. It's a rare combination for a Houston DWI attorney to hold all three vantage points — prosecutor, judge, and defense counsel — and clients consistently cite it as the reason they called him first.
Herman spent years helping build DWI cases at the Harris County DA's Office. Now he uses that same knowledge to find weaknesses the prosecution doesn't want you to know about. Learn why a former prosecutor matters for your defense.
For a detailed breakdown of the DWI defense strategies Herman employs — including ALR hearings, breath and blood test challenges, and field sobriety test defenses — see the DWI defense overview. For criminal defense cases outside DWI, see the criminal defense overview. For actual outcomes Herman has achieved for clients, see the case results page.