Richard O. Middlebrook
Position: Partner and Senior Attorney. Born Phillipsburg, New Jersey, June 6, 1968; admitted to bar, 1993, California.
Background: Mr. Middlebrook is considered the preeminent DUI attorney in the Southern San Joaquin Valley. He spends hundreds of hours a year attending, moderating and lecturing in seminars focusing on the representation of persons accused of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and the forensic science associated with those areas. He is a graduate of multiple summer sessions of the National College of DUI Defense held at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Winter Sessions held worldwide. He is trained as an Instructor in the administration of Standardized Field Sobriety Testing through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is a regular attendee at Mastering Scientific Evidence Seminar.
He has tried nearly 200 DUI cases throughout his career and acted as lead counsel in over five thousand administrative hearings, writ proceedings, motions, and appeals. His success rate in those proceedings is unmatched anywhere in the Southern San Joaquin Valley.
Education: California Lutheran University (B.A., Magna Cum Laude, 1990); University of California, Davis, Martin Luther King School of Law (J.D., 1993).
Professional Duties: Judge Pro Tem, Kern Count Superior Court. judicial Arbitrator, Kern County Superior Court.
Community Involvement: Kern County Sheriff's Mounted Posse, Board of Directors (1998-2003); Bakersfield Active 20-30 Club, Board of Directors (2000-2003), 2nd Vice-President (Fall 2001), 1st Vice-President (Spring 2002), President (Fall 2002). National Director, Region 3, Active 20-30 International (2002-2003), National President-Elect, (2004-2005), National President (2005-2006), International President-Elect (2006-2007), and International President (2007-2008
Professional Affiliations: California Bar Association; Kern County Bar Association; American Bar Association; Member, National College of DUI Defense; Specialist Member, California DUI Lawyer's Association; National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Jeremy Brehmer
Position: Attorney, holds Juris Doctorate Degree. Born Nigeria, 1974; Awaiting Bar Results, California.
Background: Mr. Brehmer holds a Juris Doctorate degree from Abraham Lincoln University School of Law and a Bachelor of Science Degree from California State University, Bakersfield. He completed law school on an accelerated program by graduating 6 months early and becoming the first graduate to achieve this standard.
Mr. Brehmer has considerable legal experience having worked for and with some of the most reputable firms not only locally but nationally. Mr. Brehmer has moderated focus groups for the preeminent plaintiff’s firm, Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP and has participated in strategy sessions with the California Trial Lawyer of the Year and others recognized as California Super Lawyers.
Mr. Brehmer has specialized training in jury selection and pre-trial preparation. Extensive knowledge in both Federal and State Civil Procedure and remedies. He regularly consults with both private and public attorneys in the community on DUI issues in the area of discoverable information and blood alcohol testing.
With a science background, Mr. Brehmer has superior knowledge in the physiology of blood alcohol metabolization, and the errors found in breath and blood alcohol analysis devices used in California and around the county.
Mr. Brehmer has more than 500 blood draws, venipunctures, and subcutaneous administrations as a hemodialysis technician. Mr. Brehmer brings specific knowledge to this area of the law which has proved valuable in defending DUI cases.
Professional Affiliations: California DUI Lawyers Association, State of California Department of Consumer Affairs, Commercial Law League of America, Kern County Bar Association, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Consumer Attorneys of California
Community Associations: American Sailing Association, East Coast Hockey League-Off Ice Official
Diane Medina
Position: Attorney, Born: Bakersfield, California
Background: A native of Bakersfield, California, Ms. Medina knew at the age of 7 she wanted to be an attorney. Having participated in debate during her years at West High School, Ms. Medina went on to study criminal justice and political science at California State University, Bakersfield.
Her first courtroom experience came her junior year in college when she fought a traffic ticket in pro per. The exhilaration she felt when the commissioner sustained her relevance objection during the officer's testimony gave her a taste of what she always knew she wanted to do: fight to preserve the Constitutional rights of all citizens.
Upon receiving her Bachelor of Arts Degree, Ms. Medina went on to attend Thomas Jefferson School of Law where she was an active member of the Criminal Law Society. Her final year in law school, Ms. Medina clerked for a sole practitioner in the areas of construction defect and real estate law.
She returned to Bakersfield after sitting for the California Bar Exam and began her legal career with non-profit organization, Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance. There, she held the position of Project Attorney for the Equal Access Fund, which focused on obtaining domestic violence restraining orders, T-Visas, and U-Visas for lower income individuals. Even after leaving the employ of GBLA, Ms. Medina still gives her time working with the Volunteer Attorney Program to assist those who cannot afford private counsel.
Since joining Mr. Middlebrook's firm, Ms. Medina has been successful in receiving several favorable rulings in pretrial motions which have resulted in dismissal of the charges against many of our clients. She is a valuable asset to the team who is dedicated to providing superior service to clients to insure that their rights are protected throughout every step of the process.
Education: California State University, Bakersfield (B.A., 2003); Thomas Jefferson School of Law, San Diego (J.D., 2006)
Professional Affiliations: California Bar Association; American Bar Association; California DUI Lawyer's Association; National College for DUI Defense; Kern County Bar Association; Kern County Young Lawyer's Society; GBLA Volunteer Attorney Program
Wendy Katz
Position: Office Manager and Bookkeeper
Wendy was born and raised in Southern California and moved to Bakersfield 8 years ago. She brings many years of financial and customer service experience, including managing multi-million dollar payrolls and budgets. She's meticulous and bent on assuring the office runs smoothly and efficiently for the attorneys, staff and clients. Wendy and her husband are active in their church and local community.
Stefanie Pumphrey
Position: Paralegal
Stefanie brings a wide array of legal experience to the office. She completed the Paralegal program at California State University, Bakersfield, in 2002. She is returning to the firm after a hiatus raising her son and exploring all that the legal profession has to offer. Stefanie and her husband spend their free time enjoying time with their family, traveling and playing softball.