mike donaldson
Biography
Mike was born and raised in Temecula. Mike’s mother was a school teacher, and his father worked building fences across the Temecula Valley. Over the years, Mike saw many people, including close friends and family, land themselves on the wrong side of the law, mostly due to substance abuse issues. From the outside looking in, the criminal justice system never seemed like it did justice at all. It just seemed like the government wanted to put its boot on people’s necks. Once Mike got his first experience in criminal defense, it felt like the perfect fit for somebody like him with a competitive sports background, and a desire to see people treated fairly.
Throughout law school, Mike worked for the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office defending people charged with misdemeanors and felonies. After law school, Mike worked at the Merced County Public Defender’s Office. Mike came back home in 2015, and started a criminal defense practice. He later joined a small but nationally recognized DUI defense firm in Riverside, CA called Bartell, Hensel & Gressley. There, Mike got to practice with Don Bartell, perhaps the best DUI attorney California has ever had. Don passed away unexpectedly in 2022, but his spirit lives on. After Don’s passing, Lara Gressley and Mike decided to continue to carry the torch forward and started Gressley & Donaldson, LLP. Lara is one of the best DUI and appellate lawyers in the state.
Mike has been married to his beautiful wife, Kirstie, since 2015. Mike and Kirstie have been blessed with two wonderful children, Paige and Brooks, and two great dogs, Sonny and Lou. Outside of work, Mike enjoys playing baseball with his kids, gardening, traveling with family, playing pickleball, and getting his heart broken by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Education
- University of California, Santa Cruz – Bachelor’s Degree – Political Science
- Santa Clara University School of Law – Juris Doctor
- Gerry Spence Trial Lawyer’s College – 2017
- National College for DUI Defense – Serious Science – 2024
DUI Teaching & Speaking Engagements
- April 2018 – California DUI Lawyers Association – Bail in DUI Cases
- February 2019 – Riverside County Public Defender – Bail in DUI Cases
- October 2019 – Riverside County Public Defender – Winning DUI Cases
- September 2021 – Southwest Riverside County Bar Association – Marijuana DUI Defense
- November 2022 – California DUI Lawyers Association – Legal Writing
- May 2024 – California DUI Lawyers Association – DMV DUI Defense
- August 2024 – California DUI Lawyers Association – Annual Kuwatch Seminar – DUI Defense
Professional Experience
- January 2023 – Present – Gressley & Donaldson, LLP
- January 2017 – January 2023 – Bartell, Hensel & Gressley
- June 2013 – January 2017 – Law Office of Mike Donaldson
- June 2012 – May 2013- Merced County Public Defender’s Office
- August 2015 – Present – Adjunct Profess or Political Science – Mt. San Jacinto College
- January 2024 – Present – Mock Trial Coach – Mt. San Jacinto College
Admissions
- California State Bar
- United States District Court, Central District of California
- United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- United States Supreme Court
Briefs & Publications
- Contributing Author – Marijuana DUI Defense – Attacking & Defending DUI Tests – Don Bartell, Mary Catherine McMurray, and Anne ImObersteg
- In re Humphrey – Amicus Brief on behalf of California DUI Lawyers Association
- People v. Superior Court of Riverside County (Ortiz) – Amicus Brief on behalf of California DUI Lawyers Association
- Mitchell v. Wisconsin – Amicus Brief on behalf of California DUI Lawyers Association
Memberships
- California DUI Lawyers Association
- National College for DUI Defense
awards and accolades
dUI, criminal defense & appeals case results
.16%/.17% DUI DMV Hearing Win – First Offense DUI
Our client was contacted by the police after her and her husband pulled their vehicle over due to an argument. A civilian had called 911 to report the wife driving the vehicle poorly. When the police arrived, both the wife and husband denied driving. This means that the only evidence of any driving was a civilian’s hearsay statement, which is not competent evidence at a DMV hearing. The license suspension was set aside, and the client’s license will remain valid.
June 2024
.35% DUI Blood Suppressed at Motion Hearing
Our client was arrested after being located in the passenger seat of a truck on a rural road in the desert. The police arrested her for DUI, and took a sample of her blood. The analysis of her blood revealed a BAC of .35%. Our office filed a motion to suppress evidence, which challenged, among other things, whether her blood was drawn in a medically appropriate manner. After a hearing, the judge ruled the prosecution failed to prove that the blood was drawn in accordance with accepted medical practices, and the client’s BAC cannot be used against her at trial. The case is still pending, and will likely go to trial unless dismissed.
June 2024
DMV Writ of Mandate Win – .12% 2nd Offense for Commercial Driver
Our client (a commercial class A driver) was arrested for a 2nd offense DUI. The DMV suspended his class C and class A after a DMV hearing, which I believed we should have certainly won. Given that we were able to negotiate a reckless driving plea in court and got the DUI charges dismissed, the only thing that suspended the client’s class A was this bad DMV ruling. As a result, I filed a lawsuit against the DMV, challenging the legality of the suspension. Last week, after our first status conference on the writ of mandate, the DMV offered to set aside the suspension against the client’s license, and he will have his class A commercial license back soon.
June 2024
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We understand that being accused of a crime is one of the most challenging times of your life. Rely on us to advocate for your rights and to give you the defense you deserve.