R. Michael Vang P.C. R. Michael Vang P.C.
307-336-7570
R. Michael Vang Photo
  • Bio
  • Credentials
  • Awards
  • Memberships
  • Reported Cases
  • Speaking Engagements

R. Michael Vang

Attorney

Mr. Vang graduated from Kelly Walsh High School in Casper Wyoming, where he won the Wyoming High School Cross Examination Debate Championship at the University of Wyoming in 1982. Mr. Vang received a debate scholarship to attend the University of Wyoming, where he obtained his undergraduate and law degrees. Mr. Vang was one of only two college students in the entire country named to the United States Collegiate Debate team that traveled to Great Britain to compete in the spring of 1991. For the last twenty (20) – years, Mr. Vang has taught other attorney’s all over the United States how to defend criminal cases.

Although Mr. Vang’s parents were killed by a drunk driver right after Mr. Vang graduated from high school, one of Mr. Vang’s first cases was a DUI charge. Mr. Vang explained his history and how he was not comfortable representing the person accused of a DUI charge until Mr. Vang reviewed the discovery in the case. After reviewing the discovery created to try to prove guilt for the DUI charge, Mr. Vang told the client about all the different defenses that existed and that Mr. Vang was willing to assert on the client’s behalf. The client hired Mr. Vang and Mr. Vang obtained his first acquittal and has been representing people accused of criminal charges for over twenty-eight (28) – years ever since then.

On June 13, 2015, Mr. Vang became the only attorney in Wyoming to receive “The American Chemical Society (ACS) Forensic Lawyer-Scientist Designation as recognized by the Chemistry and the Law Division of the ACS.” Mr. Vang has successfully argued that the chemical testing measurements in many of his DUI and drug cases are not accurate or reliable and cannot prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

On July 14, 2022, Mr. Vang was awarded the National College of DUI Defense’s “Trial Advocacy Award,” which is given to the NCDD member who has most personified the mission of the National College through an aggressive, creative, and ethical trial practice that is dedicated to defending those accused of impaired driving. This individual has set themselves apart in their local community as a premier DUI defense trial attorney and has litigated a number of DUI-related cases to verdict. This individual is recognized, in his/her local legal community, as a tenacious yet ethical litigator.

Employment

Professional Associations and Memberships

Mr. Vang is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), a member of the Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association (WTLA), a sustaining member of the National College of DUI Defense (NCDD) and current Co-Chairperson of the NCDD Amici and Research Committee, and a founding member of the DUI Defense Lawyers Association (DUIDLA). Mr. Vang was awarded the Forensic Lawyer-Scientist Designation of the American Chemical Society (ACS) Chemistry and the Law Division on June 13, 2015. Mr. Vang has been admitted to practice law in all courts in the state of Wyoming, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. After Mr. Vang was appointed to a driving under the influence (DUI) case and learned the problems associated with accusing someone of a DUI charge, Mr. Vang has been defending people accused of DUI charges for over twenty-seven (27) - years. Mr. Vang has tried over one hundred (100) - DUI jury trials and has obtained numerous jury trial acquittals or other favorable rulings for his clients without a jury trial. The majority of Mr. Vang's cases involve DUI and implied consent proceedings and Mr. Vang has been presenting lectures to other attorneys on how to defend at DUI or implied consent charge throughout the United States and Wyoming for more than twenty (20) - years. Mr. Vang currently has thirty-five (35) - reported appeals before the Wyoming Supreme Court.

Certifications, Awards and Honors

  • NCDD Appellate Advocacy Award 2025
  • NCDD Trial Advocacy Award" NCDD Summer Session, Palmer House Chicago Il, July 14, 2022
  • NHTSA certified in Standardized Field Sobriety Tests
  • NHTSA certified in Drug Evaluation & Classification and DRE programs
  • Wyoming State Delegate-National College of DUI Defense
  • Sustaining Member-National College of DUI Defense
  • Certificate of Achievement; NCDD Summer Session, Cambridge, MA, July 23-25,1998;
  • Certificate of Achievement; NCDD Summer Session, Cambridge, MA, July 1999
  • Certificate of Achievement; NCDD Summer Session, Cambridge, MA, July 27-29, 2000;
  • Certificate of Achievement; NCDD Summer Session, Cambridge, MA, July 23-26, 2003;
  • Certificate of Achievement; NCDD Summer Session, Cambridge, MA, July 20-22, 2006;
  • Certificate of Achievement; NCDD Summer Session, Cambridge, MA, July 16-18, 2009;
  • Certificate of Achievement; NCDD Winter Session, Kansas City, Kansas, December 3-4, 1999;
  • Certificate of Achievement; NCDD Winter Session, Royal Hawaiian, Honolulu, HA January 24-25, 2008;
  • Certificate of Achievement; NCDD Winter Session, Hard Rock Hotel, Orlando, FL January 19-20, 2012
  • Certificate of Achievement; 6th Annual Mastering Scientific Evidence in DUI Cases, Sheraton Hotel, Atlanta, GA, April 30 to May 1, 1999;
  • Certificate of Achievement; 8th Annual Mastering Scientific Evidence in DUI Cases, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Atlanta, GA, April 5-7, 2001;
  • Certificate of Achievement; 9th Annual Mastering Scientific Evidence in DUI Cases, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Atlanta, GA, April 11-13, 2002;
  • Certificate of Achievement; 11th Mastering Scientific Evidence in DUI Cases, Georgia Tech Hotel, Atlanta, GA, April 22-24 2004;
  • Certificate of Achievement; 13th Mastering Scientific Evidence in DUI Cases, Omni Dallas Park West Hotel, Dallas, TX March 30 to April 1, 2006;
  • Certificate of Achievement; 14th Mastering Scientific Evidence in DUI Cases Omni Dallas Park West Hotel, Dallas, TX, April 19-21, 2007;
  • Certificate of Achievement; 16th Mastering Scientific Evidence in DUI Cases, Royal Sonesta, New Orleans, LA, April 16-19, 2009;
  • Certificate of Achievement; 18th Mastering Scientific Evidence in DUI Cases, Royal Sonesta, New Orleans, LA, April 14-16, 2011;
  • Certificate of Achievement; 19th Mastering Scientific Evidence in DUI Cases, Royal Sonesta, New Orleans, LA, March 22-24, 2012;
  • Certification of Completion, Axion Training Institute and Analytical Laboratories, Inc.; Forensic Chromatography IX: Theory and Practice Course, sponsored by the ACS, Chicago IL, April 20-23, 2013.
  • Certification of Completion, Axion Training Institute and Analytical Laboratories, Inc.; Forensic Drug Analysis IV Course, sponsored by the ACS, Chicago IL, April 9-12, 2014.
  • Certification of Completion, Axion Training Institute and Analytical Laboratories, Inc.; Forensic Principles of DUID III, sponsored by the ACS, Chicago IL, April 22-25, 2015.
  • Certification of Completion, Axion Training Institute and Analytical Laboratories, Inc.; Forensic Chromatography XV: Theory and Practice Course, sponsored by the ACS, Chicago IL, June 10-13, 2015.
  • Certification of Completion, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Practitioner's Course; sponsored by Lance Platt Ph.D. (Hilton Garden Inn Laramie, WY; March 2010).
  • Certification of Completion, Drug Evaluation and Classification Program (DRE/DCEP) Overview Course; sponsored by Lance Platt, Ph.D., and Francis M. Gengo, Pharm.D. (Jackson Hole Lodge Jackson, WY; Oct. 2011).
  • Certification of Appreciation, Wyoming Conference of Special Court Judges 2003 Annual Training Seminar; sponsored by Education Committee of the Wyoming Conference of Special Court Judges (University of Wyoming Law School, Laramie, WY, July 21, 2003).
  • Certificate of Achievement; NCDD Winter Session, Hard Rock Hotel, Orlando, FL January 19-20, 2012;
  • Certificate of Achievement; NCDD Winter Session, Loews, Coronado Bay, CA January 19-20, 2014;
  • Certificate of Achievement; NCDD Winter Session, Disney Yacht and Beach Club, Buena Vista, FL January 22-23, 2015
  • Certification of Completion, 21st Mastering Scientific Evidence in DUI cases, Royal Sonesta, New Orleans, LA, March 19-22, 2014;
  • Certification of Completion, 26th Mastering Scientific Evidence in DUI cases, Royal Sonesta, New Orleans, LA, April 3-5, 2019;

Professional Associations and Memberships

Mr. Vang is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), a member of the Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association (WTLA), a sustaining member of the National College of DUI Defense (NCDD) and current Co-Chairperson of the NCDD Amici and Research Committee, and a founding member of the DUI Defense Lawyers Association (DUIDLA). Mr. Vang was awarded the Forensic Lawyer-Scientist Designation of the American Chemical Society (ACS) Chemistry and the Law Division on June 13, 2015. Mr. Vang has been admitted to practice law in all courts in the state of Wyoming, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. After Mr. Vang was appointed to a driving under the influence (DUI) case and learned the problems associated with accusing someone of a DUI charge, Mr. Vang has been defending people accused of DUI charges for over twenty-seven (27) - years. Mr. Vang has tried over one hundred (100) - DUI jury trials and has obtained numerous jury trial acquittals or other favorable rulings for his clients without a jury trial. The majority of Mr. Vang's cases involve DUI and implied consent proceedings and Mr. Vang has been presenting lectures to other attorneys on how to defend at DUI or implied consent charge throughout the United States and Wyoming for more than twenty (20) - years. Mr. Vang currently has thirty-five (35) - reported appeals before the Wyoming Supreme Court.

Mr. Vang understands the complicated legal issues involved with DUI and other criminal offenses.

Mr. Vang has thirty-seven (37) reported appeals involving his client’s constitutional rights and other legal defenses before the Wyoming Supreme Court. Mr. Vang always zealously represents his clients rights in complicated criminal cases before all Wyoming courts, including the Wyoming Supreme Court, the Wyoming Federal District Court, and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeal. Mr. Vang is also licensed to practice before the United States Supreme Court.

Mr. Vang has been a co-chairperson for both the National College of DUI Defense (NCDD) Amici and Research Committee and the DUI Defense Lawyers Association (DUIDLA) Amici Committee. Mr. Vang has appeared as counsel in numerous appeal briefs in Wyoming and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Vang understands the complexities associated with preserving a criminal record so that legal issues are preserved for an appeal, should that become necessary. Mr. Vang is currently licensed to practice before all Wyoming trial and appellate courts, including the Wyoming Supreme Court, as well as the Wyoming Federal District Court, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.

R. MICHAEL VANG REPORTED CASES BEFORE THE WYOMING SUPREME COURT

  • Flauding v. State ex rel. Wyo. DOT, 2021 WY 131, 499 P.3d 272 (Wyo. 2021).
  • Johnson v. State ex rel. Wyo. DOT, 2021 WY 116, 497 P.3d 895 (Wyo. 2021).
  • Elmore v. State, 2021 WY 41, 482 P.3d 358 (Wyo. 2021).
  • Johnson v. State ex rel. Wyo. DOT, 2020 WY 19, 458 P.3d 40 (Wyo. 2020).
  • Hardman v. State, 2020 WY 11, 456 P.3d 1223 (Wyo. 2020).
  • Wright v. State, 2019 WY 49, 440 P.3d 1092 (Wyo. 2019).
  • Casiano v. State ex rel. Wyo. DOT, 2019 WY 16, 434 P.3d 116 (Wyo. 2019).
  • Hardman v. State, 2018 WY 24, 413 P.3d 116 (Wyo. 2018).
  • Leavitt v. WYDOT, 2017 WY 149, 406 P.3d 1266 (Wyo. 2017).
  • Wofford v. City of Laramie, 2016 WY 59, 375 P.3d 740 (Wyo. 2016).
  • Walters v. WYDOT, 2013 WY 59, 300 P.3d 879 (Wyo. 2013).
  • Regan v. WYDOT, 2012 WY 161, 292 P.3d 849 (Wyo. 2012).
  • Sandoval v. WYDOT, 2012 WY 160, 291 P.3d 290 (Wyo. 2012).
  • Romsa v. WYDOT, 2012 WY 146, 288 P.3d 695 (Wyo. 2012).
  • Espinoza v. WYDOT, 2012 WY 101, 280 P.3d 1226 (Wyo. 2012).
  • Orchard v. WYDOT, 2011 WY 145, 262 P.3d 197 (Wyo. 2011).
  • Tiernan v. WYDOT, 2011 WY 143, 262 P.3d 561, (Wyo. 2011).
  • Vasco v. WYDOT, 2011 WY 100, 253 P.3d 515 (Wyo. 2011).
  • Harvey v. WYDOT, 2011 WY 72, 250 P.3d 167 (Wyo. 2011).
  • Elliott v. State, 2011 WY 32, 247 P.3d 501 (Wyo. 2011).
  • Hwang v. WYDOT, 2011 WY 20, 247 P.3d 861 (Wyo. 2011).
  • Dods v. State, 2010 WY 133, 240 P.3d 1208 (Wyo. 2010).
  • Walters v. State, 2008 WY 159, 197 P.3d 1273 (Wyo. 2008).
  • Schuler v. State, 2008 WY 47, ¶ 1, 181 P.3d 929, 930
  • Garvin v. State, 2007 WY 190, 172 P.3d 725 (Wyo. 2007).
  • Escarcega v. WYDOT, 2007 WY 38, 153 P.3d 264 (Wyo. 2007).
  • Cotton v. McCulloh, 2005 WY 159, 125 P.3d 252 (Wyo. 2005).
  • Bryant v. WYDOT, 2002 WY 140, 55 P.3d 4 (Wyo. 2002).
  • Griffin v. WYDOT, 2002 WY 82, 47 P.3d 194 (Wyo. 2002).
  • Mogard v. City of Laramie, 2001 WY 88, 32 P.3d 313 (Wyo. 2001).
  • Smith v. WYDOT, 2000 WY 185, 11 P.3d 931 (Wyo. 2000).
  • Jones v. WYDOT, 1999 WY 160, 991 P.2d 1251 (Wyo. 1999).
  • Saulcy Land Co. v. Jones, 1999 WY 95, 983 P.2d 1200 (Wyo. 1999).
  • Smith v. State, Wyoming Workers Safety and Compensation Div., 1998 WY 132, 965 P.2d 687 (Wyo. 1998).
  • Glasrud v. City of Laramie, 1997 WY 27, 934 P.2d 1242 (Wyo. 1997).
  • Paramo v. State, 1995 WY 87, 896 P.2d 1342 (Wyo. 1995).
  • Lowseth v. State, 1994 WY 62, 875 P.2d 725 (Wyo. 1994).

A Forensic Lawyer-Scientist

Mr. Vang is a frequent lecturer on DUI and implied consent laws and is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), a member of the Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association (WTLA), a sustaining member of the National College of DUI Defense (NCDD) and current Co-Chairperson of the NCDD Amici and Research Committee, and a founding member of the DUI Defense Lawyers Association (DUIDLA). Mr. Vang was awarded the Forensic Lawyer-Scientist Designation by the American Chemical Society (ACS) Chemistry and the Law Division on June 13, 2015. Mr. Vang has been admitted to practice law in all courts in the state of Wyoming, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.

  • DUI Defense Lawyers Association
  • ASC
  • ASC-CHAL
  • Martindale AV Peer Review
  • Avvo 10.0
  • National College for DUI Defense

Case Results

Explore Our Recent Victories
  • Favorable Plea Agreement 2023
    Case: A husband and wife are charged as co-defendants with domestic battery, battery, and false imprisonment with older daughter making allegations. Clients deny all charges and the matter is set for a jury trial. Prior to the jury trial the state makes an offer to settle ...
  • Dismissed 2023
    Case: The Client did not deny that the Client failed to illuminate his headlights as he pulled out of a parking lot that was well illuminated. After the detention, client denied that odor of alcohol and bloodshot eyes allowed law enforcement to extend the detention in this ...
  • DISMISSED 2024
    The Client was stopped for running a stop sign. The Client asserted that the odor of alcohol, glassy blood shot eyes, and the alleged failure to properly perform voluntary field sobriety maneuvers (SFSMs) did not create probable cause for the DUI arrest in this case. The ...

Fighting to Protect Your Rights

  • Teaches Other Attorneys DUI Law
  • Over 27 Years of Experience
  • Initial Consultation is Always Free
  • Specializes in Criminal & DUI Cases

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