Arrested in Eastern Iowa?

Dubuque Criminal Defense Lawyer — 50 Years of Trial Experience, Iowa-Only Focus

Dubuque County cases move through a courthouse with its own procedures, its own judges, and its own pace. If you're facing OWI, assault, drug, or weapons charges in Dubuque, you need a lawyer who does criminal defense full time — not someone who handled an estate plan last week and an OWI this week. I'm Gary Koos. Criminal defense is the only practice I take, and I make the trip to Dubuque when the case justifies it.

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Defense Legacy

50 Years Defending Criminal Cases

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Manhattan Experience

12 Years in Manhattan, Alongside Trial Attorneys Like Joe Tacopina

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Trial Practicum

Drake Law — Home of the Country's Only First-Year Trial Practicum

Criminal-Only Defense in a Market Full of General Practitioners

Most firms in northeast Iowa mix family law, probate, real estate, and criminal cases under one roof. That's a business model, not a specialization. When your freedom or your license is on the line, the difference between a generalist and a full-time criminal defense attorney shows up in the courtroom. I have tried major criminal cases for 50 years. I know how prosecutors build their cases, where the weak points are, and how to use them.

 

My background includes 12 years practicing in Manhattan — working alongside attorneys who tried some of the most high-profile criminal cases in the country. I brought that level of preparation back to Iowa. Dubuque defendants deserve the same quality of representation.

What to Expect at the Dubuque County Courthouse

The Dubuque County Courthouse operates on its own calendar and its own expectations. Judges there have seen the same public defender arguments hundreds of times. What moves the needle is preparation, command of the facts, and a lawyer who shows up ready to try the case if the plea isn't right.

 

A few things worth knowing before your first appearance:

 

  • Dubuque County is in Iowa's 1st Judicial District — different administrative structure from the Quad Cities courts I appear in regularly, but the Iowa Rules of Criminal Procedure are the same statewide.
  • OWI cases in Dubuque County trigger the same 10-day Iowa DOT appeal window as anywhere else in the state. Miss it and you lose the right to contest your license revocation.
  • Felony cases in Dubuque County go through a preliminary hearing process. How you handle that stage shapes everything that follows.

 

I'll be straightforward about what your case looks like from the start.

Tri-State Cases: Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois

Dubuque sits at the intersection of three states. That creates real complications when a charge crosses the river — or when you have prior convictions from Wisconsin or Illinois that Iowa prosecutors may try to use against you.

 

My license is Iowa. I am honest about that. If your primary charge is in Wisconsin or Illinois, I will tell you directly and connect you with the right lawyer for that jurisdiction. What I can do is handle the Iowa side of a multi-state situation and help you understand how a conviction in one state can affect your driving record and criminal history in another. Honest about scope is better than scrambling later.

The Distance Question — Answered Directly

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Dubuque is roughly two hours from my Davenport office. I won't pretend otherwise. What I will tell you is that for a trial-track felony, a repeat OWI, or any case with serious consequences attached, I make the drive. I show up at every appearance.

 

Most OWI cases require three to four court dates between arraignment and resolution. I'm there for all of them. If a case goes to trial, I'm there for every day of it. The question isn't whether I'll travel — it's whether your case warrants the level of preparation I bring. For anything with real stakes, it does.

 

I graduated from Drake Law School, whose trial advocacy program has been recognized as one of the best in the country. That training doesn't stay in Des Moines — I use it every time I walk into a courtroom, including Dubuque County.

Frequently Asked Questions — Dubuque Criminal Defense

  • Do you regularly appear in Dubuque County courts?

    I travel to Dubuque for cases that warrant it, which includes most felonies, repeat OWI charges, and any matter heading toward trial. I'll be upfront with you during our first call about whether your case is a fit for my practice.

  • What is the 10-day rule for Iowa OWI arrests?

    When you're arrested for OWI in Iowa, the Department of Transportation automatically moves to revoke your license. You have 10 days from the date of arrest to request an administrative hearing to contest that revocation. If you miss the window, you lose the right to challenge it. Call me as soon as possible after an arrest — nights and weekends included.

  • My case involves charges in both Iowa and Wisconsin. Can you help?

    I'm licensed in Iowa. I can handle the Iowa portion of a multi-state situation and help you understand how the pieces connect. For Wisconsin or Illinois charges, I'll refer you to a lawyer I trust in that jurisdiction rather than pretend I can cover ground I can't.

  • How is a criminal-only attorney different from a general practice lawyer?

    A general practitioner handles whatever walks in the door — divorces, wills, real estate closings, and the occasional criminal case. I do criminal defense full time. That focus means I know the prosecutors, the procedural patterns, and the defense strategies that actually move cases. Specialization matters when the stakes are this high.

  • What should I do immediately after an OWI arrest in Dubuque?

    Don't discuss the details of your arrest with anyone except your attorney. Write down everything you remember — the stop, the tests, what was said. Then call me. The 10-day DOT window starts immediately, and the earlier I get involved, the more options you have.
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Ready to Talk — Call Anytime

If you've been arrested in Dubuque County or anywhere in northeast Iowa, call me directly at 563-275-8820. I answer 24 hours a day, seven days a week — you'll get me, not a service. If the situation isn't urgent, use the contact form and I'll follow up promptly. Either way, the first conversation is straightforward: you tell me what happened, I tell you where you stand.