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Ivana Hughes
Cleveland County Public Defender’s Office
315-B Patton Drive
Shelby, NC 28150
Phone: 704-476-7979



About Ivana Hughes
Ivana Hughes Brown is an Assistant Public Defender at the Cleveland County Public Defender's Office. She currently serves as the office’s Driving While Impaired (DWI) defense attorney. She has the following training directly related to DWI/DUI Defense: NHTSA DWI Detection and SFSTs; Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE); and NHTSA DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Test Instructor. Ivana has been practicing law in various capacities for 7 years. Prior to joining the public defenders office she worked in private practices where she handled family law, civil litigation, DWI defense, and other criminal defense cases. Ivana received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a minor in English from Gardner-Webb University. While at Gardner-Webb, Ivana was a member of the track and field and cross-country teams. After college, Ivana attended law school at the University of Alabama where she graduated with pro bono honors. Ivana is licensed to practice in both North Carolina and Georgia. Ivana currently practices solely in North Carolina.
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Virtual Forensic Library

NCDD members have access to a comprehensive forensic library that provides invaluable information to be used when defending clients charged with DUI.
This library includes scientific articles on drug and alcohol intoxication, toxicology and pharmacology, methods of testing for blood alcohol content, field sobriety testing, potential errors that may occur during testing, accident reconstruction, expert testimony, and evidentiary rules. This valuable information can ensure that you provide a high quality defense to clients charged with DUI based on the circumstances of their case and the laws in their state.
FROM OUR BLOG
Oral Fluid Testing: Roadside vs. Evidential Analyses
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Written by Ashley M. Hart As cannabis is being decriminalized in many states, there has been increased interest in rapid roadside tests to detect THC and other substances for intoxicated driving charges. A majority of states now have oral fluid testing in some form: roadside (presumptive) or evidential (confirmed in a lab). These states include Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Connecticut,...
Interview With an Amicus
06/27/2025
Written by Michelle L. Behan Amicus Curiae (Latin for "Friend of the Court") refers to a brief that is filed by an interested, non-party to the matter under consideration. This is often done in cases where organizations and entities wish to provide the reviewing court with their point of view, be it social or public policy implications, or special interest agendas....