Austin, Texas, United States
* Fulfill all responsibilities of Staff Attorney. * Supervise six attorneys assigned to the Court's non-capital writs section. * Create and implement procedural guidelines and rules as necessary. * Coordinate and act as liaison as necessary between the writ section, judges, judicial staff, Court Clerk, and Texas court personnel. * Speak at continuing legal education courses about extraordinary writ law and practice and criminal law topics, generally.
Assisted the Court with its extraordinary writ docket, including: * Habeas Corpus * Mandamus * Prohibition * Motions * Any other extraordinary writs filed Reviewed new filings and assessed their procedural, legal, and factual merits. I drafted orders and opinions as necessary. I was also involved in continuing legal education and am a regular lecturer at seminars for lawyers, court staff, district clerks, and district judges. Past topics include pre-trial and post-conviction habeas corpus practice, actual innocence, false evidence, mandamus practice, judicial ethics, and court procedure.
State Counsel for Offenders (now known as Independent Office of Inmate Counsel) is a public defender office that represents Texas prisoners across the State. All clients were convicted felons. In general, my clients were charged with new felonies allegedly committed in prison, targeted for removal/deportation, or being sued in civil court as sexually violent predators. Focused practice on appellate advocacy * Direct appeals in civil and criminal cases * Mandamus petitions from civil and criminal cases * Post-judgment time credit litigation in the trial courts Trial Advocacy in Texas District Courts * Criminal jury trials * Civil Commitment of Sexually Violent Predators Civil Jury Trials Immigration Law * Advice about the immigration consequences of felony convictions and any available relief from removal. * Appearances in removal proceedings, at immigration court, and on appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals.