Criminal and civil appellate and post-trial matters, including mandamus and habeas corpus, in Texas federal and state courts. Board Certified in Criminal Appellate Law (2011) and Civil Appellate Law (2012) by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. I was the first Texas attorney to become board certified in both criminal appellate law and civil appellate law. I was also one of only 16 attorneys w
ho passed the criminal appellate certification exam when it was administered by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for the first time in October 2011. The following year, I passed the civil appellate certification exam. I have worked on numerous civil and criminal appeals and post-conviction writs in Texas, and I have argued cases at the state courts of appeals in Austin, Amarillo, San Antonio and Houston [1st Dist.], as well before the Corpus Christi/Edinburg court sitting in Austin. I have also argued federal cases before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, and in federal district courts in Dallas, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, and Waco. Whether I am court-appointed or retained, I use my best efforts to explain the client's appellate options, the strengths and weaknesses of the client's position, in order to obtain a favorable result. Appx. 133 (5th Cir. 2021)
United States v. Stevens, 844 Fed. Appx. 726 (5th Cir. 2021)
United States v. Veasey, et al, 843 Fed. Appx. 555 (5th Cir. 2021)
United States v. Hernandez, 825 Fed. Appx. 219 (5th Cir. 2020)
United States v. McGruder, 812 Fed. Appx. 250 (5th Cir. 2020)
United States v. Ricks, 808 Fed. Appx. 286 (5th Cir. 2020)
United States v. Abrego Herrera, 807 Fed. Appx. 400 (5th Cir. 2020)
United States v. Ehret, 807 Fed. Appx. 330 (5th Cir. 2020)
United States v. Paredes, 788 Fed. Appx. 275 (5th Cir. 2019)
Bordelon v. State, 582 S.W.3d 436 (Tex. App. – San Antonio 2018, pet. ref’d)
United States v. Palacios, 721 Fed. Appx. 405 (5th Cir. 2018)
United States v. St. Clair, 714 Fed. Appx. 455 (5th Cir. 2018) (appeal of 2255 federal writ)
Warden v. State, 534 S.W.3d 81 (Tex. App. – San Antonio 2017, pet. Gibson, 875 F.3d 179 (5th Cir. 2017)
United States v. Adenuga, 653 Fed. Appx. 803 (5th Cir. 2016)
United States v. Martin, 651 Fed. Appx. 265 (5th Cir. 2016)
United States v. Zavala, 608 Fed. Appx. 268 (5th Cir. 2015), cert. granted, vacated and remanded, 578 U.S. 942 (2016), op. on remand, 667 Fed. Appx. 139 (5th Cir. 2016)
United States v. Clair, 608 Fed. Appx. 192 (5th Cir. 2015)
Jenkins v. State, 454 S.W.3d 712 (Tex. App. -- Corpus Christi/Edinburg 2015, no pet.) Wiedenfeld v. State, 450 S.W.3d 905 (Tex. App -- San Antonio 2014, no pet.) Dieken v. State, 432 S.W.3d 444 (Tex. App. -- San Antonio 2014, no pet.) United States v. Wallace, 551 Fed. Appx. 193 (5th Cir. Jan. 8, 2014) (govt. confessed error, case vacated and remanded for trial or entry of new plea)
United States v. Njoku, 737 F.3d 55 (5th Cir. Dec. 8, 2013)
United States v. Mason (Andrews), 722 F.3d 691 (5th Cir. July 2, 2013), op. on reh'g., 736 F.3d 682 (5th Cir. Aug. 6, 2013) (approx. $75,000 in forfeiture and restitution deleted from judgment since that amount was for property unrelated to conviction)
Fulmer v. State, 401 S.W.3d 305 (Tex. App. -- San Antonio, March 20, 2013, pet. ref'd) (court-appointed attorney's fees deleted from judgment since client remained indigent)
Jackson v. Wright, No. 03-10-00391-CV (Tex. App. -- Austin 2011) (reversed and remanded)
Zuliani v. State, 338 S.W.3d 213 (Tex. App. – Austin 2011) (lesser conviction vacated as violating double jeopardy), remanded for further analysis, 353 S.W.3d 872 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011), lesser conviction vacated again as violating double jeopardy, 383 S.W.3d 289 (Tex. App. -- Austin 2012, State's pet. ref'd)
Martin v. State, 335 S.W.3d 867 (Tex. App. – Austin 2011, pet.ref'd)
In re Reed, No. 03-09-00361-CV (Tex. App. -- Austin 2009, orig. proceeding) (mandamus relief granted)
Ovalle v. State, No. 03-08-00334-CR (Tex. App. -- Austin 2009, pet. ref'd) (one of three convictions vacated as violating double jeopardy)
United States v. Elashyi, 554 F.3d 480 (5th Cir. 2008) (reversed and judgment of acquittal rendered)
Pierce v. State, No. 03-06-00492-CR (Tex. App. -- Austin 2007, no pet.) (reversed and judgment of acquittal rendered)
Simcoe v. State, 268 S.W.3d 84 (Tex. App. -- Austin 2007, pet. ref'd)
Lee v. State, 259 S.W.3d 785 (Tex. App. -- Houston [1st Dist.] 2007, pet. ref'd)
LaPointe v. State, 225 S.W.3d 513 (Tex. App. 2007)
Stock v. State, 214 S.W.3d 761 (Tex. App. – Austin 2007, no pet.) (reversed and judgment of acquittal rendered)
Henderson v. State, 208 S.W.3d 593 (Tex. App. -- Austin 2006, pet. ref'd)
Perez v. State, No. 03-05-00091-CR (Tex. App. -- Austin 2006, no pet.) (lesser conviction vacated as violating double jeopardy)
Hankins v. State, 180 S.W.3d 177 (Tex. App. – Austin 2005, pet. ref’d)
Holcomb v. State, 146 S.W.3d 723 (Tex. App. – Austin 2004, no pet.) Feagins v. State, 142 S.W.3d 532 (Tex. App. – Austin 2004, pet. ref’d)
Dickerson v. Davis, 925 S.W.2d 123 (Tex. App. – Amarillo 1996, writ dism’d w.o.j.) Thompson v. Davis, 901 S.W.2d 939 (Tex. 1995) (mandamus relief granted)
