Professional Qualifications

In May, 1971, I graduated from S.M.U Law School and passed the Texas Bar Examination in July, 1971. I was sworn in as a Texas lawyer in October, 1971. I then opened my own office as a criminal defense solo practitioner (along with my secretary/wife) in Dallas, Texas, and tried my first criminal case, a murder case, in November, 1971. I was a criminal trial lawyer in Dallas until 1975, at which time I moved to Hempstead, Texas, to assist my father in his steel-manufacturing business.

In November of 1977, I had my first experience as a prosecutor when I joined the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office and was assigned as the lead assistant prosecutor for Waller, San Jacinto, and Polk counties, which were then a part of the District Attorney's Office for the 9th Judicial District of Texas. In this capacity, I conducted all Grand Jury proceedings and trials for those 3 counties, often by myself.

In March, 1979, I decided to leave my position as assistant district attorney to open, once again, my own office as a criminal defense solo practitioner. From that time until I had the privilege of being elected this county's district attorney, I proudly represented the citizens of this county who were charged with violations of the criminal law. I have not kept a record of all the jury trials, pleas, and appeals I have been involved in, but I did become Board Certified in Criminal Law by the State Bar of Texas in 1980, and have tried every kind of case from shoplifting to capital murder, both as a criminal defense lawyer and as your district attorney.