Jessica has worked her entire career to become a top appellate defense attorney. In law school, Jessica honed her appellate skills by competing in multiple national moot court competitions. She was named best oral advocate and best brief writer in the State of Texas. She was also a nationally ranked appellate advocate. After graduating in the top 10 of her class, Jessica landed a prestigious clerkship for two judges on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the highest criminal appellate court in the state. There, she gained invaluable insight into how judges view criminal appeals and habeas petitions.
Jessica then served as an Assistant Federal Public Defender in Dallas for seven years. As an AFPD, Jessica represented individuals appealing their federal convictions and sentences to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. She handled and won complex appeals on a range of issues, including harsh sentences under the Armed Career Criminal Act and the United States Sentencing Guidelines. She also represented clients facing the death penalty in federal and state habeas corpus proceedings. Jessica won relief for multiple clients, including getting a client off of death row.
Jessica is passionate about helping her clients get justice and navigate the complex appellate system. Since she devotes her practice exclusively to appellate and post-conviction work, she has developed the extensive expertise necessary to successfully advocate for her clients. She also has first-hand knowledge of how judges view a variety of legal issues, which helps her advise her clients who are deciding whether to appeal or seek post-conviction relief. Jessica believes it is her role to guide her clients and their family members through the complicated appellate process by listening to their concerns, explaining legal issues, and answering their questions.
Meet Jessica
-
Texas Tech University
School of Law, J.D.
Summa Cum Laude, 2014
+ Order of the Barristers
+ Order of the Scribes
+ Order of the Coif
+ Executive Member of the Law ReviewTexas Tech University
Bachelor of Arts, English Literature and Language
Summa Cum Laude, 2010
+ Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society, President
+ Study Abroad, Oxford University -
+ United States Supreme Court
+ United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
+ United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
+ United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
+ United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
+ United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
+ Texas State Courts
-
+ Staying Mentally Strong for the Day’s Work, Riding for the Defense - Criminal Defense Lawyers Project, Longview, Texas, April 5, 2024
+ Post Bruen Gun Update, 2024 Prairie Dog Advanced Criminal Law Seminar, Lubbock, Texas, January 4, 2024
+ You Can Sit With Us! Strategies for Addressing Mean-Girl Culture and Creating an Inclusive Community,
2022 National Association for Public Defense Women’s Conference, Virtual, September 23, 2022+ Supreme Court and Fifth Circuit Update,
2022 Federal Criminal Defense Seminar, Dallas, Texas, July 27, 2022+ Introduction to Capital Habeas Units,
Howard University School of Law, Virtual, September 14, 2020+ Introduction to Capital Habeas Units,
Howard University School of Law, Washington D.C, September 10, 2019+ Federal Writs in Death Penalty Cases,
Texas Tech School of Law, Lubbock, Texas, November 7, 2018+ Introduction to Capital Habeas Units,
Howard University School of Law, Washington D.C, October 25, 2018+ In the Wake of Johnson and Mathis: Current Issues in Prior Conviction Enhancements,
2017 Annual Federal Criminal Practice Seminar, Dallas, Texas, July 27, 2017+ Applying Johnson and Mathis: De-mystifying Federal Sentencing,
2017 Annual Federal Criminal Practice Seminar, July 27, 2017+ Federal Sentencing: Part I,
2016 Federal Criminal Defense Seminar, Dallas, Texas, July 20, 2016+ Intro to Federal Criminal Practice for the Texas State Criminal Defense Lawyer,
2016 Federal Criminal Law Practice Seminar, Wichita Falls, Texas, April 7, 2016+ 2016 Discovery and Ethics Considerations,
2016 Federal Criminal Practice Fundamentals Seminar, Lubbock, Texas, January 6, 2016
QUESTIONS? LET’S CHAT.
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR CASE OR AN ATTORNEY SEEKING ASSISTANCE? BOOK A CONSULTATION WITH ME.