General Criminal Defense

A public defender is a government-employed attorney appointed under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Chapter 26 to represent indigent defendants. A private attorney is retained directly by the defendant. Both are bound by the same Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct and the constitutional standard of effective assistance under Strickland v. Washington (1984). Practical differences include caseload size, choice-of-counsel, fee structure, and availability for direct communication. Many Texas counties supplement public defenders with appointed-counsel rosters of private attorneys.

Misdemeanor cases in county courts at law typically resolve within 90-180 days. Felony cases in district court typically take 6-18 months from arrest to disposition, with complex cases (white-collar, capital, sex offenses involving forensic evidence) extending to 2-3 years. The defendant's right to a speedy trial under the Sixth Amendment and Tex. Const. Art. I, §10 provides a constitutional floor — but the practical timeline depends on the docket, the complexity, and the discovery requirements.

Identify yourself with name and date of birth if requested. Remain calm and avoid physical resistance. Politely decline to answer questions beyond identification — 'I would like to speak to my attorney before answering questions' is the appropriate invocation of the Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights. Politely decline consent to searches — 'I do not consent to a search' preserves your Fourth Amendment objection. Do not lie or destroy evidence. Comply with arrest commands while continuing to invoke your rights.

In most cases, yes. Misdemeanor convictions carry consequences far beyond the immediate jail or fine — including immigration impact, professional-licensing impact, federal firearm prohibitions (for domestic-violence misdemeanors), CDL disqualifications, college-admission impact, and the long-tail collateral consequences. A consultation with a criminal-defense attorney is often free and can identify case-specific exposure that the defendant does not see.

Fees vary by complexity, attorney experience, and case stage. Misdemeanor representation typically runs $1,500-$5,000; felony representation typically runs $5,000-$25,000 for plea/disposition and $15,000-$75,000 for jury trial. Federal cases are higher. Most criminal-defense attorneys quote a flat fee per case or per phase rather than an hourly rate, which provides cost predictability. Payment plans are common.