Written By
Valerie Catalano, J.D.
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You never want to be in a position to need a criminal defense lawyer in Arlington, Texas, but if you do find yourself on the wrong side of a criminal investigation, you’ll want the right attorney on your side. Navigating the criminal justice process can be overwhelming, which is why it’s important to choose the right criminal defense lawyer for your circumstances.
Fortunately, Forbes Advisor is here to help with a list of 10 of the best defense attorneys in Tarrant County. These seasoned professionals can assist with your legal challenges.
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Criminal Defense Lawyers
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Best Arlington Criminal Defense Lawyers
Shirley Baccus-Lobel
Texas Bar Association Status
Active
Year Admitted to Texas Bar
1970
Law School Attended
The University of Texas School of Law
Why They Made Our List
Practice Areas
Notable Facts and Recognitions
Wes Ball
Texas Bar Association Status
Active
Year Admitted to Texas Bar
1980
Law School Attended
Texas Tech University School of Law
Why They Made Our List
Practice Areas
Notable Facts and Recognitions
Cynthia M. Barbare
Texas Bar Association Status
Active
Year Admitted to Texas Bar
1991
Law School Attended
Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law
Why They Made Our List
Practice Areas
Notable Facts and Recognitions
Clint Broden
Texas Bar Association Status
Active
Year Admitted to Texas Bar
1990
Law School Attended
University of Virginia Law School
Why They Made Our List
Practice Areas
Notable Facts and Recognitions
Olegario C. Estrada
Texas Bar Association Status
Active
Year Admitted to Texas Bar
2003
Law School Attended
Texas A&M University School of Law and the acquired Texas Wesleyan Univ. School of Law
Why They Made Our List
Practice Areas
Notable Facts and Recognitions
Deandra M. Grant
Texas Bar Association Status
Active
Year Admitted to Texas Bar
1993
Law School Attended
Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law
Why They Made Our List
Practice Areas
Notable Facts and Recognitions
Jeff Kearney
Texas Bar Association Status
Active
Year Admitted to Texas Bar
1972
Law School Attended
Baylor University School of Law
Why They Made Our List
Practice Areas
Notable Facts and Recognitions
Letty Martinez
Texas Bar Association Status
Active
Year Admitted to Texas Bar
1994
Law School Attended
Baylor University School of Law
Why They Made Our List
Practice Areas
Notable Facts and Recognitions
Lindsay Truly
Texas Bar Association Status
Active
Year Admitted to Texas Bar
2011
Law School Attended
Texas Wesleyan University School of Law
Why They Made Our List
Practice Areas
Notable Facts and Recognitions
Kimberly Griffin Tucker
Texas Bar Association Status
Active
Year Admitted to Texas Bar
1995
Law School Attended
Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law
Why They Made Our List
Practice Areas
Notable Facts and Recognitions
Compare Top Arlington Criminal Defense Attorneys
Lawyer Name Texas Bar Association Status Year Admitted to Texas Bar Law School Attended Learn More CTA text Learn more CTA below text
Shirley Baccus-Lobel Active 1970 The University of Texas School of Law
Wes Ball Active 1980 Texas Tech University School of Law
Cynthia M. Barbare Active 1991 Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law
Clint Broden Active 1990 University of Virginia Law School
Olegario C. Estrada Active 2003 Texas A&M University School of Law and the acquired Texas Wesleyan Univ. School of Law
Deandra M. Grant Active 1993 Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law
Jeffrey A. Kearney Active 1972 Baylor University School of Law
Letty Martinez Active 1994 Baylor University School of Law
Lindsay Truly Active 2011 Texas Wesleyan University School of Law
What Is a Criminal Defense Lawyer?
A criminal defense lawyer is an attorney who helps people charged with a crime navigate the criminal justice process.
When the government prosecutes a defendant, it can muster vast resources—law enforcement agencies to investigate, lawyers and support staff to litigate and a constant flow of tax dollars to pay for it all in its efforts to win a conviction. A defense lawyer stands between the lone defendant and the government’s Goliath.
A defense attorney fights to make sure that the government—whether local, state, or federal – abides by the Constitution at all stages, from investigation to arrest, and from bail to sentencing. The defense role is such an important part of the justice system that the Sixth Amendment of the Constitution guarantees criminal defendants the right to an attorney.
If you have been charged with a crime or are being investigated by police, you should immediately contact a criminal defense lawyer.
Public Defenders vs. Private Criminal Attorneys
Public defenders and private criminal attorneys are both lawyers who specialize in criminal defense. The primary difference is that public defenders are appointed by a court and their fees are paid, ultimately, by taxpayers.
Only defendants who are unable to afford an attorney, as determined by the court, qualify for a public defender, and generally they have little say in who is appointed to represent them. In Texas, a defendant is entitled to a public defender when accused of a felony, Class A or B misdemeanor or a juvenile offense.
A private criminal attorney, on the other hand, is a lawyer that you select for yourself after doing your own research. You will also have to pay for their representation out of your own pocket.
In Texas, only defendants charged with an offense punishable by jail or prison time—usually felonies and class A or B misdemeanors—qualify for a court-appointed attorney. This means a defendant charged with class C misdemeanors, city ordinance violations or any offense punishable only by a fine must hire their attorney or represent themselves.
As of 2024, Tarrant County is the most populous county in the United States without a public defenders office. Instead, the county uses a court-appointed attorney system. This means that, rather than being represented by a dedicated public defender, an indigent criminal defendant is represented by a private attorney chosen from a pool of qualified candidates and appointed by the court. The Tarrant County system, is therefore, a blend of private and public defense.
Should You Represent Yourself in a Criminal Case?
Criminal defendants in Tarrant County have a constitutional right to represent themselves—called proceeding “pro se”—but that does not mean you should. This is especially true when it comes to cases involving the potential for jail or prison time, such as felonies or class A or B misdemeanors. The primary benefit to self-representation is that it will save you the expense of hiring an attorney.
On the other hand, the reasons for hiring an attorney are many. Court rules can be complicated and nuanced. Unlike small claims or conciliation courts, in which rules are relaxed, pro se criminal defendants receive little special treatment from the courts. They are expected to know and adhere to rules of procedure and evidence and abide by them in court. Becoming familiar with these rules can take a criminal attorney years. Pro se defendants have only one proceeding to get up to speed.
Finally, defense attorneys often have access to resources, such as support staff and investigators, that a pro se defendant does not. These resources include relationships that defense attorneys have developed with prosecutors that may even help to resolve a criminal case before it goes to trial. There’s an old saying: “A lawyer who represents themselves has a fool for a client.” The same can be said for defendants who choose to represent themselves in a serious misdemeanor or felony matter.
Understanding the Legal Process for Criminal Cases
- Arrest. In Tarrant County, and just about anywhere else in Texas or the United States, the criminal legal process begins with an arrest. Generally, an arrest is legal only if an officer has probable cause to suspect someone of criminal activity.
- Initial appearance. A criminal defendant must be brought before a judge within 48 hours of their arrest. The judge will inform the defendant of the charges, their right to an attorney, their right to challenge probable cause and other details. The prosecutor must then decide whether to file charges.
- Arraignment. After charges are filed, the defendant will enter a plea and several housekeeping matters, such as the need for a continuance, will be addressed at an arraignment. Bail or a bond will usually be addressed at this time or during a separate bail hearing shortly thereafter.
- Pretrial. Prior to trial, the attorneys will engage in discovery, where they exchange evidence and information. They will also litigate motions and discuss a possible plea agreement.
- Trial. If the case proceeds to trial, the defendant must choose whether to proceed to a jury trial or try the matter to the judge, without a jury. The parties will present evidence, and the judge or jury will determine whether the State has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty of the crime charged. If the verdict is “not guilty,” the defendant will be free to go, whereas a defendant adjudicated guilty will proceed to sentencing.
- Sentencing. The sentencing hearing is the phase of the trial, often a separate hearing, at which the judge pronounces the punishment for the offense. For certain aggravated sentences and capital cases, the defendant is entitled to a separate trial to determine the penalty before sentencing.
Resolving a Criminal Case in Texas
At any point after criminal charges are filed and before final sentencing in a Tarrant County court, a defendant may agree to plead guilty and accept a guaranteed sentence. Once approved by the court, such a plea agreement, or plea bargain, typically results in the avoidance of more severe penalties, such as a lengthy prison sentence, in exchange for sparing the State and witnesses the time and expense of a trial.
Offenses that permit imprisonment for a period of less than 10 years are eligible for a suspended, or stayed, sentence. In such cases, a defendant’s imprisonment is deferred as long as they comply with certain conditions, such as some local jail time or community service, while remaining law abiding and reporting regularly to a probation officer.
A term of probation is usually about the same length as a prison sentence would have been. If a defendant successfully completes probation, they are deemed to have served out their sentence. On the other hand, a violation of a probationary condition may result in arrest and, after a hearing, execution of the original prison sentence.
Defendants who are imprisoned have the opportunity to seek an early release through the parole process. Those who have been model inmates and completed certain types of programming may petition the parole board. If, after a hearing, the parole board grants the request, the inmate will serve the remainder of the prison sentence in the community, subject to probation-style conditions.
Expungement in Texas
A conviction or a criminal charge—even if you are never convicted of a crime—can wreak havoc on your personal and professional life. You may be denied job opportunities, housing, gun ownership or in some cases, even government services, like college financial aid.
Fortunately, the expungement process (referred to as expunction in Texas statutes) allows you to remove certain eligible charges that did not result in a conviction from your Texas criminal record.
Expunction is available in Texas only if you are acquitted, convicted and then pardoned or released or the charge is no longer pending. You must file a petition for expunction. This is where an experienced Arlington criminal defense attorney who is familiar with the process can be particularly helpful.
Once the petition is filed, you’ll have a court hearing, and the judge will decide whether your records may be expunged. If your petition is granted, the charge or arrest you asked to be expunged will be removed from your Texas criminal record.
How To Choose the Best Criminal Defense Lawyer in Arlington, Texas
There is no magic formula when it comes to choosing the best defense lawyer for you. Ultimately, it will come down to finding an attorney you trust and can afford and who has the right type of experience for your case.
- Search for attorneys in your area. This is important because an attorney who is familiar with the prosecutors, judges and court staff in Tarrant County or the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas will be miles ahead of a lawyer who doesn’t know the key players. Outside lawyers getting “hometowned” is a real concern.
- Search for lawyers who have experience with your type of offense. You want a defense attorney who is not just experienced but has specific experience dealing with the offense with which you’ve been charged. For example, a lawyer who’s handled nothing but DWI cases for the last 15 years will be ill-prepared to take on a felony fraud case and vice versa.
- Decide what you can realistically afford to pay an attorney. There is absolutely no point in meeting with lawyers you won’t be able to afford. So before you start speaking with attorneys, make sure you have a handle on how much you are able and willing to pay for your defense.
You must be open-minded about your circumstances. If the offense with which you’re charged carries the threat of a lengthy prison sentence, how much is an improved chance of avoiding prison worth?
- Meet with a few attorneys. Consult with a few attorneys to see how well you get along. Criminal defense is a team process between you and your lawyer. Before you decide to hire someone, you must determine whether you trust them to look out for your best interests and if you think the two of you will work well together.
- Agree on a fee or hourly rate. Many attorneys are flexible in the way they charge for a case. Often it’s based on the information they learn from a client, so be prepared to discuss the attorney’s fees and what they will cover. If it’s a flat rate, does it include a trial? An appeal?
Arlington Criminal Defense Resources
Our Methodology for Finding the Best Arlington Criminal Defense Attorneys
Forbes Advisor considered many factors to determine the best criminal defense lawyers in Arlington of 2024. Its mathematical analysis considers and weighs the information collected to calculate a specific rating and reviews these results to find the best attorneys in a given practice area.
Within the model, we take into account factors that legal professionals and consumers value in an attorney’s qualifications. After assigning weighted scores to hundreds of data points, we narrowed the field down to our top choices based on:
- Legal experience
- Special licenses and certifications
- Ethics and bar disciplinary measures
- Legal thought leadership
- Education and employment background
- Scholarly lectures and writings
- Awards and honors
Forbes Advisor collects public data from a variety of sources, including state bar associations, court records and other published sources on the internet. However, this information should not be considered comprehensive. It might not include additional relevant information on an attorney’s legal skills and experience.
Each lawyer listed here has their own merits. Bear in mind that our list relates to these lawyers’ legal backgrounds but does not evaluate their personalities or their knowledge of the law. One attorney may be more suitable than another for your specific legal situation.
One thing that can’t be quantified, though, is the rapport you establish with your attorney. Personality goes a long way when teaming up with an attorney, especially when going through a potentially difficult legal situation. These rankings should serve as a reference and potential starting point in your search for the right lawyer for you and your legal concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Criminal Defense
How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost in Arlington, Texas?
What is the difference between a defense attorney and a prosecutor in Arlington, Texas?
What is the three-felony rule in Texas?
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