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John W. Stickels at the U. S. Supreme Court

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EXPERIENCED
John Stickels has been a trial lawyer for over 30 years and specializes in criminal defense and criminal appellate law.  He is an expert in the areas of state and federal law, appellate law and procedure, including the preparation of writs and appeals, and claims of actual innocence.  In his 30 years of practicing law, both as a prosecutor and defense attorney, John has tried hundreds of criminal jury trials, including capital murder trials where the death penalty was an option.   He has defended clients in the U. S. District Courts (federal courts) of the Northern, Western and Eastern Districts.  He has filed appeals and post-conviction writs in courts across Texas including most recently the 2nd, 7th, 8th and 10th Courts of Appeals, the Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, the Texas Supreme Court, the U. S. 5th Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.
DOUBLE BOARD CERTIFIED
John has been Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1995 and is now Board Certified in Criminal Appellate Law as well.  This is a new specialization recently recognized by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and John is one of the few attorneys in Texas to achieve this accomplishment.
SMART
John obtained his law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law in 1983 after graduating from Texas A&M University where he was in the Corp of Cadets.  He was the elected County Attorney for Ward County, Texas (1989-1992) and the elected District Attorney for the 143rd Judicial District of Texas (1993-1996), as well as the Chief Felony Prosecutor for the Hays County Criminal District Attorney's Office (1998), before returning to school and obtaining his Ph.D. in public policy (focus on criminal justice policy) from the L.B.J. School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin.   He worked as an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Arlington in the criminal justice department for several years.  He now devotes himself full-time to his criminal defense and criminal appellate practice.
AGGRESSIVE
John loves the courtroom!  He has tried hundreds of cases to a verdict - including many NOT GUILTY verdicts.   Unlike some attorneys who will only help you if you want to take a plea offer, he will aggressively defend your case at trial if that will result in the best possible outcome of your case.  At your initial consultation, he will explain all the various options for resolution and come up with a strategy for defending your case.

Admitted to practice in the following courts in the United States and Texas:

  • U. S. Supreme Court
  • U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U. S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
  • U. S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
  • U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas

Member in good standing in many professional associations and organizations  including:

  • State Bar of Texas (admitted 1983)
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (current Board Member)
  • Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
  • Tarrant County Bar Association