About

 The criminal defense Law Office is dedicated to the zealous and ethical representation of the criminally accused. Ms. Dunn defends the constitutional rights of her clients during pre-trial investigations, plea negotiations, trial, appeals, and post-conviction relief (writ of Habeas Corpus).

  The criminal defense Law Office is located in Dallas, Texas. Ms. Dunn represents clients throughout the state of Texas and as a federal lawyer in the United States Courts of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the United States District Court for the Northern and Eastern District of Texas.

WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS - POST-CONVICTION

If you have been convicted of a crime and you have exhausted all your appeals, you may want to consider a post-conviction motion such as petitioning the Texas court or federal court for a Writ of Habeas Corpus. Generally speaking, a Writ of Habeas Corpus attacks the conviction or sentence on constitutional grounds. In other words, the petitioner argues that the conviction or sentence violates the constitution and must be over turned.

  The law office has extensive experience in investigating, drafting and litigating Writs of Habeas Corpus. Writs of Habeas Corpus are resource and time consuming; however, it is often the client's last attempt to right a constitutional wrong.

  Ms. Dunn believes that the fairest method for representing a client interested in a post-conviction motion, is to first conduct a thorough investigation. This can include re-investigating the entire crime, interviewing witnesses, discussing the case with the trial attorney, and retaining experts to re-examine physical evidence.

  Once Ms. Dunn has completed the investigation, she will reveal the results to the client and give her professional advice as to the strength of the potential claims. If the client decides to proceed, Ms. Dunn will draft the memorandum of law and litigate the claims in Texas and/or federal court.

APPEALS

  The criminal law office maintains an active appellate practice in both state court and federal court.

  The work of a criminal appellate lawyer begins immediately after the client has been sentenced by the judge. Ms. Dunn will meet with the client and the client's trial attorney as soon as possible to discuss any potential grounds for appeal. Criminal appeals are based on legal errors made during the trial or sentencing hearing .

  Once Ms. Dunn has discussed the appeal with the client, Ms. Dunn combs the trial record searching for errors which may lead to a reversal on appeal. This work can be rather tedious, but coupled with exhaustive legal research, can produce a persuasive legal brief for the court of appeals.

  Please keep in mind that strict time limits may apply.

  Some of Ms. Dunn's criminal appeal practice locations include:
•United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
•Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
•Texas courts of appeals

TRIAL

  Being charged with a crime can be a scary time. It is crucial to hire an experienced and trustworthy criminal trial attorney.

  The key to becoming a good criminal trial lawyer is preparation. There can be no substitute for the work the attorney must do the weeks and days before a trial. This philosophy is the cornerstone to Ms. Dunn's successful criminal defense practice.

  Weeks before trial (and perhaps months), Ms. Dunn will begin the initial investigation into the case. This includes reviewing the state's evidence, interviewing witnesses, and consulting with experts. Once the theme of the defense becomes clear, Ms. Dunn devotes significant time to legal research. Not only must Ms. Dunn be prepared to object at trial when the government's attorney steps over the evidentiary line, but she must also be able to defend her own actions against the government's objections.

  A week before trial, Ms. Dunn will meet with her client. This meeting will be long and detailed. The purpose of the meeting is to completely prepare the client for what is to come. All questions will be answered; all fears will be addressed.

  By the time they walk into the courtroom the morning of trial, both Ms. Dunn and her client are prepared for trial.

EXPUNCTIONS

 Having an arrest or indictment on your criminal background record can be devastating to your life. Often people find it difficult to obtain and maintain employment or qualify for a lease with an unwanted record in your criminal background.
  A Texas expunction is a complete deletion of an entire criminal file. This has its obvious advantages, but there are strict requirements for qualification. If you were:

•suspected of a crime, but never arrested
•arrested but never charged
•charged but the charges were later dismissed
•charged but were acquitted at trial
•convicted at trial, but reversed on appeal
•or received deferred adjudication for a Class C Misdemeanor
then you may qualify for an expunction.