Christopher McKinney:

NCDD is happy to spotlight member Christopher McKinney of Houston, Texas. Chris currently serves as the co-chair of the Impaired Driving Task Force and an NCDD Faculty Member and is a partner at the Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C.

Born and raised in Houston, Chris recounts that he “grew up in a law firm,” accompanying his mom to work daily at his uncle’s law firm every day after school. His first job was also at his uncle’s firm during the summer. Of course, like most lawyers, his uncle often cautioned him, “don’t be a lawyer.” Chris originally took this to heart, studying biology with his sights on medical school while at Texas A&M. He eventually found his way back to law, graduating with a degree in Political Science and then attending the South Texas College of Law.

While in law school, he caught the bug for litigation as part of both mock trial and moot court teams. He also interned at the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, where he was hired after graduation as a misdemeanor prosecutor. During his tenure as a prosecutor, Chris worked his way from misdemeanor to felony prosecutions to the Grand Jury Division to the trial bureau, where he handled gang murders, rapes, and robberies. He was eventually snatched up by the Vehicular Crimes Division, where he got experience training officers and other prosecutors and assisting in fatality accident investigations. Thankfully, NCDD Fellow Doug Murphy saw Chris’ talents and hired him away from the DA’s office as an associate attorney.

Chris’ approach to law has evolved since he began as a “naïve” young prosecutor with little life experience. He has explained how his approach changed quite a bit when he made the jump from prosecuting to defending the criminally accused, “not because I know more law now, but because I know that behind every allegation, there is a person and there is a story behind that person....My approach is never to cast judgment, never to point a finger, and never to give up on them even though the people closest to them have. My goal is to tell their story to the naïve, 25-year-old baby prosecutors looking through the black and white reports about the worst day of my client's life so that they understand that this is someone's life they are holding in their hands.”

Reading those words, it's no surprise to learn that Chris’ favorite win as a defense attorney didn’t actually result in a “not guilty.” Rather, Chris recalls being part of a defense team tasked with convincing a jury to sentence a client to probation in a difficult case whose victim was a patrol officer who suffered substantial injuries. Thanks to the bold strategy and tireless work of the trial team, Chris recounts, “At the end of the trial, the jury did the right thing. They gave our client a chance at redemption, a chance to atone for her mistake, and a chance to give birth to her child outside the walls of a prison.”

Chris comes from a “core four” family (2 parents and 2 children). His parents didn’t climb a corporate ladder, but Chris describes them as “professional grinders,” who worked hard to do “whatever was necessary to make ends meet and ensure their children had the opportunities they did not.” His dad is now retired and his mom sadly passed away from breast cancer in 2018. Chris met his wife, Sarah, while at Texas A&M and they married in 2011 while Chris was in law school. Sarah works as an assistant principal at Kingwood High School, where she oversees the English Department and Advanced Academics. Anyone who spends even a small amount of time with Chris soon learns that he is a very proud girl dad to their 9-year-old daughter Charlotte. Charlotte shares her dad’s curiosity about how the world works, which they often discuss on their daily walks to school. Chris can also often be found on the golf course, serving as Charlotte’s caddy.

Chris describes the biggest influences as the incredible women in his life – his mom, grandmother, and his wife, Sarah. “Their dedication to their families and unwillingness to yield in the face of difficulty have shown me the true meaning of sacrifice and unconditional love. I hope to empower Charlotte in the same way. I wouldn't be the man I am today without them and the lessons they have taught me.”

When asked what NCDD means to him, Chris responded, “NCDD is a gateway for those who want to be curious. It's an opportunity to be part of something bigger than yourself. You can share your talents and experiences with others while learning from the country's best.” Chris himself is certainly one of NCDD’s best and we are thankful to have him among our ranks!