Justin Hall:
The NCDD Member in the Spotlight is Justin Hall of Rockwall, Texas. Justin has been practicing for over 20 years in north Texas. He particularly focuses on Rockwall (Texas’ wealthiest county), Dallas, and Collin counties. Justin is passionate about pursuing zealous advocacy on complex DWI cases. He emerged from NCDD’s Serious Science as a standout gifted storyteller who can guide juries comfortably through the daunting obstacles of a DWI blood test case. He brings with this his very imposing presence as a former All Conference Center for the University of New Mexico.
Justin was inspired to become a lawyer from first hand experience. He admired his father’s respect for great lawyering as a result of his dad winning custody of both he and his brother. He lists his father, brother, Coach Dan Webb, Coach Dennis Franchione, and his first law firm boss Turner Branch as the most influential people in his life. His father was a home builder and entrepreneur. So, opening up his own law practice was just in his blood. His mother was a homemaker.
Justin grew up in the small town of Heath, Texas which is located in Rockwall and Kaufman counties. It is a town settled due to its rich black soil and is listed as the tenth safest city in the United States. He refers to himself as an “OG Heathen.” He worked making, bagging, and delivering ice at the Rockwall Ice House. He remarks that other than college football, it was the toughest job he has ever had. Other jobs included working as an intern at the New Mexico Department of Corrections studying the causes of the grisly 1980 New Mexico penitentiary riots as the New Mexico Governor’s Fellow his senior year of college. He was an assistant to the University of New Mexico Ski team, setting up ski races at every New Mexico ski resort for the “Corporate Cup” race challenge. He went on to graduate from the University of New Mexico where he also was named First Team All American and awarded a post graduate scholarship from the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame. He earned his law degree form the University of Texas Law School.
Justin’s favorite thing about being a lawyer is “helping people through challenging times; helping to restore my client’s confidence and helping them understand that their self-worth should not be tied to their criminal charges.” When Justin was in grade school, he befriended a little boy who was constantly pushed around. He learned at a young age that he had a calling for protecting people from bullies. In Justin’s words, “I have come to believe that the Government can be the biggest bully in that they have the power, resources and the mindset to ruin and or severely handicap people’s lives; I believe that the government and its lawyers have a desire to break an accused’s will/spirit. It is my goal to prevent that from happening.” A big key to Justin’s approach is to genuinely and sincerely get to know his clients. He uses his compassion and legal skills to help build his clients back up with a goal of restoring their confidence in themselves. Succinctly put, he says “I like to think of the criminal defense attorney as an ambassador of the Paul Harvey approach-letting the jury know the ‘rest of the story.’ I do not trust the Government or their narratives.”
In addition to the NCDD, Justin is a member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and a past President of the Rockwall County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. Of historical note, as a baby lawyer, Justin represented the State of New Mexico in a product liability case against Big Tobacco resolving it as the largest personal injury products liability settlement in New Mexico history. Interestingly enough, his use of what was then a novel theory of Medicare damages recovery is now being used by the Texas Attorney General to sue Pfizer regarding Covid 19. Whether it’s suing an Albuquerque Hospital ER resulting in the hospital changing its stroke protocol or forcing a sign company out of business for an improper and dangerous installation of a lane take down/closure near a busy intersection, Justin does not come to play. When he walks into a courtroom, he is the cavalry.
Justin is a very hometown kind of guy, boasting only his college (Albuquerque, New Mexico) and law school years (Austin, Texas) as residences other than Rockwall county. When he is not working, he enjoys his family. He is a divorced father of three daughters. His oldest Kayla is 29 and his twins, Taylyn and Makenzie, are 21 and in their senior year at Texas A&M University studying to become nurses. When his daughters were younger, he gained a reputation for being a legendary sponsor in the youth cheerleading community. Not only is Justin a gifted lawyer, he also has serious musical talents playing guitar and singing in gigs after hours.
Justin’s advice for new lawyers is to read “The Way of the Trial Lawyer” by Rick Friedman. Learn to be an advocate knowing that if you care about your client, you are the best person to represent your client. Be confident that you have been divinely appointed to help your client in time of great need. Conquer your fears-know that everyone has them, and you are not alone.
When asked about the NCDD, Justin remarks: “The NCDD is a great opportunity and resource for learning how to more effectively represent my clients in trial, while checking egos at the door.” We at the NCDD thank you Justin for your passion and inspiration. Your comment about egos is so apropos regarding your strength. It was President Theodore Roosevelt who said, “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.” There is no doubt that being a DWI lawyer carries a great risk of having an outsized ego that not only hurts us individually as lawyers, but all of us as a collective profession. You are a shining beacon on how to let your actions speak louder than your words. Thank you for being an exciting member of NCDD and for all that you do.
