James Lee Bright is the federal criminal defense attorney at Deandra Grant Law, where he serves as Of Counsel. Admitted to practice in all four federal districts of Texas, the District of Columbia, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States, he has handled thousands of state and federal cases and participated in hundreds of trials over more than 25 years, including serving as lead defense counsel in the 2022 Oath Keepers seditious conspiracy trial in Washington, D.C. A Texas Super Lawyer and multiple-time D Magazine Best Lawyer, he holds an LL.M. in International Law from SMU and defends clients in federal conspiracy, white-collar, drug, weapons, and public corruption cases from investigation through appeal.

Meet Lee

If you are facing a federal criminal charge, you already know the stakes are different. Federal investigations are longer, federal prosecutors have more resources, and federal sentencing guidelines are harsher. You need an attorney who has been through it before — someone who knows how federal courts work from the inside. My name is Lee Bright, and I have spent more than 25 years defending people in federal courtrooms across the country, including some of the most high-profile federal cases in recent American history.

 

Tested on the National Stage

In 2022, I served as lead defense counsel for Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers, in the landmark seditious conspiracy trial in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. It was a case that dominated national and international headlines for months. The trial lasted nearly three months, with seven weeks of testimony, and was watched by legal analysts, journalists, and the public around the world. I delivered the closing argument, challenging the government to prove beyond a reasonable doubt what I called ‘the big three’ — that there was a plan to storm the Capitol, a plan to breach the rotunda, and a plan to stop the certification of the electors.

After the verdict, I told reporters outside the courthouse that I believed the jury gave us a fair trial, but that the outcome could have been substantially different had the trial been moved outside of Washington, D.C. I immediately began preparing for appeal. Regardless of where you stand on the politics, one thing was clear: every American accused of a crime deserves a vigorous defense. That is what I provided, and that is what I will provide for you.

 

Federal Courts Are Where I Work

I am admitted to practice in the Federal District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas, the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States. When I say I handle federal cases, I mean all of them — from the initial investigation to trial to appeal, in courtrooms from Dallas to Washington, D.C.

Over the course of my career, I have handled thousands of criminal cases at both the state and federal level, and I have participated in hundreds of trials. But federal criminal defense is where my experience runs deepest. Federal cases require a different skill set — understanding how federal agencies build cases, how federal sentencing guidelines work, and how to navigate the procedural complexities that can make or break a defense. That is what I do every day.

 

The Cases I Handle

My federal criminal defense practice covers the full spectrum of serious charges, including:

  • Federal conspiracy and seditious conspiracy
  • White-collar crimes, fraud, and financial offenses
  • Federal drug trafficking and distribution charges
  • Federal weapons charges
  • Public corruption and government investigations
  • Cases involving multiple federal agencies (FBI, DEA, ATF, IRS, Secret Service)
  • Federal appeals in the Fifth Circuit and beyond

 

My Background

I grew up in Dallas, Texas and Chattanooga, Tennessee. I graduated from Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia in 1993 with a degree in History and German, then earned my law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1996. I was admitted to the Texas bar in 1997 and have been practicing criminal defense ever since.

In 2002, I served as a visiting professor of law at the University of Maria Curie-Sklodowska in Lublin, Poland, bringing an international perspective to my practice. I went on to earn my Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Law from SMU Dedman School of Law in 2003, where I was inducted into the Phi Delta Phi national legal honor fraternity. That international training has proven invaluable in federal cases involving cross-border issues, international defendants, and complex jurisdictional questions.

 

Recognition

I have been selected to the Texas Super Lawyers list — a designation reserved for the top five percent of attorneys in the state. I have been named one of the Best Lawyers in Dallas by D Magazine multiple times. I served as President of the Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association in 2010 and 2011 and am a member of the Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and the Texas Independent Bar Association. But the recognition that means the most to me is the trust my clients place in me when everything is on the line.

 

Why Deandra Grant Law

I am proud to serve as Of Counsel with Deandra Grant Law. Deandra has built one of the most respected criminal defense firms in Texas, and our combined experience gives clients access to an extraordinary depth of skill — from forensic science and DWI defense to complex federal litigation. When you hire this firm, you are not getting one attorney. You are getting a team with decades of experience at every level of the justice system.

 

If You Are Facing Federal Charges

Federal cases move fast and the consequences are severe. If you are under federal investigation, if you have been contacted by a federal agent, or if you have already been indicted, the most important thing you can do right now is talk to an attorney who understands how the federal system works. I have been doing this for more than 25 years. I have stood in federal courtrooms across this country and fought for my clients when the full weight of the United States government was on the other side. I will bring that same fight to your case.

Call Deandra Grant Law for a free consultation: (214) 617-0847

Education

  • Juris Doctor — University of Tennessee College of Law Knoxville, TN, 1996
  • Master of Laws (LL.M.), International Law — SMU Dedman School of Law Dallas, TX, 2003
  • Bachelor of Arts, History & German — Hampden-Sydney College Hampden-Sydney, VA, 1993

Bar Admissions

  • Federal District Court for Northern Texas
  • Federal District Court for Southern Texas
  • Federal District Court for Eastern Texas
  • Federal District Court for Western Texas
  • State Bar of Texas 1997

Honors & Recognition

Super Lawyers2021-2026

Professional Organizations & Memberships

State Bar of Texas
Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyers AssociationPresident, 2010-2011
Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
Texas Independent Bar Association
Dallas Criminal Defense Bar

Practice Areas

Lee's primary areas of defense.

Federal Crimes

Federal Crimes

Defense for federal investigations and charges in TX, from white collar cases to drug offenses.

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Office Locations

Deandra Grant Law locations where Lee meets with and represents clients.

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Other Attorneys

Meet the rest of the Deandra Grant Law defense team.