New! AI Legal Avatar — Get 24/7 Answers on Texas Criminal Law, Penalties, & Defenses

Federal Courts Where We Defend Criminal Cases

At Deandra Grant Law, our federal criminal defense practice is led by Attorney James Lee Bright, who holds one of the broadest federal court admission profiles of any criminal defense attorney in Texas. Lee is admitted to practice in seven federal courts:

• United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
• United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
• United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
• United States District Court for the District of Columbia
• United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• Supreme Court of the United States

This means that wherever in Texas your federal case is assigned and wherever your appeal may be heard, Lee is already admitted and ready to represent you. No pro hac vice applications, no delays, no jurisdictional limitations.

Northern District of Texas

The Northern District is our home court. It covers 100 counties across North Texas and the Texas Panhandle, with courthouses in Dallas, Fort Worth, Abilene, Amarillo, Lubbock, San Angelo, and Wichita Falls. The Northern District is one of the busiest federal courts in the country for criminal cases, with heavy dockets in drug trafficking, firearms offenses, fraud, immigration, and child exploitation. The Dallas and Fort Worth divisions handle the majority of criminal cases. The Northern District is also home to a dedicated Healthcare Fraud Strike Force and active DEA and ATF task force operations. Lee has extensive experience before the judges in the Northern District and understands the local practices, pretrial procedures, and sentencing tendencies that can influence outcomes.

Eastern District of Texas

The Eastern District covers 95 counties in East Texas, with courthouses in Sherman, Plano, Beaumont, Tyler, Texarkana, Marshall, and Lufkin. The Sherman and Plano divisions are particularly relevant for federal defendants in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, as many Collin County and Denton County residents fall within the Eastern District’s jurisdiction. The Eastern District has an active criminal docket in drug trafficking, firearms, fraud, and immigration cases. Lee’s admission to the Eastern District means DFW-area clients whose cases are assigned to Sherman or Plano divisions do not need to find a separate attorney.

Southern District of Texas

The Southern District covers 43 counties in South and Southeast Texas, with courthouses in Houston, Galveston, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, Laredo, McAllen, and Victoria. The Southern District handles a significant volume of drug trafficking, immigration, money laundering, and firearms cases, particularly in the border divisions. For clients with cases in the Southern District who want representation from the DGL team, Lee’s admission eliminates the need for local counsel referrals.

Western District of Texas

The Western District covers 68 counties in Central, West, and South Texas, with courthouses in San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, Del Rio, Midland-Odessa, Waco, and Pecos. The Western District’s docket includes heavy drug trafficking and immigration caseloads in the border divisions and a growing financial crime docket in Austin and San Antonio. Lee’s admission to the Western District ensures seamless representation for clients across the full geographic span of federal prosecution in Texas.

District of Columbia

Lee’s admission to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia reflects his nationally significant federal trial experience. Lee tried a three-month federal trial in the District of Columbia that brought national prominence and was covered by legal and news organizations around the world. This is not a nominal admission — it represents real trial experience in one of the highest-profile federal courts in the country.

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, based in New Orleans, hears all federal criminal appeals from the Northern, Eastern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas (as well as Louisiana and Mississippi). Lee’s admission to the Fifth Circuit means he can represent clients through the entire federal process from pretrial motions through trial, sentencing and appeal.

Supreme Court of the United States

Lee’s admission to the Supreme Court of the United States is the highest level of federal court admission available to any attorney. While the Supreme Court accepts very few criminal cases each term, the admission reflects Lee’s standing within the federal criminal defense bar and his commitment to practicing at the highest level.

Why Broad Federal Admission Matters

Many federal criminal defense attorneys in the DFW area are admitted only to the Northern District of Texas. When a client’s case is assigned to the Eastern, Southern, or Western District, those attorneys must either refer the case to another firm or apply for temporary pro hac vice admission which requires local sponsor counsel, additional fees, and court approval. Lee’s seven-court admission profile eliminates all of these barriers. Wherever your case is anywhere in Texas, the District of Columbia, or the Fifth Circuit, Lee is already admitted, already experienced, and ready to defend you.

Contact Deandra Grant Law

If you are facing federal criminal charges anywhere in Texas, contact us for a free, confidential consultation with Attorney James Lee Bright. Call (214) 225-7117 or schedule an appointment online.