A Lawyer for the People
HOMETOWN PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
A 35-year veteran teacher is facing criminal charges in connection with a school-related incident. A man was arrested for felony evading when his rented car's accelerator stuck. A woman hounded by her ex-husband's lies through multiple jurisdictions. These are the people Jason Horton represents when criminal charges threaten to destroy everything they have built.
Jason has been selected as a Texas Super Lawyer in Criminal Law for years. The National Trial Lawyers Association has repeatedly named him a Top 100 Criminal Trial Lawyer. ALT Magazine readers have voted him Texarkana's Top Criminal Lawyer every year since 2015. The American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys has recognized him as one of the 10 Best Criminal Law Attorneys in Texas for Client Satisfaction.
But the accolades matter less than what clients experience. One reviewer wrote that the office answered every question immediately, even questions the client did not know to ask. Another said that by the trial date, they had complete confidence in Jason's abilities. "Jason exhibits true care and compassion for his clients that I didn't realize existed outside of movies," they wrote. His assistant, Teresa, is consistently praised alongside him for her professionalism and genuine care.
We sat down with Jason to discuss how his law practice developed and what shaped his decision to focus on criminal law.
What brought you to Texarkana?
A Texarkana law firm offered me a job before I graduated from law school in 2003. I had only driven through Texarkana once at the time, but I grew up in a very small town (Iola, Texas), and I had always enjoyed the closeness of a tight-knit community. I met my wife, Amanda, a few years later. Her family has deep roots in Texarkana, which reinforced our decision to start our family and our businesses here.
How did you get into criminal law?
I worked at that first law firm for five years and handled almost every type of case. When it was time to make a change, Jeff Harrelson was looking for help with his busy criminal practice. My plan was to devote 50% of my time to civil work and the other 50% to criminal work. I found myself enjoying criminal law more and more, and we opened Jason Horton Law in 2010 with a focus on that practice area. Looking back, I made my highest grades in law school in criminal law, legal writing, and appellate advocacy, so it all makes sense now.
What would you consider one of the biggest misconceptions about practicing criminal law?
Practicing criminal law is not all fire and brimstone. Although I have been in many trials that look just like what you see on television, that is not the reality of the day-to-day practice. You spend a lot of time counseling clients and helping them overcome some major life obstacles. You research constitutional issues to make sure your client's rights have not been violated. You discuss your cases with the prosecution in hopes of reaching a fair resolution. While I can have 40-50 court appearances in a given month, the bulk of my work is performed outside of the courtroom.
What are some tips you can give the younger generation looking to enter the field of criminal law?
Criminal cases, like all cases, involve conflict. It is one side versus another. If you cannot handle conflict rationally, you will struggle. As a younger lawyer, I struggled with the feeling that I had to undo the circumstances that brought my client to my office. But, as John Stroud, III used to say, you cannot file a "Motion to Change the Facts." You must accept the facts and work with them.
People who trust you enough to hire you are taking a risk. They are incurring a financial burden and putting their lives and their livelihoods in your hands. You can make a huge difference in a person's life just by keeping your word, listening, and advocating his or her position in a persuasive but objective manner. If you can do all of this while maintaining a position of integrity with your opponent and the judiciary, you will find yourself with a rewarding career with no ceiling on what you can accomplish or the number of people you can help.
What insight can you share after over 20 years in practice?
The Constitution mandates that people are innocent until proven guilty and guarantees all citizens a trial by jury represented by an effective lawyer. I do not believe the framers of the Constitution envisioned citizens using these rights as a shield against accepting responsibility for their actions. While I believe guilty people can, and oftentimes should, go free if their constitutional rights have been violated, I also believe that our criminal justice system works properly when citizens accept responsibility for their actions and a just punishment is levied.
If you decide to take a case, you must go all-in, treat your client with respect, and do the best you can with what you have. Over time, you may find there are certain types of cases you are not best suited to handle. You may look at cases differently once you get married and start a family of your own. You may find that you enjoy research and writing over courtroom battles. The key is to give your max effort during the process and live and practice by the Four Agreements: (1) be impeccable with your word, (2) do not take things personally, (3) always do your best, and (4) do not assume anything. The rest will take care of itself.
Whether facing charges that seem insurmountable or navigating a justice system that feels overwhelming, Jason Horton and his team provide the steady guidance and fierce advocacy their clients need. Jason Horton Law continues to serve Texarkana and the surrounding region with the same commitment to integrity and excellence that has defined the practice for over two decades.
Jason Horton Law
3315 Texas Boulevard
Texarkana, Texas 75503
903-792-2000
jasonhortonlaw.com
