Cole Sumner Nettles

Cole S. Nettles is a Dallas criminal defense attorney and Senior Trial Attorney at Michael & Associates Criminal Defense Attorneys. Licensed to practice law in Texas since 2016, Cole represents clients facing misdemeanor and felony criminal charges throughout North Texas. His practice focuses exclusively on criminal defense, including DWI, assault, drug offenses, theft crimes, weapons charges, probation violations, and other serious criminal matters.

Cole brings experience from both sides of the courtroom to every case. Before joining Michael & Associates, he served as an Assistant District Attorney with the Kendall County Criminal District Attorney's Office, where he prosecuted felony and misdemeanor cases and gained firsthand insight into how prosecutors evaluate evidence, make charging decisions, negotiate plea agreements, and prepare cases for trial. Earlier in his career, he served as an Assistant County Attorney with the Kendall County Attorney's Office, prosecuting misdemeanor offenses and handling county legal matters.

Today, Cole applies that prosecutorial experience to defending individuals accused of crimes. He represents clients at every stage of the criminal justice process, from investigation and arrest through plea negotiations, motion practice, and trial preparation. His DWI practice includes first-offense DWI, repeat DWI allegations, and cases involving complex evidentiary and constitutional issues. He is known for his methodical case preparation, attention to detail, and commitment to protecting his clients' constitutional rights.

Cole earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government from The University of Texas at San Antonio before receiving his Juris Doctor from Texas A&M University School of Law in 2015. His legal education, combined with his prosecutorial background, enables him to identify weaknesses in the government's evidence, anticipate prosecution strategies, and develop defense strategies tailored to each client's unique circumstances.

About Michael & Associates Criminal Defense Attorneys

Michael & Associates Criminal Defense Attorneys is a criminal defense firm with a unique model: the high-touch, personalized attention of a boutique firm, backed by the resources and collective experience of a 40+ lawyer defense team.

Every client is assigned a dedicated Senior Trial Attorney who owns the defense from intake through resolution. That attorney focuses on a specific county and court — practicing there regularly and knowing the judges, the prosecutors, and the local tendencies that shape outcomes. Cases are not rotated, reassigned, or passed to junior attorneys (the firm doesn't employ any).

Behind that lead attorney is a team of forty criminal-defense lawyers with more than 1,000 jury trials between them, including attorneys Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, ten Super Lawyers honorees, ACS-CHAL Forensic DWI Lawyer-Scientists, former prosecutors, former judges, and former law-enforcement professionals, including a former FBI agent.

That structure gives clients the 40-on-1 advantage: one senior lawyer leading your case, backed by the collective knowledge of 40+ criminal-defense attorneys. It means the prosecutor is not up against one lawyer — they're up against a brain trust.

The firm's main metric is client satisfaction, which is measured using standard CSAT surveys to every client at the conclusion of the case. The firm has achieved a 98.5% client satisfaction rate based on 1,840 survey responses. The full breakdown by case type is below:

• DWI: 97.8% CSAT (781 responses)
• Assault & Domestic Violence: 99.5% CSAT (368 responses)
• Other: 98.7% CSAT (158 responses)
• Drug Charges: 98.6% CSAT (142 responses)
• Motion to Revoke Probation: 97.8% CSAT (134 responses)
• Theft & Fraud: 100% CSAT (106 responses)
• Driving Offenses: 98.7% CSAT (75 responses)
• Weapons: 98.1% CSAT (52 responses)
• Sex Offenses: 100% CSAT (24 responses)

Data from September 2022 through May 6, 2026.

The firm's 2025 trial record was 65% favorable outcomes with a 50% outright acquittal rate. A 5.0 rating on Google. More than 1,400 five-star reviews on Google, Avvo, BBB, and Martindale, an A+ BBB rating, and combined criminal-defense experience exceeding 540 years. Attorney caseloads run well below ABA recommendations. Case reviews are free. No trial fees - ever.

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