James Ralph Aulbaugh III

Criminal defense Attorney at Dallas, TX

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Resume

Beyond Phenomenal

MUST HAVE ATTORNEY..!!

About James

Learn James’s areas of practice.

Practice areas

Criminal defense

70%

DWI, Misdemeanor Assault, Felony Assault, Theft, Burglary, Indecency, Prostitution, Drug Possession, Manufacturing or Delivery

15 years, 1,500 cases
DUI and DWI

10%

Driving While Intoxicated (both felony and misdemeanor), Public Intoxication, Obstruction of a Passageway, Intoxication Assault, Intoxication Manslaughter, Felony Murder (DWI 3rd Prior)

15 years, 800 cases
Sex crime

10%

Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, Indecency with a Child, Possession of Child Pornography, Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child, Sexual Assault

15 years, 25 cases
Personal injury

5%
White collar crime

5%

Board Certified Criminal Defense Attorney. Former Chief Felony Prosecutor.

James Aulbaugh is one of the most sought after trial attorneys in the State, representing individuals in the Texas and Federal criminal justice systems, from initial investigation through trial.

James Aulbaugh is a graduate of Texas A&M University (B.S. A. Economics), the Texas Tech University Rawls College of Business (Master of Business Administration) and the Texas Tech University School of Law (Doctorate of Jurisprudence).

After law school, James Aulbaugh served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office for 13 years. During that time, James was assigned thousands of cases to prosecute, ranging from misdemeanors to Capital Murders. Outside of trial, James quickly developed a reputation for reasonableness, acute case analysis, fairness, and integrity while plea bargaining over a thousand cases and dismissing hundreds more. While in trial, James is known to be exceptionally well prepared, critically analytical, and incredibly persuasive to both Judge and Jury. James has participated in over 120 jury trials. As lead prosecutor, James never lost a capital felony trial, first degree felony trial, second degree felony trial, or third degree felony trial.

James held a number of leadership positions while at the Dallas County District Attorney’s office, including Felony Chief Trial Court Prosecutor and Misdemeanor Division Deputy Chief Prosecutor, where he was responsible for the oversight and training of 35 prosecutors. James was also tasked with the training of rookie police officers at numerous municipality police academies in the skills necessary for successful prosecution.

In July 2021, James left the District Attorney’s office to establish the Aulbaugh Law Firm. James now uses his skills, resources, and expertise in the defense of those accused of crimes and those injured by another’s negligence.

As of 2021, of the 106,591 attorneys in the State of Texas, James Aulbaugh is 1 of only 800 attorneys who are Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Notable Cases:
State of Texas vs. David Rickerson – Result: Life Sentence

State of Texas vs. Jeremy Ward – Result: 80 year sentence

State of Texas vs. Leonard Mornes – Result: Life Sentence without Parole

Photos and videos

Licensed for 14 years

State TX

Status Eligible to Practice in Texas

Acquired 2008

Updated 02/04/2023

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

Contact James

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Reviews

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5.0 / 5.0

24 customer reviews

5 Star

100%

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1 Star

Posted by James | February 23, 2023

Beyond Phenomenal

Obtaining the right lawyer is as crucial as obtaining the right doctor or physician. Mr. Aulbaugh not only reassured my family and me that we were in good hands, but he also demonstrated this through his actions. He was beyond thorough in investigating the matter, additionally, in light of the severity of the ordeal, Mr. Aulbaugh took the time out to further counsel me. I am truly thankful for his service, it was a blessing to have him in my corner.

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Posted by Cashea | February 20, 2023

MUST HAVE ATTORNEY..!!

Hands down the most amazing attorney at work I have ever seen. He gives u more that what money could ever buy. In a county where every attorney I've spoken to about my cases,they have majority flat out refused to work in that county ... But JAME AULBAUGH got me reinstated after running for almost 3 yrs. No prison time,, LIKE A BREEZE. Life changer here.

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Posted by anonymous | January 24, 2023

Best representation I have ever had!!!!!

He met with me he lined out his plan, payment, you get what you pay for with him

Posted by Brandon | November 18, 2022

Best Lawyer EVER

I’m on probation for 4 felony charges and i caught a new Felony charge. He got the case dismissed. I’ve had plenty of high profile lawyers and this is literally the BEST experience I’ve ever had. If your reading this I’ll STRONGLY advise you to hire him !!!

Posted by anonymous | November 14, 2022

Truly Exceptional

James is exceptional. He is easily reachable but more importantly he knows how the system works and what it takes to get you the best possible outcome. Highly recommend James without any reservation.

Posted by Bobby | September 23, 2022

Ty Hedric. "Posting Publicly "!

This guy for me is the best criminal defense lawyer I know. "He takes care of business!"

Posted by anonymous | September 21, 2022

Criminal case dismissed

I really appreciate Mr James for his work .He was kind and compassionate friendly all through the process responded to my calls, texts and I was waiting to return to my home country.My class B misademenor case was dismissed even me before going to court .I m really blessed to meet James .Thanks once again

Posted by Mikell | September 16, 2022

Easy Decision

I highly recommend James! Gets the job done professionally and in a timely manner.

Posted by Jonathan | September 14, 2022

A cut above

James is professional, knowledgeable, and responsive. He provides more than just representation - his experience and steady hand bring peace of mind. You definitely want him on your side.

Posted by Yvette | August 29, 2022

EXCELLENT SERVICE!

THIS MAN IS HEAVEN SENT AND WAS DETERMINED FROM DAY ONE TO HAVE MY KIDS FATHER BACK HOME TO THEM ASAP! HE WASTED NO TIME AND ALWAYS MEANT BUSINESS. HE IS MONEY WELL SPENT AND WOULD USE HIM ALL OVER AGAIN FOR ANY SITUATION! MY FIANCÉ WAS FACING YEARS IN TDC BUT HE WENT IN THERE A GOT THINGS DONE. HE STAYED CALM AND COLLECTIVE AND MADE SURE I DID AS WELL. NEXT THING YOU KNOW I RECEIVE THE BEST NEWS EVER. HE MADE OUR FAMILY WHOLE AGAIN. SO DO I RECOMMEND MR. AULBAUGH? HECK YEAH!!

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Posted by Daniel | August 24, 2022

Best lawyer

This Man right here Mr. James is a true professional and a expert on what he does you can see right away he loves his job, he is really understanding and takes care of you, he made me feel more like a friend than a client, I had nothing to worry about while he was working on my case. I highly recommend Mr. James you will not regret it trust me, he will fight for you and won’t stop till he gets what’s best for you.

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Posted by anonymous | May 9, 2022

Aulbaugh is the best !!!!!

James Aulbaugh is amazing and is service is fantastic! James was so helpful and took care of everything and made it so easy for me. Can't say enough about the experience!

Posted by anonymous | March 28, 2022

A Stellar Attorney

Mr. Aulbaugh was here for my husband and me during a very traumatic time. My emotional support animal was mauled by a vicious off-leash, un-collared pit-bull mix. My dog suffered horrible injuries and I received bite marks on both of my ankles. I was able to track the dog down. It belonged to a new neighbor. We tried to work with the owner in a neighborly way, but he was not being cooperative, lied, although we had a picture of the dog and Animal Control determined that it was the same dog after having the owner bring the dog in for quarantine. We requested payment for the vet bills and my bill from the ER. We didn’t want to sue, but only get reimbursed for our out of pocket expenses. Tragically my dog had to be put down one week later from the attack. Because the owner was in denial, and was being very sketchy about the whole incident, we decided we needed to engage an attorney. We reached out to Mr. Aulbaugh and he got on the case immediately! He worked diligently with us, keeping us constantly informed and also showed a great deal of compassion for us in this very traumatic situation. To say he was exceptional is an understatement. He was able to obtain payment to offset our out-of- pockets plus some additional money from a very difficult owner who did not have homeowner’s insurance. We highly recommend Mr. Aubaugh and his services! He is very honest, professional, proactive, dependable and very knowledgeable with excellent advice. He has the highest integrity. And he will fight for you! Jeanine and John VanSickle

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Posted by Jeff | March 12, 2022

...immediate game changer, especially in critical times

To find an attorney who answers the phone not only the first time, but just about every time is a rarity. Maybe I shouldn’t set the expectation that high, but combined with genuine compassion and experience, James Aulbaugh’s standards meet the highest and best. I was fortunate enough to receive a referral from another well-respected attorney… another one of those, “if I was in your shoes, he’s who I would call.” James was quick to respond getting us into his office that afternoon, making us his priority and left feeling like we were his best if not only client. His attentiveness to our family situation was delt with in surgical precision, based on his guidance and direction we immediately felt at ease. James’ network within the community makes him an immediate game changer, especially in critical times. He also made the financial component easy to understand and reasonable. At the end of the day the value is there, period. When searching for someone who is reliable in time of great need, look no further… and remember that time is critical.

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Posted by Rusty | December 17, 2021

Look no further

If you need a criminal defense attorney, look no further. James is professional, experienced, friendly and accessible. He was able to remove much of the stress from the situation and resolve it in a remarkably short amount of time. If you need a defense attorney then call James, you will not be disappointed.

Posted by anonymous | December 15, 2021

Best out there

Mr. Aulbaugh is the best! He was very professional and got the job done. He was able to expedite as well as drop my charges. He was always there for me and always very, very responsive. 10/10 recommend to hire him as your next lawyer!

Posted by anonymous | December 14, 2021

Best lawyer I've had

Anyone in need of a great Criminal Defense Attorney, James Aulbaugh is the person to use. He is the real deal and is available for his clients at any time. From the time he takes your case, he wastes no time in getting results. He is professional, yet personable and kind and communicates regularly so you never have to worry what is going on. Mr. Aulbaugh is attentive, passionate and persistent. Thank you I am grateful for your service. I would recommend him to anyone and tell them to take him, don't mess around or waste your time looking for anyone else.

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Posted by anonymous | December 11, 2021

The Best Defense Attorney

My first experience with having to hire a defense attorney couldn't have been better. A family member was in an unfortunate legal situation which could only be resolved in the courts with competent representation. Since attorneys many times tend to get a bad rap, I didn't really know what to expect. Lucky for me Mr. James Aulbaugh was recommended to me by a dear friend. Once I explained the situation, he set my mind at ease by assuring me he'd do everything possible to get the issue resolved. Mr. Aulbaugh immediately arranged a meeting with us, gathered all details, quoted a flat price, and assured us he'd go to work on the case that day. In less than 2-3 weeks Mr. Aulbaugh worked and achieved a favorable discharge of the case without having to go to trial and assured us he would follow up and do everything necessary to expunge the arrest in a timely manner. I would describe Mr. Aulbaugh as not only extremely competent as a defense counsel, but also a kind and understanding man - one who makes himself available at any time and puts his client first. I strongly recommend him if you find yourself in an unfortunate legal situation as we did. He'll be the #1 advocate in your corner.

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Posted by Charity | October 29, 2021

James doesn’t lose!

James doesn’t lose! He is amazing, caring, thorough, and compassionate. He fought for me and made me feel so at ease with my case. I didn’t have to worry about a thing. He would check on me and make sure I was ok regularly. Honestly I’ve never felt so comfortable that an attorney was so capable of taking care of everything. Thank you James for all your hard work and taking a stressful situation and making me feel so at ease! I will recommend you to anyone and everyone needing an incredible attorney who DOES NOT LOSE!

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Posted by Stephen | October 17, 2021

Aulbaugh Places You At The Front Of The Line

James Aulbaugh is a calm, professional, thorough litigator. He can provides satisfactory resolution to pending litigation. He also constructs options in adversarial situations where none seem to exist. Aulbaugh has more than decade experience on both sides of the court room. His trial experience serves his clients well whether the issue is major or minor. Aulbaugh’s concierge service provides peace of mind from honest, deliberate representation.

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Cost

Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

Managing Partner
The Aulbaugh Law Firm, PLLC
2021 - Present

Assistant District Attorney
Dallas County District Attorney's Office
2008 - 2021

Assosicate
Bourland, Wall & Wenzel, PC
2007 - 2008

Education

Texas Tech University School of Law
Doctor of Jurisprudence/Juris Doctor (J.D.)
2007

Texas Tech University
MBA - Master of Business Administration
2007

Texas A&M University
BS - Bachelor of Science
2005

Legal Cases

State of Texas vs. S.P.
No Bill by Grand Jury

Lead Prosecutor - State of Texas vs. Jeremy Ward
80 year sentence

Lead Prosecutor - State of Texas vs. David Rickerson
Conviction with Life Sentence

View all legal cases

Associations

Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
Member
2021 - Present

Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
Member
2021 - Present

Dallas Bar Association
Member
2021 - Present

Collin County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
Member
2021 - Present

Dallas Bar Association
Member
2008 - 2011

TDCAA - Texas District & County Attorney Associati
Member
2008 - 2021

View all associations

Languages Spoken

English

Honors and Awards

AV Preeminent Rated
Martindale-Hubbell
2021

Client's Choice
Avvo
2021

Top 100 Trial Lawyers
National Trial Lawyers
2021

Ten Year Service
Dallas County
2018

View all awards

Publications

TCDLA
Texas Punishment: A Source Book for Defense Lawyers - Immigration Update
2007

Speaking Engagements

Prosecutors Trial Skills Course
Voir Dire - Live Presentation
2019

Attorney endorsements

Received (13)

Given (44)

Endorse James

Dax Pueschel

Criminal defense Attorney | Oct 22
Relationship: Worked together on matter

"James & I worked together for several years in the 194th in Dallas Co. I was a Court Probation Officer & he was an Assistant District Attorney. I learned a ton from James & eventually became a criminal defense attorney myself & still value the knowledge I gained from him while we worked together. His work ethic, character, & listening skills are top-notch. He's pragmatic & flexible. His experience as a prosecutor in multiple roles is priceless & gives him a serious edge in criminal defense. Don't hesitate to choose James as your advocate."

Amanda Branan

Criminal defense Attorney | Oct 18
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. James is an excellent attorney who cares about his clients. I highly recommend him."

Mark Lassiter

Criminal defense Attorney | Oct 17
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. Excellent attorney who will fight for justice."

Greggory Gallian

Criminal defense Attorney | Sep 07
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"James' work ethic is top notch and he works tirelessly to achieve great results. I endorse this lawyer."

Kevin Harris

Criminal defense Attorney | Sep 03
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I've worked with and against James on previous cases. He is always extremely prepared and very knowledgeable of the facts and issues of his case. Always very smooth and comfortable in the courtroom. A client would be well served by his representation. I endorse this lawyer."

Clark Birdsall

Criminal defense Attorney | Aug 30
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"James is thorough and will represent you well. His knowledge of the law and familiarity with the system makes him a force to contend with. And on top of that, he is honest and will take your case seriously"

Keith Harris

Criminal defense Attorney | Aug 29
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I've known James for almost 15 years. He's a hard worker, and takes his cases and clients seriously. He cares about his clients, and has the trial and courthouse experience to serve his clients well. I endorse this lawyer."

Brian Poe

Criminal defense Attorney | Aug 22
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"James is well respected throughout the courthouse. He is always prepared and never afraid to tackle difficult issues. As a result, he is a fantastic advocate for his clients."

Mark Hendrickson

Criminal defense Attorney | Aug 19
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I endorse this lawyer."

Mariola Michalska

Criminal defense Attorney | Aug 19
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer with no reservation. An extremely, knowledgable talented and well respected attorney in the legal community. Very hardworking and diligent. Consistently achieves superior results. Advice is always practical and on point. I recommend to anyone."

Michael Howard

Criminal defense Attorney | Aug 12
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have known James for years and worked as opposing counsel on cases where he was the prosecutor. He was always intelligent, well-prepared, fair, and ethical. I am sure James will bring the same level of intelligence and preparedness combined with compassion for his clients to his criminal defense practice. I cannot recommend James highly enough."

Clayton Smith

Criminal defense Attorney | Aug 02
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I've known James for 10+ years, he is a great lawyer. I endorse this lawyer."