James Jeffrey DeWitt

JAMES J. DEWITT

222 N. Fredonia St., Longview, TX 75601 ● ●

ATTORNEY

Solutions-focused, accomplished attorney with 13+ years’ experience providing strategic legal advice and support in public and private sectors.  Specialized in criminal law, family and juvenile law, and civil litigation initiatives with proven ability to conduct legal research, analysis, document drafting, litigating matters and negotiating resolutions. Outstanding colleague distinguished for exceptional communication skills, form strategic partnerships, and effectively build key partner relationships. 

KEY STRENGTHS

Criminal Law ● Family & Juvenile Law ● Civil Litigation ● Jury & Bench Trials ● Case Management & Negotiations ● Formal Mediations ● Trial Preparation & LitigationResearch ● Rapport Builder ● Exceptional Communication Skills

ACHIEVEMENTS

Named One of Top Attorneys in East Texas in BSCENE Magazine, 2005 & 2006Pro Bono Award of Merit in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2009

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

THE DEWITT LAW FIRM PC, LONGVIEW, TX

ATTORNEY AT LAW, 2000-2013

CRIMINAL LAW

•Handled 50+ cases involving misdemeanor or felony matters carried to a jury trial and other resolved by bench trial in numerous counties throughout Texas.

•Applied criminal case expertise in range of cases, including pre-indictment issues in felony matters, procedures prior to filing criminal information in misdemeanor matters, conducting discovery for pre-trial and trial motions, and creating trial notebooks for trial preparation.

•Versed in Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Texas Panel Code and Texas Rules of Evidence.

FAMILY AND JUVENILE LAW

•Managed all areas governed under Texas Family Code, including divorce, modification of prior orders, enforcement, and child protective service cases.

•Conducted numerous matters requiring discovery requests and responses, including participating in depositions, settlement negotiations and formal mediations.

•Participated in 75-100 CPS cases, representing parents and children.

•Represented over 1,000 individuals in divorces, modifications and motions for enforcement, and contempt actions for violating a previously valid judicial order.

•Versed in Texas Family Code, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, and Texas Rules of Evidence.

CIVIL LITIGATION

•Represented clients in contract disputes, landlord-tenant issues, personal injury cases and various probate matters.

•Conducted numerous discovery matters for trial preparation, including requests for admissions and requests for interrogatories and responses.

•Participated in depositions, settlement negotiations and formal mediations.

•Versed in Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, Texas Probate Code and Texas Rules of Evidence.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, Oklahoma City, OK, Doctorate of Jurisprudence, 1998

SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY, Dallas, TX, B.B.A., Marketing, 1993

KILGORE COLLEGE, Kilgore, TX, General Studies, 1991

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE:  WestLaw, Nexis-Lexis, PowerPoint, MS Word, Word Perfect, Pro-Doc, CaseMaker, TimeSlips

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

STATE BAR OF TEXAS, Member, 1999-Present

NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION, Member

TCDLA, Member

GREGG COUNTY DEFENSE BAR, Member

GREGG COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION, President, 2006-2007

GREGG COUNTY FAMILY LAW COUNCIL, Member

LAKEPORT, TEXAS, City Attorney

TEEN COURT IN GREGG COUNTY, Member & Judge

HONORABLE JUDGE ROBIN SAGE’S ALTERNATIVE DRUG COURT DIVERSIONARY PROGRAM, Attorney

In August 2013, I was unexpectedly diagnosed with an infection in a prior joint replacement that forced me to close my above practice in October, 2013. I subsequently underwent eight major surgeries to preserve my leg and my life. Now, as of November, 2016, after very hard work, a great self-determination to succeed in my recovery, and through the help of my family and great medical team, I am looking forward to returning to the practice of law! I believe it is an honor and a privilege to be allowed to practice law and it is a bonus to do a job I truly love. I look forward to the near future and the return to being in the courtroom, presenting a case to a jury, or just meeting old and new clients and hoping they understand I am a better lawyer, but even better person after the life experiences I have been through the previous three years. If you are looking for an attorney with the compassion to understand the pain and stress you are experiencing, but the fortitude and self-determination to never give up, never quit, fight til you can't fight anymore, and represent you in a court of law with confidence, experience, and the intangibles that only one acquires through life, I assure you I will provide the best and most aggressive legal representation the law and the facts will allow. I thank you for those that have inquired about my health and know it inspired me to work hard to get back to helping my clients resolve their legal problems. I hope to see you soon and when I return to the practice of law, I will update my information on all sites including a new website and other means to disseminate my current information. Although the top of the page states my former Longview location, I am currently in Columbus, Texas finishing rehabbing my leg, but as previously mentioned, I will update my information as soon as it becomes available.  I am

Sincerely,

Jay DeWitt