Michael Robert Latimer

My interest in the law came about during my first years of college at the State University of New York.  I had a keen interest in history, Amercian and English history, and a desire to learn about anything I could get my hands on.  During college I worked for the New York State Attorney General in the Consumer Fraud and Protection Bureau then I worked for the New York State Senate and was able to rub shoulders with Lt. Governor Mario Cuomo. 

Although able to attend law school in the Northeast, I tired of shoveling snow off the hood of the car, I decided to go South.  I attended my last year of High School in Chihuahua, Mexico.  I returned to school in Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico. I loved the people and language of Mexico.  I wanted to continue to use Spanish and I sought a school close to Mexico. I attended St. Mary's School of Law graduating in 1987 ( I also took law clases at University of Texas Law School in Austin).

With my interest in constitutional law, I believe my practice which is primarily employment / labor law and criminal law is logical.  Both deal with individual rights and constitutional law.  

In my employment / labor practice, I represent both employers and employees (not in the same case!).  The federal and state statutes that define the relationship between employers and employees are complex and are ever-changing through court interpretation.  I have written a deskbook on employment law that divides the complex laws on a conceptual basis for easy use by the practitioner.

In my criminal practice, I defend the accused, from murder to drug cases.  I have also been and continue to be a municipal prosecutor for almost twenty years.  I have been a municipal judge for almost twenty several years.  I am often hired to get involved in a criminal case to determine if evidence can be suppressed (whether statements made by the accused or physical evidence seized by law enforcement). I have secured dismissal in many cases because evidence could not be used.  I prevailed on suppression issues in the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and another in the Third Court of Appeals in Austin.  I see first-hand as a city prosecutor the application of the principles of reasonable suspicion, probable cause, and the necessary and proper procedure to get evidence in.

I conduct training for police officers on the proper application of the principles in the Texas Constitution and the U.S. Constitution involving police encounters with citizens in regards to searches and seizures.

 Apart from the law, and after my involvement with my children, tennis is my joy.  I try to play three to four times a week.  Tennis anyone???