Jill S. Gately

          I am licensed to practice law in the state of Texas and Massachusetts.  I have spent the majority of my career representing criminal defendants at every level and jurisdiction.  My practice includes but is not limited to work in the Juvenile, District and Superior Court on clerk’s hearings, RMV hearings, restraining and / or harassment order hearings, limited appeals, SORB and sexually dangerous person commitment proceedings.  I also worked in domestic relations and have working knowledge of immigration laws.  Many of my criminal clients had immigration issues that had to be addressed and accommodated before their cases could be resolved.  I have litigated and won several Motions for new trial under Padilla.

            I have had many trials with varying degrees of difficulty, including but not limited to the youngest murder defendant in the country (9), aggravated rapes, drunk driving, domestic / family violence, shoplifting and firearms.  I am well known for success on evidentiary motions and creative alternative dispute resolutions.  I am presently writing mitigation reports for CAPDS attorneys with clients incarcerated at Del Valle.

            One of my greatest strengths is my ability to prevent arraignments, indictments and dismissals pretrial.  I have been very successful in preventing arraignment on several sexual assault cases in the past several years.  I am known for thinking outside the box, creative solutions and/or Motions that never leave any stone unturned.  While I tend to spend a great deal of time in the pretrial phase, it has always served to benefit my clients. 

            I am one of the only attorneys I know who have been able to have 3 separate Rape complaints amended to John Doe complaints after arraignment so they will cease to exist on the defendant’s record.  It is that sort of creativity that has given me what I believe to be a good and solid reputation for excellent defense within the Juvenile and criminal bar.