Fighting For The Underdog
Biography
Austin, Texas based criminal defense lawyer, E. G. "Gerry" Morris, has since 1977 represented individuals accused of state and federal crimes, both in trial and on appeal. He is Board Certified as a Criminal Law Specialist by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He has been elected by other criminal defense attorneys to leadership positions in both state and national organizations. He served as president of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association during the 1997-98 term. He also was a past president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers for 2015-2016 and remains a member of the board of directors.
The legal community as a whole has, through peer rating, given him recognition as being among the top lawyers in the state.
Perhaps the best-known trial in which Mr. Morris was involved was the "Branch Davidian Trial." In that case Mr. Morris won an acquittal on all charges for his client.
Education
- The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas
- J.D. - 1977
- Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX
- B.S.
- Honors: cum laude
- Major: Political Science
Bar Admissions
- Texas, 1977
- U.S. District Court Western District of Texas, 1981
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas, 1994
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, 1994
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas, 1982
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1994
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1981
- U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1981
Professional Associations
- Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, President, 1997 to 1998
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, President, 2015 to 2016
- Criminal Law and Procedure Section, Travis County Bar, Former Chair
Honors
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
- "AV" Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
- Fellow, American Board of Criminal Lawyers
- Recognized by the Best Lawyers in America each year since 1995. Honored in 2012 as part of Best Lawyers in non white collar criminal defense in the Austin area by the publication. (Best Lawyers in America Recognition is a BL Rankings Service)
- Named in Texas Monthly Magazine as one of Texas’ Super Lawyers in the area of criminal defense, 2003 – present year. (Super Lawyers Recognition is a Thomson Reuters Service)
Classes & Seminars
- Sex Offenses in Texas, Criminal Defense Lawyer's Project (CDLP), 1999
- Extraneous Offenses, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association (TCDLA) Advanced Criminal Law Short Course, 1999
- Developing The Defensive Theory and Avoiding Extraneous Offenses, Lubbock Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2000
- Overview of Defending Child Abuse Allegations, TCLA Advanced Criminal Law Short Course, 2000
- Why We Do What We Do, CDLP Essential Trial Notebook Series, 2000
- How to Obtain Expert Assistance, TCLA Advanced Criminal Law Short Course, 2001
- Joint Defense Agreements - Good, Bad or Ugly, TCLA Federal Short Course, 2001
- Developing the Defensive Theory and Avoiding Extraneous Offenses, CDLP Developing the Theory of the Case Denton, Texas, 2001
- Cross-Examination of the Counselor and Caseworker in a Sexual Assault Case, TCDLA Cross-Examination Seminar Austin, 2001
- Expert Witnesses, State Bar of Texas Advanced Criminal Law Course, 2001
Certified Legal Specialties
- Criminal Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1983