Freud Law P.C.Texas Criminal Appellate Law Firm

Texas Criminal Appellate & Post-Conviction Defense

We tell your story to the appellate decision makers who matter.

Gone to court? Been convicted? Freud Law P.C. defends you and your rights post-conviction across Texas, from a motion for new trial to the Court of Criminal Appeals.

Schedule a consultation How we can help

(254) 307-3384jessi@freudlaw.com

The Heman Marion Sweatt Travis County Courthouse in Austin
Heman Marion Sweatt Travis County Courthouse, Austin

After a conviction

We can stay with your case at every stage.

From a motion for new trial, through briefing and rehearing, to the highest criminal court in the state, and, if needed and appropriate, on to post-conviction habeas once the conviction is final.

  1. Motion for new trial

    Trial court

  2. Direct appeal

    Court of appeals

  3. Motion for rehearing

    Court of appeals

  4. Petition for discretionary review

    Court of Criminal Appeals

  5. 11.07 writ of habeas corpus

    After the conviction is final

Practice areas

Learn how we can help you today.

We believe the best way to meet each client's legal challenges is to understand their case and their life, so we can tell their story to the appellate decision makers who matter.

Motions for New Trial & Direct Appeals

The first chance to reverse your conviction

We can handle your direct appeal, beginning with a motion for new trial all the way through briefing, a motion for rehearing, and onto a petition for discretionary review to the highest criminal court in the state, the Court of Criminal Appeals.

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Post-Conviction Writs of Habeas Corpus

You have one chance to get it right

An 11.07 writ challenges the validity of a conviction once it is final. It is a client's chance to build the case outside the trial record the court of appeals reviewed. The general rule is one 11.07 writ, so it is crucial to work with a practitioner who knows these filings well.

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Early Discharge, Non-Disclosures & Expunctions

More work can be done to put this behind you

Not every conviction can be overturned, but there are other remedies. We can try to get you off probation early and evaluate your eligibility for a non-disclosure. Completed a diversion or specialty program? You may be eligible for an expunction.

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Jessica Shaye Freud standing in a courtroom

About Jessi

Jessica ‘Jessi’ Shaye Freud

Criminal Defense Attorney

Jessi exclusively practices criminal appellate law: motions for new trial, direct appeals, post-conviction DNA motions, 11.07 writs and other post-conviction remedies, representing Texans statewide. She has argued before the Court of Criminal Appeals, the highest criminal court in Texas, as well as intermediate appellate courts across the state.

Between 2015 and 2023, Jessi tried over 30 misdemeanor and felony cases to verdict, including murder, aggravated sexual assault and aggravated robbery. She joined the Innocence Project of Texas as a staff attorney in 2018, where she focuses on post-conviction DNA litigation and special litigation projects and co-teaches an innocence clinic.

Before law, she worked as a production assistant for a cable news network and as a junior speechwriter and legislative aide to a governor. She holds a master's degree in public administration and graduated from Baylor Law School with a concentration in criminal law.

Recognition
TCDLA Pro Bono Attorney of the Year, 2019. National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, Texas criminal defense, 2018 to 2022. Avvo Clients’ Choice Award, 2017.
Memberships
Austin Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. McLennan County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.
Courts and counties
McLennan, Hill, Bell, Coryell, Comanche, Travis, Williamson, Dallas, Tarrant, Parker, Hood, Harris, Hidalgo, Cameron, Nueces and Bexar, among others.
In the press
The Waco Tribune, New York Times Magazine, 20/20, Washington Post and The Marshall Project, among others.

From former clients

“Ms. Freud is an awesome, compassionate lawyer who really cares about her clients. She really fought for me and she kept her word.”

Former client

“Hands down the best and most effective lawyer in town.”

Former client
Read reviews on Avvo

Results

Select Results Over 36 Months

2026

  1. Successful Contested Motion for Back Time Credit that resulted in Client receiving 4.5 years of credit that the prior counsel failed to identify
  2. Successful contested legal sufficiency challenges on direct appeal to a court of appeals, resulting in judgments of acquittal on 6 of 7 charges
  3. Successful direct appeal challenge to a trial court's stacking order at a probation revocation, resulting in deletion of the stacking order from the judgment and favorable adjustment to parole consideration
  4. Granted petition for discretionary review with oral argument on an issue of statewide importance
  5. Successful grant of motion for rehearing at court of appeals on a state's appeal

2025

  1. Multiple successful out-of-time direct appeal writs of habeas corpus due to ineffective assistance of counsel, restoring clients' ability to pursue direct appeal
  2. Successful pretrial bond appeal, overturning trial court's bond order
  3. Received two favorable decisions from highest court in the state granting habeas relief on two 20-plus-year-old murder cases from two different counties
  4. Discovered exculpatory evidence that trial court determined overcame laches bar in 20-plus year old first-degree aggravated case
  5. Obtained an evidentiary hearing on a contested post-conviction DNA motion

2024

  1. Received favorable decision from highest court in the state, upholding trial court's order excluding evidence, following oral argument on landmark criminal discovery case [696 S.W.3d 677]
  2. Received favorable decision from highest court in the state granting legal sufficiency relief followed by additional relief of judicial clemency from trial court [689 S.W.3d 331]
  3. Granted and presented oral argument for court of appeals' Constitution Day
  4. Granted petition for discretionary review on novel statewide court cost issue [707 S.W.3d 412]

Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future case.

Resources

Have a loved one who is incarcerated?

There is a lot to navigate between the state court system and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. These resources will help.

Schedule a consultation now.

Let us handle your criminal appeal. Your case is important to us.

New Client Consultation - Zoom Only1 hour$300 New Client Consultation - In-personStarting at 1 hour · Location dependentStarting at $500 Existing Client Case Update30 minIncluded with fee Make a PaymentPaying for someone who is incarcerated? You can pay without scheduling a time.Pay now

New client? You can share your case information ahead of your consult to help Jessi prepare. It's optional.

Phone(254) 307-3384 Fax(254) 765-2739 Emailjessi@freudlaw.com Mailing address only415 W. 10th Street
Georgetown, Texas 78626

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