About Jessi

Jessica 'Jessi' Shaye Freud, Criminal Defense Attorney

An attorney exclusively practicing criminal appellate law - motions for new trial, direct appeals, post-conviction DNA motions, 11.07 writs and other post-conviction remedies - Jessi represents Texans statewide. As a resident of Austin, who practiced at the trial level for nearly a decade in Waco, Jessi and Freud Law P.C. are uniquely positioned to serve a wide geographic region of Texas. Jessi has represented clients in McLennan, Hill, Bell, Coryell, Comanche, Travis, Williamson, Dallas, Tarrant, Parker, Hood, Harris, Hidalgo, Cameron, Nueces, and Bexar Counties, among others. 

Between 2015 and 2023, Jessi tried over 30 misdemeanor and felony cases before juries to verdict, including first-degree felonies such as murder, aggravated sexual assault, and aggravated robbery. Jessi has been approved by the Third Administrative Judicial Region of Texas to act as assistant court-appointed trial counsel in death penalty cases. From 2018-2022, she was selected for membership to the National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 Under 40 in Texas criminal defense. National Trial Lawyers is a professional organization composed of premier trial lawyers from across the country who exemplify superior qualifications as civil plaintiff or criminal defense trial lawyers. Jessi is also a member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Austin Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and McLennan County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. In 2017, online legal resource Avvo.com recognized Jessi with a Clients’ Choice Award, which is based on verified reviews by former clients. She was also recognized by the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association as Pro Bono Attorney of the Year in 2019. Jessi's appellate & trial-level work has been covered in both local and national publications, media & podcasts, such as The Waco Tribune, New York Times Magazine, 20/20, Washington Post, and The Marshall Project, among others. 

Prior to practicing law, Jessi was a production assistant for cable news network, and junior speechwriter and legislative aide to a governor. Following the completion of her master’s degree in public administration, Jessi graduated from Baylor Law School with a degree concentration in criminal law. While at Baylor, Jessi began working with the Innocence Project of Texas in November 2013. In late 2018, she joined the organization as a staff attorney where she focuses on post-conviction DNA litigation and other special litigation projects, as well as co-teaches an innocence clinic with the organization's executive director at a regional law school. From 2021-23, she joined Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) as an adjunct instructor for its 3-day courtroom testimony course, attended by law enforcement statewide. 

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Jessi has argued before the Court of Criminal Appeals, the highest criminal court in Texas, as well as other intermediate appellate courts statewide.