Joseph C. Hawthorn P.C.

Joseph C. "Lum" Hawthorn and Zack Hawthorn make up the preeminent criminal defense law firm located in Beaumont, Texas. They have been practicing criminal law and criminal defense in Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas and in all courts, federal and state, in Southeast Texas for over fifty years combined. Lum and Zack handle any criminal matter ranging from misdemeanors to capital felonies, including grand jury investigations, whether they are state or federal cases. They also appeal state and federal criminal convictions. Hawthorn & Hawthorn is the only law firm in the Beaumont and Lufkin federal divisions, Jefferson, Orange, Chambers, Liberty and Hardin Counties with two attorneys Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Criminal law. Lum Hawthorn is board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Criminal law. He also holds an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell and has been listed in Best Lawyer's in America since 1989. He is currently the only criminal defense lawyer so listed between Houston and Lafayette. He has also been named a "Super Lawyer" by Texas Monthly magazine each year since 2003. "Super Lawyers" are selected by their peers and represent the top 5% of the legal profession. Although Mr. Hawthorn practices mainly in Southeast Texas, he has handled cases as far away as Fresno, California, Lansing, Michigan, Boston and Miami. Mr. Hawthorn is a member of the Jefferson County Bar Association ( President, 1985-1986 ), the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association ( Director, 1986-1989 ), the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Jefferson County Defense Lawyers' Association, Texas Bar Foundation and the American College of Trial Lawyers. He was awarded the Professionalism Award in 2006 by the Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism and the Jefferson County Bar Association. He has been certified as a Criminal Law Specialist by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1976. His clients have ranged from the indigent to doctors, lawyers, judges, law enforcement officers and even an active district attorney. Zack is also board certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He is an "A" Panel attorney which represents only the most qualified criminal defense attorneys that are appointed by judges to handle federal criminal cases. Other than the federal public defenders in the Eastern District of Texas, perhaps no other criminal defense attorney has represented more individuals in federal court for the Eastern District of Texas, Beaumont, Division, over the past five years. Zack also practices class action litigation. In addition, Zack has become a local authority on federal court criminal practice. His lectures include Federal Court Criminal Practice, Federal Court CLE, Jefferson County Bar Association, 2007 ; Guideline Practice Tips Including Post-Booker Sentencing Analysis, Southeast Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers' Association, 2006 ; The Booker Report - The Past, The Present and Future Ramifications, Southeast Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers' Association, 2005 ; Effective Plea Bargaining, Criminal Justice Graduate Course at Lamar University, 2004 ; How to Work With the "Big Bar, " State Bar of Texas Annual Conference, 2005. He is also a member of the Jefferson County Bar Association, Southeast Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers' Association, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers' Association, and the Jefferson County Young Lawyers' Association ( Board Member 2003-Present, Secretary 2004-2005, Treasurer 2005-2006, Vice-President 2006-2007, President-Elect 2007-2008, President 2008-Present ).