Meet the Attorney

Mary Elizabeth Conn
Santa Cruz, California

If you or some one you care about is in trouble with the law, Mary E. Conn and Associates, can help. The firm was founded in 1985 out of Ms. Conn’s desire and talent for helping people. Ms. Conn is licensed by the Supreme Court in Texas and California, and the Supreme Court of the United States, and practices in both states as well as all Federal Jurisdictions.

The firm delivers trial and pretrial services, in state and federal criminal cases, civil trial cases, adult and juvenile criminal or delinquency cases, felony and misdemeanor cases, as well as related matters such as DMV or administrative hearings, and civil forfeiture cases. Typical cases range from murder and other crimes of violence to white collar crimes, DWI/DUI, conspiracies, sex cases, drugs, controlled substances, and other criminal charges.

Ms. Conn is able to assist those who have been found guilty while represented by others, as she is skilled at sentencing advocacy under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the new laws in federal courts, and in the State Courts of California and Texas.

The firm also handles personal injury and other civil matters.

The firm has conducted numerous jury trials and many non-jury hearings and trials.

Many of Ms. Conn’s clients’ cases have been dismissed prior to trial, and prior to formal charges being brought.

Year Joined Organization:
1985
Areas of Practice:

Adult Felonies and Misdemeanors
Juvenile Felonies and Misdemeanors
Armed Robbery
Assault & Battery
Car Jacking
Domestic Violence
Driving Under the Influence (DUI/DWI)
Drug Trafficking
Embezzlement
Fraud
Forgery
Gangs
Indecent Exposure
Juveniles
Kidnapping
Lewd Conduct
Manslaughter
Murder
Resisting Arrest
Stalking
Statutory Rape
Terrorist Threats
Vehicular Homicide
Vehicular Manslaughter
Warrants Recalled
Civil Litigation
Federal Crimes
White Collar Crimes
Personal Injury
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Slip & Fall
Medical Negligence
Personal Injury
Wrongful Death
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Slip and Fall
Civil Litigation
Bar Admissions:
California, 2003
Texas, 1985
U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
U.S. District Court Northern District of California
U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court, 1986
Education:
University of Houston Law Center, Houston, Texas, December, 1984
J.D.
University of Texas at Tyler, May, 1978
B.S.
Major:  Medical Technology
University of Houston, May, 1976
B.S.
Major:  Biology
Published Works:
“Taking the Legal Specialization Exam”, State Bar of Texas, Corpus Christi, 1995
NACDL DUI Handbook (Editor), NACDL Publication, 1993
Representative Cases:
State v. Willie Watkins, (Harris County, Texas  )
State v. William David Kelley, (Harris County, Texas  )
United States v. Remedios Mendez, (Southern District of Texas  )
United States v. Remedios Mendez, (Fifth Circuit  )
State v. Unnamed (Attorney) Defendant, (   )
Classes/Seminars Taught:
Producer and Faculty, “Make Your Practice Your Business”, Houston, Dallas, Tucson, Seattle, Montreal, Anchorage, Atlanta, Nashville, San Francisco, San Jose, Phoenix, Indianapolis, Oakland, 1996 – 2003
Instructor, Advanced Trial Advocacy Course, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, Boulder, 2000
Producer/Faculty, “The Practice Development Intensive Two Day Program”, Multiple Events, Houston, Dallas, 1998 – 2001
“Taking the Legal Specialization Exam”, State Bar of Texas, Corpus Christi, 1995
“Hearsay, Rules 801 and 802,” Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Criminal Law Course, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Dallas, 1995
Course Director, Advanced Federal Short Course, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1992 – 1993
“Bail and Bond”, Criminal Defense Lawyers Project/Criminal Defense Skills Course, Houston, 1992
Producer and Faculty, “Bail and Bond,” “Ethics,” “Evidence,” Nuts & Bolts Seminar Series, Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association, Houston, 1989 – 1992
Course Director, One Day Indigent Defense Seminar, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Educational Institute, Dallas, Houston, Austin, 1992
“Bail”, The Criminal Defense Lawyers Project/Criminal Defense Skills Course, South Padre and Houston, 1992
“The Sixth Annual Advanced Driving While Intoxicated Percy Foreman Memorial Criminal Law Super Star Seminar; Jury Instructions, DWI”, National Assoc. of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Harris County Criminal Lawyers Assoc., Galveston, 1991
“Search and Seizure”, Criminal Defense Lawyers Project/Criminal Defense Skills Course, Tyler, 1990 – 1991
“Jury Selection”, Criminal Defense Lawyers Project/Criminal Defense Skills Course, Dallas, 1991
“Sex, Drugs and DNA; Use and Abuse of Criminal Scientific Evidence; Retrograde Extrapolation and Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus”, State Bar of Texas, South Padre Island, 1991
“Voir Dire”, The Criminal Defense Lawyers Project/Criminal Defense Skills Course, Dallas, 1991
“Search and Seizure”, The Criminal Defense Lawyers Project and the Lubbock Criminal Defense Lawyers Association/Criminal Defense Skills Course, Lubbock, 1991
“Confessions or Statements of the Accused,” The Honorable M.P. “Rusty” Duncan III Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Criminal Law Short Course, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, San Antonio, 1990
Course Director, Originator/Organizer, “Federal Nuts and Bolts”, Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association, 1989 – 1992
Originator/Organizer, “The Nuts and Bolts of Criminal Practice”, Monthly Series Covering Practical Components of Criminal Defense, from Low-Cost, High Quality Program for Solo Practitioners, Houston, 1987 – 1992
Honors and Awards:
Recognized for Outstanding Service as President of HCCLA, June 18, 1991 – June 18, 1992
Presidential Award: Recognized for Outstanding Service in Continuing Legal Education, 1992 – 1993
Presidential Award: Recognized for Outstanding Service for Contributions to the Legislative Session, 1992 – 1993
NACDL Presidential Award, 1994 – 1995
Professional Associations and Memberships:
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
Past Director
Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
Past Director
Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA)
Past President/Past Director
State Bar of Texas, 1987 – 1992
Former Member, Grievance Committee
NACDL
Member
Association of Federal Defense Attorneys (AFDA)
Member
California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (CACJ)
Member
California Public Defenders Association (CPDA)
Member
Deuce Defenders
Member
Santa Cruz County Criminal Defense Bar (SCCCDB)
Member
Santa Cruz County Trial Lawyers Association (SCCTLA)
Member
Santa Cruz County Bar Association (SCCBA)
Member
Women Lawyers of Santa Cruz County (WLSCC)
Board Member
Not Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
National Organization for the Reform of Laws (NORML)
Member, Legal Committee