If you have been arrested or are under investigation for a criminal offense in Dallas, the attorney you hire matters more than you may realize. Mike Goolsby spent years as a prosecutor in Dallas County before switching sides to criminal defense. He knows how the State builds its cases — the evidence it relies on, the arguments it uses, and where cases fall apart. That insight is what he brings to every client.
The Goolsby Law Firm defends clients charged with DWI, drug offenses, assault, theft, federal crimes, and all other criminal matters throughout Dallas County and North Texas. Our goal is to get your case dismissed.
Call (972) 394-2141 for a free consultation. We handle cases from the day of arrest through trial.
Most criminal defense attorneys learn how cases work by watching the prosecution present them. Mike Goolsby learned by building them. As a former Dallas County prosecutor, he spent years preparing and trying criminal cases — assembling evidence, working with law enforcement, drafting charges, and arguing in front of juries. He understands prosecutorial decision-making from the inside.
That background gives him a specific, practical edge in every phase of your case:
Twenty-seven years of criminal law experience. Both sides of the courtroom. One goal: protect your future.
The Goolsby Law Firm handles the full range of criminal cases in Dallas County and the surrounding North Texas courts. Whether you are facing a misdemeanor or a serious felony, the consequences of a conviction can follow you for years — affecting your employment, your housing, your professional licenses, and your family. We take every case seriously because we know the stakes are serious for you.
Driving while intoxicated is one of the most aggressively prosecuted offenses in Texas, and Dallas County is no exception. The State uses breathalyzer results, blood tests, field sobriety tests, and dash camera footage — all of which can be challenged. A former prosecutor knows exactly how DWI cases are built and what it takes to dismantle them.
Common defenses in DWI cases include challenging the legality of the traffic stop, questioning the calibration and administration of breath or blood tests, attacking the reliability of field sobriety tests administered on uneven ground or by officers with insufficient training, and suppressing evidence obtained in violation of your Fourth Amendment rights. The 15-day window to request an Administrative License Revocation (ALR) hearing begins on the night of your arrest — acting quickly on that deadline can preserve your driving privileges while your case is pending.
We handle first-offense DWI, repeat DWI offenses, DWI with a blood alcohol content above 0.15, DWI with a child passenger, DWI resulting in accident or injury, and intoxication assault and intoxication manslaughter charges. Learn more about DWI defense in Dallas.
Texas drug laws are among the strictest in the country. Even a first-time possession charge can result in jail time, a criminal record, and consequences that affect your ability to get a job, rent an apartment, or qualify for professional licensing. The classification of the drug, the quantity involved, and the circumstances of the arrest all affect both the severity of the charges and the available defense strategies.
Texas uses a penalty group system to classify controlled substances. Penalty Group 1 includes heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and certain opioids — charges involving these substances carry some of the harshest penalties in the state. Marijuana possession, while prosecuted differently in some jurisdictions, remains a criminal offense in Texas at all quantities.
Many drug cases turn on the legality of the search and seizure that led to the discovery of the drugs. If police searched your vehicle, your home, or your person without proper legal authority, a motion to suppress may be able to exclude the evidence entirely. Without the drugs, there is often no case. We scrutinize every step of law enforcement’s conduct from the initial stop through the arrest. Learn more about drug charge defense.
Assault charges in Texas range from a Class C misdemeanor at the low end to a first-degree felony at the high end — and the difference between them can come down to a single factual question about the nature of an injury or the identity of the victim. Family violence allegations carry consequences beyond the criminal case: emergency protective orders, which can be issued within hours of arrest, can remove you from your home and limit your contact with your children before a single hearing has been held.
One of the most important things to understand about family violence cases in Texas is that the complaining witness cannot simply “drop the charges.” Once law enforcement makes an arrest and the DA’s office files charges, it is the State — not the alleged victim — that decides whether to proceed. Even if the other party wants to move on, a prosecutor may continue pursuing the case. We work to present a complete picture of the circumstances and challenge the State’s evidence at every stage.
We defend clients against simple assault, aggravated assault, assault on a public servant, family violence charges, and harassment. Learn more about assault and family violence defense.
Theft charges in Texas are classified by the value of the property involved. At the low end, theft of property worth less than $100 is a Class C misdemeanor — a fine only, no jail time. At the high end, theft of property worth $300,000 or more is a first-degree felony carrying a sentence of 5 to 99 years. The classification moves in steps, and the difference between a Class A misdemeanor and a state jail felony can come down to a disputed valuation.
Burglary requires proof that you entered a habitation or building without consent with the intent to commit a crime. The prosecution must establish both the unlawful entry and the criminal intent — and intent is something that must often be inferred from circumstantial evidence. That is where a well-prepared defense begins: challenging whether the State can actually prove what they claim to know about your state of mind.
We handle shoplifting, employee theft, theft by check, identity theft, robbery, and aggravated robbery. Learn more about theft and robbery defense.
A probation violation — also called a motion to revoke probation or a motion to adjudicate guilt — is not a criminal trial, but the consequences can be identical. The judge can revoke your probation and impose the original sentence that was suspended when probation was granted. In some cases, that means years in prison for a violation that occurred years after the original offense.
The standard of proof in a revocation hearing is a preponderance of the evidence — lower than the beyond-a-reasonable-doubt standard in a criminal trial. That makes these hearings more dangerous than many people expect. We represent clients at revocation hearings and motions to adjudicate, working to present mitigating evidence, challenge the State’s evidence, and negotiate outcomes that keep our clients out of prison. Learn more about probation violation defense.
Federal criminal cases are a different world from state court. The prosecutors are U.S. Attorneys and Assistant U.S. Attorneys — well-resourced, experienced, and almost never working with a weak case. The judges are appointed for life and do not face the same electoral pressures as state court judges. The Federal Sentencing Guidelines impose a structure on sentencing that state courts do not have. And the conviction rate in federal court is extraordinarily high — which means the decision about whether to fight or negotiate must be made with clear-eyed realism about what the evidence shows.
Federal investigations often unfold over months or years before a target is ever arrested. If federal agents have contacted you, if you have received a grand jury subpoena, or if you have reason to believe you are the subject of a federal investigation, the time to involve a defense attorney is immediately — before you speak to anyone. Statements made during an investigation, even before charges are filed, are admissible. We handle federal criminal defense in the Northern District of Texas. Learn more about federal criminal defense.
An old arrest or charge that did not result in a final conviction may still be appearing on your background checks. Employers, landlords, licensing boards, and financial institutions all run checks — and an arrest record, even for a charge that was dismissed, can follow you for years. Texas law provides a path to expunge certain arrest records entirely, and a separate path to seal other records from public view through an order of nondisclosure.
Eligibility depends on the outcome of the original case, the nature of the offense, whether you received deferred adjudication, and how much time has passed. The rules are specific and the process has procedural requirements that must be followed precisely. We evaluate eligibility and handle the full petition process for clients throughout Dallas County and North Texas. Learn more about expungement and record sealing.
Understanding the process helps you make better decisions about your case. Here is how a criminal case typically moves through the Dallas County system.
After an arrest in Dallas, you are transported to a jail facility and booked — fingerprinted, photographed, and processed. The charges are formally logged. In most cases, you will be eligible for release on some form of bond, but the conditions of bond (including the bond amount) are set based on the alleged offense, your criminal history, and other factors. The faster you contact an attorney after arrest, the faster we can begin working on your release and on your defense.
Within 24 to 48 hours of arrest, you will appear before a magistrate who will inform you of the charges, advise you of your rights, and set a bond. In family violence cases, the magistrate has authority to issue emergency protective orders that take effect immediately. Having an attorney before magistration can influence bond conditions and help establish the factual record from the very beginning.
After your arrest, law enforcement submits a case report to the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. A prosecutor reviews the report and decides whether to file charges, reject the case, or request additional investigation. This is one of the most important windows in the entire case — it is often possible to present information to the DA’s office at this stage that can result in the case not being filed at all. Prosecutors reject cases every day. Getting in front of the right people with the right information before charges are filed is something an experienced defense attorney can do that most people cannot do on their own.
If charges are filed, you will be arraigned and asked to enter a plea. In virtually all cases, we enter a not guilty plea at arraignment regardless of the facts. This is not a final position — it is a procedural necessity that preserves all of your options while we review the evidence. Entering a guilty plea at arraignment waives significant rights and eliminates negotiating leverage before we have even seen what the State has.
After arraignment, we request all the evidence the prosecution intends to use — police reports, body camera footage, dash camera footage, lab results, witness statements, expert reports, and everything else in the State’s file. We review it in detail for legal defects, factual weaknesses, and constitutional violations. Cases that look strong on the surface often have serious problems that only become visible after a thorough review. This is where cases are won or lost — not at trial.
If law enforcement violated your constitutional rights during the investigation, stop, or arrest, we file motions to suppress the illegally obtained evidence. An unlawful traffic stop, a warrantless search without proper legal justification, a failure to advise you of your Miranda rights before a custodial interrogation — all of these can result in critical evidence being excluded. When the State’s key evidence is suppressed, the case often cannot proceed. A former prosecutor knows exactly which suppression arguments carry weight and which don’t.
The majority of criminal cases in Dallas County resolve through negotiated agreements. We approach negotiations from a position of preparation — having reviewed all the evidence, having filed every applicable motion, and having made clear we are prepared to go to trial if necessary. Prosecutors negotiate differently with attorneys who have done the work. A case where every motion has been filed, every issue has been identified, and every legal challenge is on the table is a case that costs the State time and resources to try. Our goal in every negotiation is dismissal. When dismissal is not available, we push for the least restrictive outcome possible — including deferred adjudication that keeps a final conviction off your record.
When the State cannot offer acceptable terms — or when the facts of the case warrant taking it to a jury — we try the case. Mike Goolsby has tried criminal cases on both sides of the courtroom. He knows how prosecutors build their narrative, how they work with law enforcement witnesses, how they present forensic evidence, and where they are most vulnerable on cross-examination. Going to trial with an attorney who has been on the other side of the table is a different experience than going to trial with someone who has only ever seen it from one angle.
A criminal conviction in Texas carries consequences that extend far beyond the immediate sentence. Many of the most serious long-term effects are ones that defendants only discover after they have already been convicted — when it is too late to go back and make a different decision about their case.
Most employers run criminal background checks. A felony conviction disqualifies candidates from a wide range of positions. Even a misdemeanor conviction can raise flags that cost you a job offer. In industries with licensing requirements — healthcare, finance, education, law, real estate — a criminal conviction can end a career.
The Texas Medical Board, the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Nursing Board, the Texas Education Agency, and dozens of other licensing bodies have the authority to deny, suspend, or revoke a professional license based on a criminal conviction. The impact can be career-ending even for a first-time offense.
For non-citizens, a criminal conviction carries a separate and additional set of consequences under federal immigration law. Many criminal offenses — including some misdemeanors — can trigger deportation proceedings, denial of adjustment of status, denial of naturalization, or bars to re-entry. The intersection of criminal law and immigration law is complex, and the consequences are severe and often irreversible.
A criminal record, and in particular a family violence conviction, can be used against you in custody proceedings. Family violence convictions trigger mandatory protective orders. Certain convictions can affect your parental rights. The ripple effects of a criminal conviction through a family law case can be as damaging as the criminal case itself.
Landlords routinely run criminal background checks as part of rental applications. A felony conviction, and in some cases a misdemeanor, can result in a denial. Some government housing programs have categorical bars for certain convictions. Mortgage lenders may view a conviction as a risk factor. A conviction can follow you into every financial decision you make for years.
A felony conviction eliminates your right to own or possess a firearm under both Texas and federal law. Certain family violence misdemeanor convictions impose the same prohibition under federal law. These restrictions are automatic and do not require a separate proceeding to take effect.
This is why what happens in the early stages of your case matters so much. The decisions made in the first days — whether to speak to police, what information is preserved, whether to request a hearing within the required deadline — can determine the range of outcomes available months later when your case goes in front of a judge or jury.
Dallas County has one of the largest criminal court systems in Texas. Understanding how it operates is a practical advantage that only comes from years of working inside it.
Misdemeanor criminal cases are handled by the 10 County Criminal Courts at Law. Each has its own judge and its own culture — a judge who takes a particular view of DWI cases may approach theft charges very differently, and an attorney who has practiced in front of that judge understands how to present a case in a way that is persuasive to that specific court.
Felony cases are handled by the District Courts. Dallas County has more than 40 district courts with criminal jurisdiction. The Criminal District Courts — CDA-1 through CDA-6 — handle the most serious felony cases. The other district courts handle the full range of state jail felonies and third, second, and first-degree felonies on a rotating assignment basis.
The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office is one of the largest prosecutorial offices in Texas. It handles more than 50,000 cases per year and has specialized units for family violence, gang crimes, financial crimes, and capital cases. Understanding how that office makes decisions — which unit handles which cases, how charging decisions move through the chain of approval, and what factors influence a prosecutor’s evaluation of a case — is knowledge that only comes from experience inside the system.
Mike Goolsby has spent 27 years working in and around the Dallas County criminal courts. He knows the judges, the prosecutors, and the unwritten rules of how cases move. That familiarity is not something you can build overnight.
We regularly handle cases in Dallas County, Denton County, Tarrant County, Collin County, Rockwall County, and Kaufman County.
Do not answer questions from law enforcement beyond providing your basic identifying information. You have the right to remain silent and you should use it. Politely state that you are invoking your right to remain silent and that you want to speak with an attorney. Then stop talking. Statements made after arrest — even ones that seem harmless or explanatory — are routinely used against defendants at trial. Call an attorney as soon as you are able to make a call.
No. This is one of the most common mistakes people make and one of the most damaging to their cases. Even if you are completely innocent, even if you believe you have nothing to hide, a conversation with police without an attorney present creates risk that simply is not worth taking. Police are trained interviewers. Inconsistencies between your account and the physical evidence — even innocent ones — can be framed as deception. Anything you say can be used against you. Anything you don’t say cannot. Contact an attorney first.
The timeline depends heavily on the severity of the charges, the complexity of the evidence, and the court’s docket. A straightforward misdemeanor case might resolve in a few months. A serious felony case that goes to trial can take a year or more from arrest to verdict. Federal cases often take longer than state cases. We keep clients informed of each step and what to expect at every stage.
A dismissal means the case is over and no conviction has been recorded. Deferred adjudication is a form of probation — you plead guilty or no contest, the judge defers a finding of guilt, and you are placed on community supervision. If you complete the supervision successfully, the judge dismisses the case without entering a conviction. However, the arrest and the deferred adjudication itself remain on your record and may be disclosed in certain circumstances. A dismissal is always a better outcome than deferred adjudication, which is why we pursue it first.
It depends on the outcome of the case. Cases that were dismissed, cases where you were acquitted at trial, and certain arrests that did not result in charges may be eligible for expunction. Cases where you received deferred adjudication may be eligible for an order of nondisclosure — which seals the record from public view but does not eliminate it entirely. Eligibility is case-specific and offense-specific. We evaluate your situation and tell you exactly what options are available.
It means your attorney has sat on the other side of the table — the side that was building cases against people like you. That experience translates into a concrete understanding of how the prosecution evaluates cases, what evidence they consider strong versus weak, what arguments land with juries and which don’t, and what it takes to make a prosecutor reconsider their position. It is not a credential on paper. It is a different way of seeing your case.
That is the standard we hold ourselves to in every case we take. Dismissal is always the first target — not a plea agreement, not a reduced charge, not a deferred outcome. We do not consider any other resolution until we have exhausted every avenue aimed at dismissal.
The cases that end in the best outcomes for our clients are almost always the ones where we were contacted early — before statements were made to police, before the DA’s charging decision was finalized, before the legal window for challenging evidence closed. Time matters in a criminal case in ways that are not always obvious from the outside.
If you have been arrested or believe you are under investigation in Dallas or anywhere in North Texas, contact us today.
Call (972) 394-2141 for a free consultation with a former Dallas County prosecutor. We handle criminal defense cases throughout Dallas, Denton, Tarrant, and Collin counties. You can also reach us through our online contact form. The Goolsby Law Firm — 2650 Valley View Lane, Building 2, Suite 100, Dallas, TX 75234.
Our goal is always a dismissal. However, a criminal defense attorney cannot promise a specific outcome, erase facts, or make charges disappear by magic. What an attorney can do is protect your rights, challenge weak or unlawful evidence, advise you on your options, and build the strongest defense possible based on the facts of your case.
When selecting a criminal defense attorney, you always want an attorney who has been a former prosecutor. They know the courts inside and out. Focus on someone with experience in cases like yours, familiarity with the local courts, communication style, and whether the attorney gives clear, practical answers. You should come away from a consultation feeling informed, respected, and confident that the firm understands what is at stake.
If you need a criminal defense attorney, the quicker you hire the better. It can help in getting your case dismissed or keeping it from being filed. Your first step is to schedule a consultation as soon as possible after an arrest, investigation, or accusation. Always go into the attorney office for an in person interview and never do it over the phone. Early legal guidance can help you avoid mistakes and make better decisions from the beginning of the case.
Sometimes a person gets stuck with a court appointed attorney. In some cases, a person who qualifies financially may be eligible for court-appointed counsel. However, many people choose private representation if they care about their future. If you hire your own attorney, you may get a better outcome on your case, more direct communication, and a tailored defense strategy.
A criminal defense attorney represents the person accused of a crime. The role of the attorney is to protect that client rights, provide legal advice, and advocate for the best possible outcome throughout the criminal process and for their future.
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