JoAnne M. Musick

Over the years, after graduating from Sam Houston, JoAnne gained valuable business, accounting, and computer operations experience working for a large nationwide grocery retailer, a prominent Houston personal injury lawyer, and also a large investment banking office, each located in Houston. With her business background and bachelor’s degree in business and accounting, JoAnne is able to analyze and defend the most complex cases, including white-collar crime, theft, and embezzlement.

JoAnne Musick is also Board Certified in both Criminal Law and Juvenile Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization meaning she has (1) devoted a substantial percentage of her practice to both criminal and juvenile law, (2) handled a wide variety of matters in criminal and juvenile law to demonstrate experience and involvement in each unique area, (3) attended continuing education seminars to keep legal training up to date, (4) been evaluated by fellow lawyers and judges, and (5) passed two six-hour written examinations: criminal law and juvenile law.

In law school, while interning for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, JoAnne was selected to join Phi Delta Phi’s Wood Inn, a legal fraternity focusing on academic honors and integrity. After joining Phi Delta Phi in 1996, she was elected Magister (president) of Wood Inn and attended the national convention in Washington D.C. JoAnne also participated in both moot court and mock trial competitions throughout law school, where she repeatedly advanced to the finals.

As a twice former Harris County prosecutor, JoAnne served in county courts, juvenile courts, and district courts as a trial lawyer, chief prosecutor, public integrity prosecutor, sex crimes division chief, felony trial division chief, and cyber and financial crimes bureau chief. Throughout her career as a prosecutor, JoAnne handled and tried numerous felony, misdemeanor, and juvenile matters as well as serving on the training committee for fellow prosecutors. When she returned to the prosecutor’s office in 2017, she took on leadership roles to advance training and improve technology, while also handling trial matters and supervising other prosecutors.

As an experienced trial lawyer, she has tried hundreds of criminal and juvenile trials with an outstanding success rate. Additionally, JoAnne has handled and tried numerous federal criminal cases ranging from drug and weapon cases to fraud and embezzlement cases. With her vast trial experience, JoAnne is able to defend the most serious of cases, having worked both sides of these cases.

JoAnne Musick is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (board member 2004-2011, treasurer 2006-2007, vice-president 2007-2008, president-elect 2008-2009, president 2009-2010, immediate past president 2010-2011, president-elect 2014-2015, president 2015-2016, and immediate past president 2016-2017), the Montgomery County Bar Association, the Montgomery County Criminal Lawyers Association, the Fort Bend County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and the College of the State Bar of Texas. JoAnne is a member of the Houston Bar Association (and its sections: criminal law and procedure, juvenile law, and family law) and the State Bar of Texas (criminal, juvenile, family, and technology sections) where she has served and coordinated continuing education programs for local lawyers. JoAnne is the former chair of the Houston Bar Association Criminal Law and Procedure Section. JoAnne also serves on the exam commission for the Texas Board of Legal Specialization Juvenile Exam, where she and others review applications for specialization and write and grade exams of those seeking board certification.

In addition to her law practice, JoAnne was a contributor at Fault Lines and hosted a weekly talk radio program, Legally Speaking, on KJOZ 880 AM in Houston. You can check out her podcast for prior shows.

JoAnne M. Musick, Partner

Email: joanne@musicklawoffice.com

Practice Areas: Criminal Law; Juvenile Law; Driving While Intoxicated/Driving Under the Influence (DWI/DUI); Drug Crimes; Misdemeanors; Felonies, Sex Crimes; Sexual Assault; Theft; Criminal Investigation; Forgery; Robbery; Burglary; Assault and Battery; White Collar Crime; Parole Law; Parole Revocation; Parole Hearings; Family Law; Divorce; Custody.

Admitted: 1998, Texas; 2003, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas; United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Law School: South Texas College of Law, J.D., 1998

College: Sam Houston State University, B.B.A., 1991

Member: State Bar of Texas (Member, Criminal Law Section and Juvenile Law Section); Texas Board of Legal Specialization (Juvenile Law Exam Commission); U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas; U.S. Court of Appeals for Fifth Circuit; Houston Bar Association (former Board Member and Chair – Criminal Law & Procedure Section; Member – Juvenile Law Section; Member – Family Law Section); Texas District and County Attorneys Association (Alumni Member); College of the State Bar of Texas; National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association; Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (former Board Member, former Officer, former President); Montgomery County Bar Association; Fort Bend County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.

Biography: Harris County Assistant District Attorney, 1998-2003. Board Certified in both Criminal Law and Juvenile Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Musick & Musick, LLP, 2003-2016, Harris County District Attorney Bureau Chief, 2017-2022; Musick Law Office, 2022-present.