First Admitted: 1994, Texas

Professional Webpage: http://dougoconnell.com/about/

Bar/Professional Activity:

Member - State Bar of Texas
Special Forces Association
Texas
Alumni - Texas Lyceum
Selected - Pro Bono College of the Texas State Bar (2018)
Fellow - Texas Bar Foundation (2016-2017)
Selected for Texas Bar College (2017)
Member - Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
Past Director - Austin Criminal Defense Lawyers Association

Videos:

If you're a veteran, active duty member, LEO, or simply passionate about truth and accountability, this episode is for you., From Green Beret to Legal Advocate: The Fight for Justice with Doug O'Connell | Tim Teaches Podcast, 2025
At a crowded July 2020 protest in downtown Austin, Perry shot Foster with a handgun. Foster was attending the protest armed with an AK-47, and O’Connell argued during the trial that Perry was acting in self-defense. However, the jury rejected Perry’s defense and he was sentenced to 25 years in prison. In a portion of the interview exclusively available at The Texan, O’Connell also discussed what this case could mean for the right to self-defense, the likelihood of a pardon, and what Texans can take away from this extraordinary trial., Interview: Doug O’Connell, Daniel Perry’s Defense Attorney, on Sentencing and Jury Trial, 2024
Have you ever considered the weight of a split-second decision and its ripple effect through the legal system? Join us as we sit down with Doug O'Connell and Ken Irvin, distinguished Austin attorneys with frontline experience defending law enforcement officers. Their insights reveal the oft-misunderstood world of officers' critical incident responses and the emotional and legal battles that ensue. We delve into the seismic shift from prosecution to defense, painting a vivid picture of the internal workings of a DA's office and how politics can sway the scales of justice., "Legal Lifelines" with Doug O'Connell and Ken Ervin Part 1, 2024
Join us for Part 2 with Doug O'Connell and Ken Irvin, respected Austin attorneys specializing in the defense of law enforcement officers. Gain valuable insights into the complexities of critical incident responses and the emotional and legal challenges faced by officers. We'll also delve into the transition from prosecution to defense, providing a deeper understanding of the inner workings of a DA's office and the influence of political factors on the pursuit of justice. Doug and Ken will also discuss the extent of TMPA's involvement in the recent trial of two former WILCO deputies, for whom they secured a NOT GUILTY verdict. This is an episode you won't want to miss., "Legal Lifelines" with Doug O'Connell and Ken Ervin Part 2, 2024
Garret Foster was not supposed to be in possession of a firearm according to the US Air Force. Why was this evidence excluded at trial?, Garrett Foster was ILLEGALLY CARRYING AK47, 2023
Daniel Perry’s attorney joins the show and debunks the theory that Daniel Perry drove into the crowd of protestors., Daniel Perry didn’t “drive into” protesters, 2023

Special Licenses/Certifications:

Admitted - United States Supreme Court
Admitted United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
Admitted to United States District Court, Western District of Texas
US Government Top Secret Clearance. Additionally cleared for Sensitive Compartmentalized Information (TS-SCI), 2019

Pro bono/Community Service:

Texas Lyceum (Past Director)
Commissioner for the City of Austin’s Veterans Commission
Board Member and Chair of the Veteran’s program Song writing with Soldiers
Vestry member of his Episcopal Church

Honors/Awards:

Axon Rise Award for Criminal Justice, https://x.com/OConnellWest/status/1783914426459902115, 2024

Educational Background:

Naval Postgraduate School - M.A., National Security Studies (Homeland Security)., 2008
United States Army War College - MS, Strategic Studies, 2013

Scholarly Lectures/Writings:

Invited by the Texas House of Representatives to provide input on proposed legislation regarding Change of Venue in criminal cases and reforming the Grand Jury process in Texas. , Invited to provide testimony on Change of Venue Legislation and Grand Jury Reform, Testimony Texas House of Representatives Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, 2025
Lecturer, University of Texas School of Law

Industry Groups:

Criminal Defense
Defense & Aerospace Industry
Law Enforcement Officers
Military Personnel
National Security Law
Security Clearances

Doug O'Connell

Doug O'Connell

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