James Makin

James Makin has been a Criminal Defense Attorney for over 30 years, and in his present location for 15 years. He has handled thousands of cases in State and Federal courts in Jefferson, Hardin, Orange, Chambers and Galveston counties. 

 James is a husband, father of four children and grandfather of ten. He was raised in Beaumont and is actively involved in the community. 

Courts

All State and Federal Courts in Texas

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals of the United States

Areas of Practice

DWI – DUI

Capital Murder / Murder

Possession and Delivery of Controlled Substance

Aggravated Assault / Sexual Assaults

All Misdemeanor and Felony matters

Certified in the Second Judicial District for appointment to represent indigent defendants in capital

cases

Professional Affiliations 

Director, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association

American Bar Association

American College of Barristers

State Bar of Texas

Member of the State Bar of Texas standing committee on Pattern Jury Charges –

Criminal (2011-2017)

State Bar College

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Jefferson County Bar Association

Director 2013-2015, Jefferson County Bar Association

Awarded 2014 Professionalism Award by Texas Center for Legal Ethics and the Jefferson

County Bar Association

National College for DUI Defense

President of Southeast Texas Criminal Defense Attorneys (1994 – 2006)

Founding Chairman of the Criminal Defense Attorneys Section, Jefferson County Bar Association

(2009 – 2011)

TCDLA Strike Force District 13 (1005 – 2011)

Lecturer on Cross-Examination at the Center for American and International Law seminar on

Capital Trial Advocacy.

Regular Speaker at Lamar University for master degree class on Psychology for the last

seven years regarding the role of the psychologist in criminal law.

Mentor for other attorneys in jury selection and criminal defense

Featured panelist for a Death Penalty Open Forum Panel Discussion at Lamar University

Frequently contacted by local news stations and newspaper reporters to provide his

professional opinion on matters of Criminal Law

State Bar Committee on Representation for Capital Defendants

Member of the Better Business Bureau

Member Beaumont Chambers of Commerce

Member Community Justice Council, Jefferson County

Community Involvement 

For the last 21 years, James has donated his time dressed as Santa Clause for the Santa Run .  He dressed in the Santa suit, wears the beard, distributes toys and many hogs to an averrage of 120 children all over the Southeast Texas area two days before Christmas.

Girls’ Haven and Boy’s Haven

Dogtober Fest – Beaumont Main Street

Fire Museum of Southeast Texas

Life Member NAACP

Gift of Life

Lifetime Members of Beaumont 100 Club

Oaks Historic District

Cooks 2 Dozen

Education

• 1967 – Graduated Beaumont High School
• 1974 – BBA, Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas
• 1977 – Juris Doctorate, University of Puget Sound Law School, Tacoma, Washington
• 2005 – DUI College, Harvard University