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Clint BrodenSuper Lawyers
Clint Broden
Defense Attorney
MEET CLINT CALL BRODEN (214) 563-3154
Mick Mickelsen Super Lawyers
Mick Mickelsen
Defense Attorney
MEET MICK CALL MICKELSEN (214) 563-3157

The Defense Attorney You Choose Will Greatly Impact Your Future

If you are charged with a criminal offense, there are several qualifications to take into consideration when selecting a defense attorney. After all, when your freedom and future are on the line, you need an advocate who is truly committed to giving you the best representation possible.

not guilty document

Do you want an attorney who is focused exclusively on criminal defense or someone who handles every kind of legal case?

Do you want an attorney who writes a will on Monday; represents a plaintiff in a car accident case on Tuesday; appears at an immigration hearing on Wednesday; represents a client for a speeding ticket on Thursday; and then turns up to represent you on Friday?

When your liberty is at stake, you need to select an attorney or law firm that practices exclusively in criminal law. Whether or not you choose to retain Broden & Mickelsen, LLP, we strongly recommend hiring an attorney whose practice is entirely dedicated to criminal defense. Criminal defense is a highly specialized field of law, and it is very difficult for an attorney who practices in several areas of the law to have the knowledge necessary to provide the right type of representation to clients.

A criminal charge is a serious matter. You deserve an advocate who specializes in this field, someone with full knowledge of the law and a long track record of securing verdicts, case dismissals, and appellate rulings in their clients’ favor.

At Broden & Mickelsen, LLP, both partners practice exclusively in criminal defense. In addition, both Clint Broden and Mick Mickelsen are lifetime members of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and members of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Association. Clint Broden also serves on the Board of Directors of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Association. Membership in these organizations represents an enduring commitment to the practice of criminal law. You should be wary of hiring a lawyer who is not a member of both organizations.

Do you need an attorney who is certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization?

The Texas Board of Legal Specialization thoroughly vets and certifies attorneys who have proven themselves experts in criminal law. Only about 10 percent of attorneys are certified by the board as specialists in their field of law.
To obtain a certification, an attorney must, among other things:
  • Apply to the board setting forth the trials and appeals he or she has handled in both state court and federal court
  • Undergo evaluations from judges, prosecutors, and other criminal defense lawyers
  • Pass a rigorous examination, testing his or her knowledge of both state and federal law
  • Complete continuing legal education in the field of criminal law

We suggest that, with your liberty on the line, you hire an attorney who has undergone the rigorous hurdles to become board-certified as a criminal law specialist. If you are considering hiring a non-specialist, ask the attorney why he or she is not board-certified. Attorneys Clint Broden and Mick Mickelsen are certified by the board as both criminal law specialists and criminal appellate law specialists.

Mick Mickelsen at his desk

Do you need someone who has experience as a former prosecutor?

Broden in a press statement

Do you want an attorney who would have fought to convict you in a previous position or an attorney who has always fought for the citizen accused? Former prosecutors will argue that experience from “the other side” is a valuable asset. On the other hand, many criminal defense lawyers were trained since the beginning of their careers to develop creative defenses that might not occur to a lawyer with a more prosecutorial frame of mind.

Defense lawyers who never worked for the prosecution also have no allegiances and may be more comfortable vigorously challenging the opposition. You want your lawyer’s allegiance to be to you and not to a relationship they have formed with other prosecutors over the years. Moreover, you want an attorney who believes in your innocence and does not approach your case as a prosecutor expecting you to prove your innocence.

Both partners at Broden & Mickelsen, LLP, are career criminal defense lawyers and will zealously represent YOUR interests. Be very wary of an attorney who tells you that he can get you a “special deal” because he or she was a former prosecutor or “knows” the judge. That is NOT how the system works, and frankly, that attorney would be lying to you.

Do you want an attorney who is available to you and has the time to focus on your case?

Many criminal attorneys have what is referred to as a “volume practice.” This generally means their fees might be slightly less but they handle hundreds of cases. What this means to you as a practical matter is that they are often difficult to reach once you have paid them and they often have minimal time to devote to your case. At Broden & Mickelsen, LLP, we do not believe that is the way to practice law. For that reason, we take a limited number of cases so that we can give each case our full attention. Also, all clients and their family have our mobile phone numbers so we are generally available to discuss your case at any time. It is strange to us that many attorneys refuse to give their mobile numbers to their clients and that such attorneys are also normally unavailable to talk to the clients even during working hours because they are “in a meeting.”

Clint Broden on the phone

Do you need a defense attorney for state or federal court?

Broden & Mickelsen photoshoot

Not every defense lawyer is comfortable handling cases in federal court? Generally, federal court is a much more formal atmosphere than state court with strict deadlines. It also involves more written “pleadings” than state court. In addition, sentencing in federal court is done using complex sentencing guidelines that the judge usually follows.

It is almost impossible to provide effective representation in federal court unless an attorney practices in federal court on a regular basis and understands the sentencing guidelines inside and out. Because of this, if you are charged with a crime in federal court, you must make sure that your attorney has extensive experience practicing in federal court and does not practice primarily in state court.

To check a lawyer’s experience in federal court proceedings, request that the lawyer show you on PACER (a website containing all federal cases) how many cases that attorney has handled in the particular federal court. This is the only way you can know for sure that you are hiring an attorney who practices on a regular basis in federal court and is not somebody who handles a federal case once every few years.

Clint Broden and Mick Mickelsen each have over 30 years of experience defending citizens accused of crimes in federal courts. As of October 1, 2022, the PACER report for the Northern District of Texas alone shows that Mick Mickelsen was counsel in 403 cases and Clint Broden was counsel of record in 396 cases. Frankly, you will find very few attorneys who have that type of experience in federal court.

Do you want to be prepared for both trial and a potential appeal?

Most attorneys practicing criminal law represent people in the trial courts. Only a small percentage of those practicing criminal law also regularly represent people on appeal. At Broden & Mickelsen, LLP, we represent people both at trial and on appeal, and we believe this to be an important factor when choosing a lawyer.

At trial, a lawyer must have extensive knowledge of the decisions reached by appellate courts in order to make sure that your rights are upheld and that proper objections are made in the event you must appeal a guilty verdict. It is difficult for a lawyer to develop this extensive knowledge unless he or she regularly represents people on appeal and continually conducts legal research in order to keep up with the trends of the appellate courts.

A substantial portion of the practice at Broden & Mickelsen, LLP, is dedicated to researching legal issues in connection with appeals. As a result, we can offer you excellent representation on criminal appeals. Just as important, at a trial we know the current state of the law and can preserve your rights in the event that an appeal becomes necessary.

wall of not guilty certifications
We firmly believe that when you consider the factors necessary to making an informed decision regarding which criminal attorney you should select, you will realize why Broden & Mickelsen, LLP is one of the preeminent criminal defense firms in the United States.
PROVEN RECORD
  • Not
    Guilty     Child Sexual Assault
  • Charge
    Dismissed     Aggravated Assault
  • Not
    Guilty     Murder
  • Acquittal on
    Appeal     Money Laundering
  • Conviction
    Reversed     Drug Charges
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Defense Firm on Your Side

Clint Broden and Mick Mickelsen founded Broden & Mickelsen, LLP in 1998 with the goal of providing aggressive representation and enduring advocacy to people facing serious criminal charges in state and federal court. If you are being investigated, have been arrested, or need help with an appeal or post-conviction relief, please do not hesitate to reach out. We will review your case for free and give you an honest assessment of your options.

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