E-mail: mheiskell@johnson-vaughn-heiskell.com
Michael P. Heiskell is a trial attorney who has built a stellar reputation for excellence in and out of the courtroom representing individuals and entities in government investigations, internal investigations, and criminal prosecution. Mr. Heiskell is an experienced and highly effective trial lawyer having conducted numerous trials in federal court as well as a number of state criminal cases. He is also skilled at steering clients through complex and difficult situations without any charges being filed.
Heiskell's experience as a federal and state prosecutor provides the skills necessary to navigate high-stakes investigations and prosecutions. His expertise and eloquence has been recognized nationwide leading to his Presidency of America's largest Criminal Defense organization, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He is also a past president of Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and was selected to be in its prestigious Hall of Fame in 2015. His prowess and success in winning cases resulted in his selection as a Fellow of the exclusive American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Board of Criminal Lawyers.
Heiskell is a 2020 recipient of the Blackstone Award conferred by the Tarrant County Bar Association in recognition of a legal career that exemplifies professional aptitude, integrity, and courage. It is the Bar's highest honor. See https://fwtx.com/news/michael-heiskell/. He was also a recipient of the 2022 Baylor Law School's LAWYER OF THE YEAR for his dedication to maintaining the highest ideas of the legal profession.
Notable clients among others, have included:
THE BOEING COMPANY
DAYSTAR MINISTRIES
DFW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT &
THE MODERN ART MUSEUM OF FORT WORTH
Heiskell is the Owner of the firm JOHNSON, VAUGHN & HEISKELL and is the senior attorney in the law firm HEISKELL COLSTON ROUSSEAU.
Practice Areas: Criminal Law (White Collar); Administrative, Securities Law, and Civil Rights
Admitted: 1974, Texas; U.S. District Court, Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Federal Circuits; U.S. Supreme Court
Law School: Baylor University, J.D., 1974
College: Baylor University, B.A., 1972
Member: Past President of National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL); White Collar Crime Committee of NACDL, Vice-Chair of NACDL’s Foundation for Criminal Justice (“NFCJ”); Former Member, Board of Trustees of the Texas Bar Foundation and Executive Committee Member; Past-Chair, U.S. Court Advisory Committee, Northern District of Texas; Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers (former President); Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers (former President); former member of the Board of Directors of the Tarrant County Bar Association; 2011 Course Director of the State Bar of Texas’ Advanced Criminal Law Course; In 2026, Heiskell will be a Course Director for TCDLA’s “Rusty Duncan” Advanced Criminal Law Courses” for a record fourth (4th) time.
Biography: Former Galveston County Assistant District Attorney; Former Assistant U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Texas; Recipient, “Lawyer of the Year Award,” Tarrant County Black Bar Association, 1995 and 2000. Frequent author and lecturer on all aspects of State and Federal Court practice, e.g., Attorney Client Privilege Issues, Grand Jury Litigation, Pre-Trial Motions, Plea Negotiations, Opening Statements, Privileges, Confessions, Jury Selection, Handling High Profile Cases, Direct Examination, Cross-Examination and Ethics. 2015 Inductee into Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Association Hall of Fame. Recipient of the 2020 Blackstone Award by the Tarrant County Bar Association.
Has spoken frequently before the Advanced Criminal Law Course and Advanced Family Law Courses sponsored by the State Bar of Texas and to numerous seminars sponsored by the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Association, Texas Center for the Judiciary, and the Federal Public Defender’s Annual Federal Practice Seminar. Has also presented to NACDL, Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Dallas County Criminal Defense Lawyers, San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyers, Mexican-American Bar Association and the Tarrant County Bar Association. He has also been recognized in “Texas Lawyer” as one of the “Extraordinary Minorities in Texas Law.”
Senior attorney, Michael P. Heiskell, is an aggressive trial attorney, who has been named a "Super Lawyer" by his peers in White Collar Criminal Defense, in Texas Monthly Magazine for each year since 2003. He is unwavering in his dedication to each client and their case and is fearless in the courtroom. He was recently honored as a recipient of the Blackstone Award, the highest honor extended by the Tarrant County Bar Association. Heiskell was also selected by the Baylor University School of Law as its 2022 Baylor Lawyer of the Year!