A Look Back at an
Incredible 2023 at
Looney, Smith & Conrad!

Our Most Significant Achievements in 2023

This year, we were honored to receive the award
of Harris County Criminal Lawyers of the Year!
Throughout 2023, we had many victories and obtained dismissals for numerous clients. The most notable and significant include two "Motions to Suppress" in which the charges against our clients were dismissed. We also achieved a trial day dismissal for our client who faced charges of indecency with a child (amid a legal dispute with his ex-girlfriend).

On May 11, the Harris County Criminal Lawyer's Association honored our trial lawyers Paul C. Looney, Clay S. Conrad and Wade B. Smith with the award of
Harris County Criminal Lawyers of the Year!

At the end of 2022 in what some have called the biggest trial win in Houston that year, our client Robert Soliz, was acquitted in the death of veteran police Sgt. Sean Rios. The case revolved around a road rage clash. After a near-collision, Rios, who was in his personal car, not in uniform, and did not identify himself as an officer, followed Soliz' car traveling north on Interstate 45.

Soliz exited onto the feeder road and Rios followed. Rios stepped out of his vehicle approaching Soliz's car "red faced" and angry, with his gun in hand. A shootout ensued with Rios mortally wounded. "It was always self defense," attorney Wade B. Smith said. "Every bit of evidence pointed to that."

Three More Significant Cases

In July, we won a "Motion to Suppress" for our client who was a passenger in the backseat of a friend's car. The vehicle was pulled over for what officers claimed was an illegal tint on the windows and a non-matching paper license plate. Body camera video footage showed the officers went beyond what the law allows for a pat-down and contradicted much of what the officers wrote in their reports. During cross-examination, each officer contradicted the others' testimony multiple times. Armed with the transcript of the hearing, Clay S. Conrad drafted a memorandum briefing all the issues for the judge and Wade B. Smith gave closing arguments. The judge gave her ruling, agreeing the search was illegal and granted the motion to suppress. This resulted in the State dismissing the case.

In August, we won another suppression hearing on a felony drug possession case. Our clients were stopped for speeding, removed from the vehicle and searched by multiple officers and a K9 revealing drugs inside the car. At the suppression hearing, it was revealed through officer testimony and video evidence that the search was in violation of the 4th Amendment. The judge agreed and all evidence found was suppressed.

In October, our client who faced charges of indecency with a child amid a legal dispute with his ex-girlfriend, was given a dismissal on the day of trial. We uncovered substantial inconsistencies in the allegations and identifying witnesses who contradicted key aspects of the charges. One week before the trial, the complaining witness recanted significant portions of her allegations. In a last-minute development, the State decided not to proceed with the case and a dismissal was filed on the morning the trial was scheduled to begin.

Honors and Awards

Paul C. Looney is a
"Super Fellow" and a "Super Lawyer"
In 2023, Paul again was designated as a "Super Fellow" of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association Educational Institute - one of 60 lawyers donating a designated amount for the endowment program for the continuing legal education for tomorrow's criminal lawyers. The program also provides educational opportunities for Texas lawyers.

"Super Lawyers" is a rating service for outstanding attorneys from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.

Congratulations Paul!

A Look Back at an Incredible 2023 at Looney, Smith & Conrad!

Our Most Significant Achievements in 2023

A Look Back at an
Incredible 2023 at
Looney, Smith & Conrad!