Clay S. Conrad

Bar Admissions & Licenses

Supreme Court of Texas (1996)
United States District Court, Southern District of Texas (1997)
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals (1997)
United States Supreme Court (2001)
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals (2003)
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals (2004)
Eastern District of Texas (2009)
Eastern District of Michigan (2010)

Honors & Awards

Member

Retired Partner, now Of-Counsel

Biography

Clay S. Conrad is a respected appellate and criminal defense attorney with a career spanning nearly 30 years in state and federal litigation, appellate advocacy, and pre-trial litigation. He has successfully represented clients in white-collar and blue-collar cases, from state misdemeanors to federal felonies, across Texas and the United States.

A cum laude graduate of both Franklin-Pierce College (Rindge, New Hampshire) and the University of Texas School of Law, Mr. Conrad is widely recognized for his exceptional legal research, drafting skills, and appellate litigation experience. He has litigated over 50 appeals across numerous federal and state jurisdictions and played a pivotal role in pre-trial litigation, electronic case presentation, and criminal and civil forfeiture litigation.

Paul Looney, his long-time legal partner, once said:

“If you have to have somebody at a computer trying to figure out how to win a case, there isn’t anybody else I want at my computer.”

Mr. Conrad is also an author, speaker, and thought leader on the subject of jury nullification, having published a groundbreaking book on the topic.

Legal Experience

Looney Smith Conrad & Hefti P.C., Houston, TX
• Retired Partner, Now Of-Counsel (Present)
• Shareholder (2005–Present) – Appellate and pre-trial litigation lead for the firm
Lamson & Looney, P.C., Houston, TX
• Shareholder (2000–2005)
• Associate (1999)
Paul C. Looney & Associates, Houston, TX
• Associate (1997–1998) – Led appellate litigation for a six-lawyer firm
Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Austin, TX
• Staff Counsel (1996–1997)
• Research Assistant/Editor (1994–1996) – Content editor for the membership journal and CLE materials

Pro Bono & Community Service

Professional Associations & Leadership

Former Board Member, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• Board Member (2008–2011)
• Associate Board Member (2006–2008)
• Member Since 1996
Member, Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit
Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
Member, Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association
Member, Legal Committee, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)
Past Chair (2002–2005), Fully Informed Jury Association (FIJA)

In the News & Public Service

Jury Nullification Thought Leadership

Clay S. Conrad is the author of “Jury Nullification: The Evolution of a Doctrine”, which explores the history and power of juries to check government authority by voting “not guilty” when the law is unjustly applied.

“This is the most important book on the independence of juries since Lysander Spooner’s Trial by Jury in 1852. It is meticulously researched and balanced.”
— Randy E. Barnett, Austin B. Fletcher Professor of Law, Boston University

Mr. Conrad has been a featured guest on numerous radio talk shows discussing jury rights and legal reform.

Legal & Policy Advocacy

Served as content editor for Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association’s membership journal
Drafted legislative analysis of criminal law bills before Texas legislative sessions
Represented the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association before the Texas State Bar, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, and Texas Legislature

Publications & Speaking Engagements

Books

“Jury Nullification: The Evolution of a Doctrine” – Carolina Academic Press, 1998

Academic Publications

Professional Publications

Proceeding Vaguely: Obstruction of a Pending Proceeding Under 18 U.S.C. 1505 – The Champion, NACDL (July/August 2014)
Jury Persuasion in Criminal Cases: Utilizing ‘Solution Selling’ Techniques – Voice for the Defense (November 2014)
Jury Nullification in Capital Cases – Voice for the Defense (2000)

General Interest Publications

Indefensible: Public Defenders Are Too Overloaded to Protect the Rights of the Accused – Reason (July 2011)
Justice Goes to Pot: Overcoming a Flawed Medical Marijuana Policy – National Review Online (November 2003)
Juries Should Prevent the Overbroad Use of Criminal Sanctions – Insight Magazine (May 1999)

Speaking Engagements & Continuing Legal Education

Mr. Conrad has presented at legal education seminars and public forums nationwide, including:

Stanford Law School – “Jury Persuasion in Criminal Cases” (1998)
Cornell Law School Symposium – “Are Juries Competent to Judge the Law?” (1997)
National Conference, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) – “So You’ve Been Called for Jury Duty” (2002)
Federal Public Defender’s Office, Philadelphia – “Theories, Themes, and Jury Persuasion” (2001)

Clay S. Conrad

Retired Partner, now Of-Counsel

Biography

Paul Looney, his long-time legal partner, once said:

“If you have to have somebody at a computer trying to figure out how to win a case, there isn’t anybody else I want at my computer.”

Mr. Conrad is also an author, speaker, and thought leader on the subject of jury nullification, having published a groundbreaking book on the topic.

Legal Experience

Looney Smith Conrad & Hefti P.C., Houston, TX
• Retired Partner, Now Of-Counsel (Present)
• Shareholder (2005–Present) – Appellate and pre-trial litigation lead for the firm
Lamson & Looney, P.C., Houston, TX
• Shareholder (2000–2005)
• Associate (1999)
Paul C. Looney & Associates, Houston, TX
• Associate (1997–1998) – Led appellate litigation for a six-lawyer firm
Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Austin, TX
• Staff Counsel (1996–1997)
• Research Assistant/Editor (1994–1996) – Content editor for the membership journal and CLE materials

Pro Bono & Community Service

Professional Associations & Leadership

Former Board Member, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• Board Member (2008–2011)
• Associate Board Member (2006–2008)
• Member Since 1996
Member, Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit
Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
Member, Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association
Member, Legal Committee, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)
Past Chair (2002–2005), Fully Informed Jury Association (FIJA)

In the News & Public Service

Jury Nullification Thought Leadership

“This is the most important book on the independence of juries since Lysander Spooner’s Trial by Jury in 1852. It is meticulously researched and balanced.”
— Randy E. Barnett, Austin B. Fletcher Professor of Law, Boston University

Mr. Conrad has been a featured guest on numerous radio talk shows discussing jury rights and legal reform.

Legal & Policy Advocacy

Served as content editor for Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association’s membership journal
Drafted legislative analysis of criminal law bills before Texas legislative sessions
Represented the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association before the Texas State Bar, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, and Texas Legislature

Publications & Speaking Engagements

Books

“Jury Nullification: The Evolution of a Doctrine” – Carolina Academic Press, 1998

Academic Publications

Professional Publications

Proceeding Vaguely: Obstruction of a Pending Proceeding Under 18 U.S.C. 1505 – The Champion, NACDL (July/August 2014)
Jury Persuasion in Criminal Cases: Utilizing ‘Solution Selling’ Techniques – Voice for the Defense (November 2014)
Jury Nullification in Capital Cases – Voice for the Defense (2000)

General Interest Publications

Indefensible: Public Defenders Are Too Overloaded to Protect the Rights of the Accused – Reason (July 2011)
Justice Goes to Pot: Overcoming a Flawed Medical Marijuana Policy – National Review Online (November 2003)
Juries Should Prevent the Overbroad Use of Criminal Sanctions – Insight Magazine (May 1999)

Speaking Engagements & Continuing Legal Education

Mr. Conrad has presented at legal education seminars and public forums nationwide, including:

Stanford Law School – “Jury Persuasion in Criminal Cases” (1998)
Cornell Law School Symposium – “Are Juries Competent to Judge the Law?” (1997)
National Conference, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) – “So You’ve Been Called for Jury Duty” (2002)
Federal Public Defender’s Office, Philadelphia – “Theories, Themes, and Jury Persuasion” (2001)

Bar Admissions & Licenses

Supreme Court of Texas (1996)
United States District Court, Southern District of Texas (1997)
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals (1997)
United States Supreme Court (2001)
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals (2003)
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals (2004)
Eastern District of Texas (2009)
Eastern District of Michigan (2010)

281-597-8818

979-826-8484

281-597-8818

979-826-8484

Bar Admissions & Licenses

Honors & Awards

Member

Clay S. Conrad

Biography

Legal Experience

Clay S. Conrad

Biography

Legal Experience

Bar Admissions & Licenses

Honors & Awards

Member

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Practice Areas

Houston Office

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