Michael Heiskell, J.D. (1970)

After graduating from Navarro College in 1970, Michael Heiskell earned a bachelor's degree from Baylor University in 1972 and a JD from Baylor University School of Law in 1974.
He was the Assistant District Attorney for Galveston County from 1975-1980.
He was the Assistant United States Attorney from 1980-1984.
He was one of the three founding partners of Johnson, Vaughn & Heiskell in 1984.
Heiskell was named “Lawyer of the Year” by the Tarrant County Black Bar Association in 1995 and 2000.
Received the “Presidential Award of Excellence” from the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association in 1994, 1995, and 2003.
Hieskell was inducted into the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Hall of Fame in 2015.
He received The Blackstone Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a member of the Tarrant County Bar Association in 2020.
He was selected as “2022 Baylor Lawyer of the Year” by Baylor University School of Law.
Mr. Heiskell is a member of several professional law organizations, including the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, for which he serves on the executive committee. He also was formerly chairperson of the U.S. Court Advisory Committee for the Northern District of Texas.
In August 2023, Heiskell will be sworn in as President of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers ("NACDL").