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Houston Trial Lawyer Rusty Hardin Named a Texas Legal Legend

HOUSTON – The Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas has inducted Houston trial lawyer Rusty Hardin as its newest Texas Legal Legend, an honor he shares with a long line of highly regarded trial lawyers who have spent their professional careers serving others and taking on challenges that are much bigger than themselves.

“I have been lucky enough to have a wonderful career, but any trial lawyer who has achieved any degree of success is only as good as the people around him,” said Mr. Hardin. “This recognition is a great honor, but I am most proud of it because it was made possible by the people I work with.”

Past Living Legend honorees include James “Jim” Coleman, Joe Jamail, Carolyn Wright-Sanders and Lloyd P. Lochridge, among others.

Before entering private practice, Mr. Hardin served as a high-level prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney’s office, where he personally prosecuted some of the office’s most important cases during his 15-year tenure. He was frequently recognized for his ability to win over jurors with his unpretentious style and ability to break down complex legal issues into everyday language. That skillset allowed him to successfully prosecute 14 death penalty cases and more than 100 felony jury trials, never losing a felony jury trial.

In 1996, Mr. Hardin launched Rusty Hardin & Associates, LLP — a Houston-based firm that quickly gained national recognition as a premiere law firm for both civil and significant criminal matters. Along with his colleagues, Mr. Hardin has represented and won favorable verdicts for a lengthy list of high-profile clients, including professional MLB pitcher Roger Clemens, TV evangelist Victoria Osteen and NASA astronaut Anne McClain. Mr. Hardin also represented the accounting firm Arthur Andersen during the Enron scandal, a case that resulted in a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court opinion overturning the firm’s obstruction of justice conviction.

Outside of the office, Mr. Hardin has held several leadership positions on committees for the State Bar of Texas and has served on the faculty of numerous public and professional organizations.  He is also a highly sought-after speaker for national and regional bar associations and business groups.

A native of North Carolina, Hardin received his undergraduate degree from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, and his J.D. from Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

Texas Legal Legends is a project of the Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas. Its purpose is to memorialize the stories of legendary lawyers who have practiced in Texas

To adhere to social distancing concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic, a representative from the State Bar of Texas presented the award to Mr. Hardin through Zoom.

Rusty Hardin & Associates, LLP has built an outstanding reputation for taking on the causes of its clients and obtaining favorable results in both civil matters and significant criminal cases. To learn more about Rusty Hardin & Associates, visit rustyhardin.com.