Texas & Federal Criminal Appeals Attorneys

Elite Appellate Advocacy in the

Heart of Texas

Our Dallas office is the center of our state-level Texas appellate practice and a home base for federal criminal appeals nationwide, with a particular focus on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. From our office at 8350 N Central Expressway, we provide high-stakes appellate representation to individuals across Texas and nationwide. We handle every stage of the post-conviction process, from initial direct appeals to complex federal habeas petitions. As a boutique firm that specializes exclusively in post-conviction litigation, our Dallas presence is defined by attorneys with impeccable credentials and a proven record of securing reversals.

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With more than 100 years of combined experience in appellate law, we take advocacy to the next level.

What We Do

Our Practices

We are specialized appellate attorneys in Dallas. We aren't trial attorneys who dabble in appeals; we are career appellate litigators. Our team includes a former SMU Law professor, a former Chief of the Appellate Division for the Dallas District Attorney, and a former clerk at Texas’s highest criminal court. With over 100 years of combined experience, we don’t just understand the law—we know the specific tendencies of the Fifth Circuit and Texas appellate judges. In a system that strongly favors the government, we have established a winning legacy right here in North Texas.

Direct
Appeals

We aggressively challenge convictions arising from the Texas state and federal district courts, taking your fight to the Texas Courts of Appeals and United States Circuit Courts. Our attorneys meticulously dissect the trial record to identify reversible legal errors that can overturn an unjust verdict.

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Petitions for Review

When an intermediate court fails to correct a wrong, we petition the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals or the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene. We craft persuasive arguments demonstrating why your case presents a significant legal issue that the highest courts must address.

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Habeas Applications

We pursue post-conviction relief for clients who have exhausted their appeals, utilizing federal 2255 motions and Texas Article 11.07 writs to challenge constitutional violations. Our team investigates off-record errors, such as ineffective counsel or prosecutorial misconduct, to vacate judgments entered in Texas and federal courts.

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Trial
Support

Our team collaborates with defense attorneys in Texas and federal courts to strictly preserve the record during trial. By identifying and documenting errors in real-time, we ensure you have a robust foundation for an appeal should the verdict go against you.

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Directed by Texas Legal Legends & Fifth Circuit Leaders

Texas
Appellate Team

Our Dallas office is anchored by Brett Ordiway, one of only 133 Texas attorneys Board Certified in Criminal-Appellate Law and the current Co-Chair of the Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit’s Criminal Law Committee. He is joined by Robert Udashen, a legendary figure in Dallas criminal defense and former SMU Law professor who has overturned wrongful convictions in Texas for decades. The team is rounded out by Lori Ordiway, the former Chief of the Appellate Division for the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, whose insider knowledge of prosecution strategy provides a critical advantage in state appeals. When you hire Ordiway PLLC, you are hiring a team that the Texas judiciary knows and respects.

Working to Right Wrongs

Brett Ordiway

Owner & Principal

Robert Udashen

Of Counsel

* Our Attorneys

Lori Ordiway

Of Counsel

Dallas, Texas Office

Strategically Positioned in North Texas

Headquartered in the iconic Campbell Centre, our office is strategically positioned to serve as a command post for appellate litigation across Texas and federal courts nationwide. This central location ensures quick access to every relevant appellate court, all while providing a private, professional environment for your high-stakes case.

Generally, no. While the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals is headquartered in New Orleans, the vast majority of appellate work is done through written briefs filed electronically. If the court grants "Oral Argument" (which happens in a minority of cases), your attorney will travel to argue on your behalf. You, as the client, typically do not need to be present for appellate proceedings.

The Fifth Circuit handles federal crimes (e.g., federal drug conspiracy, wire fraud) charged in U.S. District Courts. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is the highest court for state crimes (e.g., murder, DWI) charged under Texas state law. Ordiway PLLC has extensive experience litigating in both systems.

In federal criminal cases, you generally have only 14 days from the entry of the judgment to file a Notice of Appeal. This is a strict jurisdictional deadline. If you have recently been sentenced at the Earle Cabell Federal Building or another Northern District courthouse, you must act immediately to preserve your right to appeal.

Yes. If your direct appeal was unsuccessful, or if you missed the deadline, we can file a Motion to Vacate under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. These motions are filed back in the trial court (the District Court in Dallas) and often raise issues that couldn't be brought up earlier, such as ineffective assistance of counsel or new evidence.

We are located at 8350 N Central Expy, Suite 1900, in the Campbell Centre. This central location allows us to quickly access the federal courts downtown while providing a discreet, accessible meeting place for clients and families away from the congestion of the immediate courthouse district.

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Practices

Our Team

Texas

Colorado