Chris Abel is an experienced, professional criminal defense attorney that focuses on protecting the citizens of Denton, Dallas, and Tarrant Counties from unlawful and overzealous arrests. If you or someone that you know has been arrested or charged with a crime, let Chris Abel defend your rights and fight for you.
Chris Abel graduated from Austin College with honors when he was twenty years old, and Baylor Law School when he was twenty-three. While at Baylor he excelled in trial and appellate advocacy, winning many accolades and praise from the faculty. Graduating near the top of his class. When Chris Abel was licensed to practice law in 2004, he was only twenty-three years old, and the youngest practicing attorney in Texas at that time.
He has now been practicing exclusively in the field of criminal law for twelve years and is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a distinction earned by only 2% of all criminal defense attorneys. He has also been recognized as a Super Fellow by the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Association. Super Fellows have shown diligence in teaching fellow defense attorneys, and only approximately 100 attorneys in Texas are recognized as Super Fellows by the association. Because of his expertise in criminal law, Mr. Abel is qualified to put on continuing legal education (CLE) classes and training for other attorneys in the state of Texas, which is something that he routinely does. He is also a faculty member of the University of North Texas, where is routinely teaches legal courses.
Chris Abel has tried over 200 cases in front of a jury, something most lawyers do not achieve in an entire career. He is also a former prosecutor for the Denton County District Attorney’s Office. He knows how that side of the law works, and if he does not like the negotiations offered he will go to trial on your behalf to fight for you in court. Other attorneys are known as “plea attorneys,” but Chris Abel will go to trial and fight the government. Chris Abel has tried everything from traffic tickets to capital murder cases, and excels in zealous courtroom advocacy.
Mr. Abel was President of the Denton County Criminal Defense Association and was elected to serve in 2014. Chris Abel is also the founding member of the DUI Defense Lawyers Association, a new organization started in 2014 that has 50 founding members and 400 total members nationwide.
In order to become an expert in DUI and DWI law, Chris Abel took classes on the Intoxilyzer, a breathalyzer device. He knows how it works, how to maintain the device, and how to look for defects in the machine if one is used against you. Chris Abel has even served as an instructor at the State’s Breath Test Operator’s School. He is also certified in field sobriety testing and has taken numerous courses on blood alcohol testing as well.
One of the biggest advantages of hiring Chris Abel as your criminal defense attorney is the close, personal interaction that he has with his clients. Mr. Abel does not have a vast list of open client cases; instead, he focuses on a small number of clients and provides them with one-on-one attention for their needs.
Chris Abel gets to know his clients beyond the cold facts of the case. He routinely gives out his personal cell phone number and email address so that clients can reach him at any time, day or night. Mr. Abel may charge more his services, but you are also getting more individualized attention and expert experience on your side. Your concerns are his concerns, and he will provide personal attention for your personal matters.
Chris Abel focuses primarily on criminal defense work in Denton, Dallas, and Tarrant Counties. This area includes:
…and other locations in and around the area.
Owner at Law Offices of J. Christopher Abel, PLLC, 2014-present
Adjunct Professor at University Of North Texas, 2009-present
Attorney at Powers & Shanklin, 2007-2014
Prosecutor at Denton County District Attorney’s Office, 2005-2007
Attorney at Evans, Gandy, Daniel, and Moore, 2004-2005
Austin College, History
BA – Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude 2001
Baylor University School of Law, General Litigation
Doctor of Jurisprudence/Juris Doctor (J.D.) 2004
National College for DUI Defense, Attendee Mastering
Scientific Evidence in a DUI Case; 2013 & 2015
Jay Zager, Inc., Forensic Breath Alcohol Testing
Intoxilyzer 5000 Maintenance Technician 2013
Lance Platt and Associates, Standardized Field Sobriety Testing
Practitioner 2012
Texas Academy of Leadership in Humanities 1999
Super Fellow: Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association 2013
Moot Court Semifinalist: Baylor University School of Law 2002
Dean’s Academic Merit: Baylor University School of Law 2001
Super Fellow, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association 2005-present
Member, Denton County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association 2007-present
Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2011present
Member, National College of DUI Defense, 2012-present
Member, Texas Bar College, 2007-present
Lifetime Member, Baylor University School of Law 2007-present
Member, United Methodist Church 1980-present
President, Denton County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association 2014-present
Founding Member, DUI Defense Lawyers Association 2014-present
Mr. Abel promises to provide you with the expert, dedicated, and personalized criminal defense that your case needs. For a list of criminal charges that Chris Abel defends, please refer to his criminal defense page. If you or someone that you know is in need of an experienced criminal defense attorney, let Chris Abel help. Call or contact the office today for a private and free review of your case.