David Gonzalez, Lawyer

David Gonzalez

Lawyer

Areas of Focus:

Federal White Collar Criminal Matters • Civil Plaintiff’s Trial Litigation • Federal and State Appeals • Allegations of Sexual Misconduct • DWI • Serious Juvenile Offenses

Phone: (512) 381-9955

Fax: (512) 381-9955

Email: david@sg-llp.com

On good days, David González wakes up early, goes running, and when he returns home his four kids have eaten breakfast, cleared their plates to the dishwasher, and are quietly reading while waiting to go to school.

This never happens. Instead, most mornings are similar to the opening scene in Home Alone when everybody has overslept, nobody’s packed, and there’s absolutely no way they’re going to catch their flight. In matters of competency, David is severely deficient in getting kids to match their socks, put their dirty clothes in the hamper, and get in bed without 25 reminders.

For 20 years David has practiced criminal law in Austin with his wife, Corinne Sumpter, and a dedicated group of lawyers and social workers. His knowledge of federal and state criminal law is largely through his work with a multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals in complex cases.

David is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Stanford Law School, and he is the recent recipient of the Federal Bar Association’s 2018 Advocate of the Year and the 2017 Austin Bar Association’s Professionalism Award. He has previously been recognized by the American Bar Association and the Austin Bar Association as young lawyer (under 40) of the year, and was appointed by the ABA to serve on Professor Barry Scheck’s committee analyzing collateral consequences of criminal convictions. He frequently is invited to train federal and state public defenders, and has taught hundreds of CLE programs to fellow criminal defense lawyers, prosecutors, and judges. He was an inaugural member of the board of directors of the Capital Area Private Defender Service, was appointed by the Supreme Court to serve on the Board of Disciplinary Appeals which oversees attorney disbarment and suspensions for the entire State of Texas, and serves on the executive committee of the Lloyd Lochridge Inn of Court. David has served as a special prosecutor for Travis County, Kendall County, Panola County, and the City of Cibolo. He is a member of the Disciplinary Committee of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas and previously served on the District 9 grievance committee of the State Bar of Texas from 2012–2015.

In his free time, David teaches trial advocacy at the law school, ignores his doctor’s advice to lay off red meat, and routinely embarrasses his kids in public.

The real reason I picked criminal law as my specialty was so that I could date Corinne in law school.
  • Stanford Law School (J.D., 1999)
  • Dartmouth College (B.A. in Government & Education, 1995)
  • State Bar of Texas
  • State Bar of California
  • Lloyd Lochridge Inn of Court – Executive Committee; Programming co-chair • 2012 – present
  • Adjunct Professor – University of Texas School of Law (Trial Advocacy Program)
  • Legislative Counsel – Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (2007-present)
  • Board Certified – Criminal Law – Texas Board of Legal Specialization (2006)
  • Award: 2018 Austin Federal Bar Association, Western District of Texas
  • Texas Monthly SuperLawyers in Criminal Law: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
  • Award: 2017 Austin Bar Association & Texas Center for Legal Ethics Professionalism Award
  • Special Prosecutor, Panola County – Officer involved shooting • 2016
  • Board of Disciplinary Appeals, Appointed by the Supreme Court of Texas • 2015-present
  • Committee to Investigate Reappointment of Federal Magistrate Andrew Austin for the Austin Division of the Western District of Texas • 2015
  • State Bar of Texas District 9 Grievance Committee • 2012 – 2015
  • Western District of Texas Disciplinary Committee, Appointed by Chief of the Western District of Texas • 2014 – present
  • Special Prosecutor, Kendall County – criminal defense lawyer accused of false statement • 2014
  • Special Prosecutor, Travis County – former Governor Rick Perry • 2014
  • Texas Monthly Rising Star in Criminal Law: 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
  • Board of Directors – Capital Area Private Defender Service • 2014 – present
  • Texas Indigent Defense Commission – Weighted Caseload Study Delphi Panel • 2014
  • Texas Indigent Defense Commission – Weighted Caseload Study Advisory Panel • 2014
  • Texas Indigent Defense Commission – Client Choice Project Advisory Panel • 2014
  • Award: 2012 “Excellence in Public Interest by a Private Law Firm” from University of Texas School of Law for Sumpter & Gonzalez
  • Federal Magistrate Selection Committee for the Austin Division of the Western District of Texas • 2012
  • Finalist, 2011 & 2010 Austin Chamber of Commerce “Innovation Award” for Sumpter & Gonzalez
  • Special Outside Counsel, City of Cibolo – investigation of Mayor accused of criminal wrongdoing • 2011
  • Committee to Investigate Reappointment of Federal Magistrate Robert Pitman for the
    Austin Division of the Western District of Texas • 2011
  • ABA Task Force on Comprehensive Representation • 2011
  • LeadershipSBOT Class • 2009-2010
  • Robert Calvert American Inn of Court • 2007 – 2010
  • Winner, 2008 Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year Austin Young Lawyers Association and Austin Bar Association
  • Finalist, 2008 Austin Under 40 Award Legal Category
  • Finalist, 2008 American Bar Association National Outstanding Young Lawyer Award American Bar Association
  • Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2006-present
  • Austin Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Board of Directors – 2002-2005
  • Finalist – Stanford Law School Moot Court – 1999
  • Winner of Dartmouth College Barrett Cup Award – 1995
  • 10th Best Speaker at Nationals, National Quarterfinalist Cross-Examination Debate • 1991
  • Winner, 1991 Texas UIL 5A State Champion, Cross-Examination Debate
  • Instructor: University of Texas School of Law Trial Advocacy Program • 2012 – present
  • Participant: Train the Trainers Workshop, Federal Defender’s Office • 2017
  • Participant: Train the Trainers Workshop, Federal Defender’s Office • 2017
  • Instructor: University of Texas School of Law Spring Trial Academy • 2017
  • Instructor: Advanced Criminal Law – Boot Camp • 2014, 2015, 2016
  • Instructor: University of Texas School of Law Fall Litigation Institute • 2013
  • Participant: National College of Criminal Defense Lawyers • 2006
  • Participant: Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College • 2004
  • Participant: Texas Criminal Trial College, 2000
  • YMCA – Youth soccer coach • 2010, 2014, 2015 – 2017
  • Seedling Foundation, President of the Board • 2009-2010
  • Seedling’s Promise for Children of Incarcerated Parents • 2008 – 2010
  • St. David’s Day School, Board of Directors • 2006 – 2010
  • Leadership Academy for Public Service • 2007
  • Leadership Austin Essential Class Member • 2006 – 2007
  • Assistant Foreperson, Travis County Grand Jury • 2004
  • Invited presenter at Kealing Middle School PTA
  • Invited presenter at St. Andrews parent lunch presentations (Upper and Lower School)
  • Invited presenter at Bailey Middle School PTA
  • Invited presenter at St. Gabriel parent lunch presentation: teens and the law; digital citizenship; parenting vs. defending children
  • Invited speaker at Kealing Middle School (entire student body)
  • Invited speaker at Kealing Middle School (Teens and the Law)
  • Invited speaker St. Andrews Upper and Lower School
  • Invited speaker at St. Stephens
  • Invited speaker at Fulmore Middle School (Law Day)
  • Invited speaker at Austin High School