Meet Stacy
Growing-up the youngest of three sisters in Colon, Panama, I learned at an early age to use my voice. My mom loves to tell the story that at age 3 after being told to be quiet by one of my sisters I responded, “No me calles, yo tengo derecho de hablar,” which translates to, “don’t tell me to be quiet, I have right to speak.” Even at a young age I had a sense of fairness and an inclination towards advocacy.
My passion for justice led me to attend and graduate from Howard University School of Law where I was President of the Huver I. Brown Trial Advocacy Moot Court Team. While a law student I interned at the Washington Lawyers Committee on Civil Rights with their Prisoners Project and worked as a Law Clerk for the Federal Public Defenders’ Office for the Southern District of Texas in Houston’s trial division.
During my legal career I served as counsel on an array of legal matters in criminal courts throughout Texas and was even a part of a multi-state legal team going after State sponsors of terrorism to obtain funds for U.S. service members and the families of those who perished in the U.S.S. Cole bombing.
In February 2022, I was appointed as a Felony Associate Judge for the Harris County Criminal District Courts. Since then, I have handled over 1500 cases relating to the most serious offenses one can be charged with in this State. My reputation is one of fairness, ensuring due process by allowing each side to be heard, and treating everyone with dignity, no matter if they are the accused or the victim of a crime.
I have also led my life with service, including being a volunteer youth minister for 8 years and volunteering at Grace Place and other organizations that create safe places for youth and young adults who are most at-risk in our community.
The concerns and the needs of the people of Harris County are what help inform the work I do on the bench. As an elected judge to the 487th Criminal District Court I will do my part to ensure everyone in Harris County lives in safe and thriving communities no matter their zip code.
Education
Howard University School of Law
Washington, D.C. J.D., May 2011;
Honors: Howard University School of Law Huver I. Brown Advocacy Award, 2011
Activities:
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President, Huver I. Brown Trial Advocacy Moot Court Team, 2010-2011
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Semi-finalist, Texas Young Lawyers Association National Trial Competition, 2011
St. Edward’s University
Austin, TX
B.A., cum laude, International Relations, May 2006
Honors:
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Dean’s List; St. Edward’s University Presidential Award, May 2006
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Student Organization Outstanding Leadership Award, 2003, 2004, 2005
Career
Harris County Criminal District Courts, Houston, TX
Felony Associate Judge, February 2022-Present
Independently, fairly and competently interpret and apply relevant laws to each of the felony criminal matters before the Court, resolve challenges to the constitutionality of Texas criminal statutes, determine probable cause and provide statutory warnings, ensure the prompt and efficient resolution of cases through proper docket management, conduct evidentiary hearings and promptly rule, determine appropriate bail, set cases for trial, preside over jury selection, research current laws impacting the Court, issue proposed findings of fact, conclusions, and recommendations to the Court of Criminal Appeals, respond to orders from the Court of Appeals, and maintain professional standards in the courtroom.
Notable cases:
• Presided as judge in over 1500 felony matters
• Affirmed by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in over 70 post-conviction writ matters
• Presided as judge in over 75 jury panels
Law Office of Stacy M. Allen PLLC, Houston, TX
Principal, October 2016-February 2022
Vigorously represent clients in a variety of legal matters including, but not limited to, criminal defense, corporate formation, civil litigation, contested and uncontested probate cases, and divorce and child custody disputes. As lead counsel, I manage a caseload of forty to fifty cases. I draft pleadings, advocate for clients in hearings and at trial and conduct mediations and informal dispute resolutions to ensure optimal results for our clients.
Notable cases:
• Over fifty criminal cases dismissed in counties throughout Texas
• State v. Ellis: part of three-person defense team in murder jury trial
• Copland v. Bonner: lead defense counsel in a federal civil jury trial resulting in the Court granting a directed verdict in favor of our client and the jury awarding over $40,000.00 to Bonner for her counterclaims
Nguyen & Chen, LLP, Houston, TX
Associate Attorney, March 2015-October 2016
Represented clients as lead attorney on criminal, civil, and corporate matters. Manage cases from their inception through post-judgment collection. Responsibilities included drafting pleadings, conducting investigations, depositions, and mediations, researching case law, motions practice, contract drafting and negotiations, business formation, corporate compliance, assessing evidence, and negotiating plea bargains. Served as first and second chair in jury trials, drafting all pre-trial documents and conducting voir dire, openings, closings, direct and cross examinations.
Notable cases:
• Berry v. RPoint5, et. al: first chair in civil jury trial stemming from criminal assault charges that mitigated defendant’s financial exposure from $240,000.00 to $74,000.00
• Doe v. O’Toole, et. al: co-counsel in civil jury trial stemming from child sexual assault allegations, which resulted in the jury finding our client not liable.
Law Office of Nelson M. Jones III, Houston, TX
Associate Attorney, August 2013-March 2015
Represented clients in federal and state, criminal and civil matters as part of general practice. Provided end-to-end management of cases from initial consultation to trial. Responsibilities included preparing pleadings, conducting investigations, mediations, motions practice, and courtroom representation in oral arguments and bench or jury trials. Practice areas included criminal law, divorces, child custody matters, corporate matters, civil litigation, personal injury, commercial litigation, and international terrorism.
Notable cases:
• State of Texas v. Dalcour: co-counsel in jury trial resulting in a not guilty verdict on felony bail jumping charges
• State of Texas v. McAplin: secured dismissal for my client in a felony injury to an elderly person case, allowing my client to remain on probation
Law Office of Lori Gray and Associates, Houston, TX
Associate Attorney, January 2012-August 2013
Advocated on behalf of clients as part of a general practice with a primary focus on state and federal criminal law. Represented clients at all stages of litigation including preparing pleadings, discovery, investigations, strategy development, plea negotiations, drafting federal sentencing memoranda, filing motions to suppress, arguing motions in limine, jury trials and post-conviction Writ of Habeas Corpus.
Notable cases:
• State of Texas v. Houston: second chair in jury trial that resulted in not guilty verdict on all three counts of felony possession of cocaine in a school zone, tampering with evidence, and tampering with a witness
• State of Texas v. Bradley: drafted Writ of Habeas Corpus and coordinated with fingerprint expert to provide affidavit, which led to a hearing on the matter
• Authored response to a Notice of Complaint by the Texas Medical Board and advocated for client at the hearing which resulted in the board declining to seek further disciplinary action
Law Office of Nelson M. Jones III, Houston, TX
Law Clerk/Associate Attorney, August 2011-January 2012
Conducted legal research and revised manuals of the deceased account holder group in multiple states for a national bank, prepared filings for Chapter 7, 11, and 13 bankruptcies, represented clients in bankruptcy creditors meetings and confirmation hearings, facilitated out-of-court settlements of consumer debt, successfully objected to and defended clients against property tax assessments, represented corporations in federal district court, authored motions to dismiss, wrote motions for summary judgment, and conducted oral arguments in federal district court.
Federal Public Defender-Southern District of Texas, Houston, TX
Law Clerk, June 2010-August 2010
Examined discovery and briefed supervising attorneys on defense strategies and applicable sentencing guidelines, researched complex legal issues and wrote legal memoranda, developed legal arguments for motions, briefed issues for inclusion in U.S. Supreme Court brief in opposition to certiorari, conducted contact visits and reviewed evidence with clients, mooted attorneys preparing for appellate oral arguments, shadowed attorneys in court, and analyzed financial records in stock fraud case.
Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, Washington, D.C.
D.C. Prisoners Project Intern, January 2010-April 2010
Provided legal advice to prisoners claiming human rights violations, decided the viability of claims, interviewed prisoners about their cases, attended depositions, filed FOIA requests, requested medical records, assisted prisoners through the prison grievance process, and wrote legal memoranda on novel constitutional issues.