Collis White San Antonio, Texas
| phone | (866) 719-0564 (210) 888-9634 |
| fax | (210) 223-5331 |
| Email Me | |
Interestingly, Mr. White did not begin his career as either a police officer or an attorney. Having grown up in a small rural town in Kansas, he attended the University of Kansas to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Theater. After two years of performing on and off campus, he was awarded a full fellowship at the prestigious American Conservatory Theater in San Fransisco, California.
Seven years later, after approximately 20 national television commercials, 4 national Broadway show tours, and a bit of television, Mr. White sought something with more "meaning" and discovered the world of politics in New York City. There, he was appointed to Community Planning Board #4 by Manhattan Borough President Andrew Stein and later elected to the New York County Democratic Committee.
Living in "Hell's Kitchen," in the late 1970's, crime was the foremost political issue and Mr. White "took it on." In light of his work with the planning board and a "by-line" criminal justice column he wrote for a local newspaper, he was approached by the Dean of John Jay College of Criminal Justice which is part of City University of New York. The Dean asked Mr. White to return to college, complete his degree in Criminal Justice, and consider teaching at the college. While at the College, Mr. White took the test to become a New York City Police Officer and the rest is history.
While working around the clock at a steady sector as a patrolmen on Manhattan's West Side, Mr. White obtained his Juris Doctor degree at Fordham University Law School. Upon graduation, he was hired as the first policeman ever to serve in Manhattan as an Assistant District Attorney.
Approximately 70 jury trials later, Mr. White was appointed to the United States Department of Justice and assigned to the Western District of Texas as an Assistant United States Attorney. He immediately took over as prosecutor for the Del Rio Division which comprises seven counties along the Texas/Mexican border. After trying at least two dozen federal trials - mostly narcotics offenses, Mr. White left the Department of Justice and entered private practice. His experience in the criminal justice system taught him that as a defense lawyer he could do more to protect liberty and freedom from what he began to see as an impending "police state."
Now, after 14 years in private practice, Mr. White has brought all of his experience and perspectives together to establish a practice dedicated to preserving the liberty of his clients and to making sure that the Government respects the Bill of Rights when they prosecute either the innocent or the guilty. His extensive trial experience and his theatrical background serve him and his clients well in the courtroom.
Mr. White is currently involved in open cases in New York City, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Bernadino, Portland, Houston, Waco, Del Rio, and Austin. He recently returned from working on a case in Amsterdam and he looks forward to any opportunity to return to Europe should the need arise.
Mr. White's dedication to civil rights has resulted in his appointment as general counsel to District XV of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). As such, he works closely with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of which he is a proud member.
In 2004, Mr. White was honored as LULAC's District XV "Man of the Year." For four years in a row, he has been similarly honored by federal judges in the Fifth Circuit by being asked to attend their own Fifth Circuit Judicial Conference held this year in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Mr. White lives in the country outside San Antonio and is an avid horseman. He is a fervent jazz aficionado and is currently involved in the careers of two outstanding boxers, one being the IFBA female flyweight champion of the world
- Areas of Practice:
- Auto Dealer Fraud
- Criminal Law
- DUI/DWI
- White Collar Crimes
- Personal Injury -- Plaintiff
- Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff
- Products Liability Law
- Bar Admissions:
- New York
- Texas
- U.S. District Court Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
- Education:
- Fordham University School of Law, New York, New York
Juris Doctor - University of Kansas
Bachelor of Science
Honors: Summa Cum Laude
Major: Theater
- Classes/Seminars Taught:
- Del Rio Chapter, Continuing Legal Education Course, Federal Bar Association
- Criminal Justice, San Antonio College
- Police Sensitivity, New York County District Attorney's Office
- Honors and Awards:
- Fellowship at the Prestigious American Conservatory Theater in San Fransisco, California
- Honored as LULAC's District XV "Man of the Year."
- Honored by Federal Judges in the Fifth Circuit
- Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Democratic Judicial District Convention
- Delegate, 67 Assembly District, New York County
- League of United Latin American Citizens, District XV, LULAC
- General Counsel
- Manhatten Community Planning Board #4, 1980 - 1981
- Member
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Texas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
- NYPD Patrolman's Benevolent Association
- League of United Latin American Citizens, Concilio de Justicia Y Ley
- Founding Member
- Past Employment Positions:
- United States Department of Justice, Western District of Texas, Assistant United States Attorney
- District XV of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), General Counsel
- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Proud Member

