Criminal defense isn’t surgery. But when the consequences are this high, the mindset ought to be the same: don’t miss the obvious, and leave as little to chance as possible.

That’s why IACLS is building a comprehensive criminal-defense checklist for Texas. We’re not talking about a generic “don’t forget to file stuff” outline. We’re talking about a living document that tracks every step, issue, deadline, and motion from arrest to post-verdict relief—backed with citations, templates, and real-world strategy notes.

Why It Matters

In high-pressure cases, even good lawyers forget things. Bail hearing timelines. Suppression deadlines. Notice requirements. Everyone’s juggling a dozen priorities and putting out fires. A checklist offloads the burden of memory so your brain can focus on what really matters: thinking, arguing, persuading.

Racehorse Haynes had it right: “Brains are for thinking. Pencils are for remembering.”

What’s In the Checklist

• Pretrial tasks by timeline—when to request discovery, demand examining trials, challenge bail conditions
• Motion checklists with linked templates and statutory bases
• Charge conference items and objections—preserve the record, preserve the appeal
• Writ triggers and habeas issues that show up post-conviction

Think of it as your second set of eyes—already open.

Who It’s For

Whether you’re a solo shop handling appointed cases or a seasoned trial lawyer with a wall full of verdicts, this checklist will help you move faster, smarter, and with fewer regrets. Law students and young lawyers? You’ll skip five years of guesswork.

Help Build It

• Use the beta version and tell us what’s missing
• Submit your own templates, checklists, or go-to phrasing
• Suggest case law or authority that plugs into the flow

Freedom deserves better workflows. If you want access to the beta, or have something to contribute, email friends@iacls.org.