Top Rated Criminal Defense Attorney in San Antonio, TX

Attorney Jay S. Norton is a founding partner with the LaHood Norton Law Group in San Antonio, Texas. Nationally recognized as one of the leading trial attorneys in the country, Mr. Norton devotes his practice to advocating on behalf of clients throughout the state who stand accused of any type of felony or misdemeanor criminal offense.

Over the course of his more than 35 years in practice, Mr. Norton has tried virtually every type of criminal case imaginable. After serving for a year with Bexar County Legal Aid, he joined the Bexar County Criminal District Attorney’s Office in 1986 and rose to the level of chief of the office's Criminal Trial Division. Mr. Norton's past prosecutorial experience provides him with a wealth of insight into the criminal justice system from both sides, enabling him to devise the most effective defense strategies possible for his clients.

Since entering private practice, Mr. Norton has achieved considerable success fighting for the rights and liberties of the accused, and he has secured numerous dismissals, acquittals and reductions of charges for everything from drug trafficking, bank and wire fraud, securities fraud, racketeering, RICO violations, federal weapons violations and other serious offenses. At all turns, he delivers honest, straightforward advice on which his clients can rely while providing aggressive advocacy to help them achieve the favorable outcomes they expect and deserve.

In recognition for his exemplary professionalism and outstanding legal abilities, Mr. Norton holds an AV Preeminent peer review rating* from Martindale-Hubbell, and the National Trial Lawyers voted him among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in the United States. In addition, SA Magazine named him a Best Lawyer in the region from 2006 to 2009, and he has earned many other accolades from his peers along with positive reviews and referrals from his satisfied clients.

A graduate of St. Mary's University, Mr. Norton returned to his alma mater and obtained his Juris Doctor from St. Mary's University School of Law in 1985. He is admitted to practice before all U.S. District Courts in Texas, and he is an active member of the National, Texas and San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyers Associations, the San Antonio Bar Association, and the State Bar of Texas, among others. Committed to his local community as well, he once served on the Board of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.