Joseph C. Hawthorn PC

Joseph C. "Lum" Hawthorn

Practicing Federal and State Criminal Defense
Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas; Orange and Vidor, Orange County, Texas; Liberty, Liberty County, Texas; Anahuac, Chambers County, Texas; Kountze, Lumberton and Silsbee, Hardin County, Texas; and Jasper, Jasper County, Texas since 1973

Joseph C. "Lum" Hawthorn is the preeminent criminal defense lawyer in Beaumont, Texas. He has been practicing criminal law and criminal defense in Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas and in all courts, federal and state, in Southeast Texas for over forty years. He handles all criminal matters ranging from misdemeanors to capital felonies, including grand jury investigations, whether they are state or federal cases. He also appeals state and federal criminal convictions.

Lum Hawthorn is board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Criminal law. He also holds an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell and has been listed in Best Lawyer's in America since 1989. "Best Lawyer's in America" is a Woodward/White, Inc. publication. He has also been named a "Super Lawyer" by Texas Monthly magazine, published by Emmis Publishing L.P., each year since 2003. "Super Lawyers" is a Thomson Reuters publication. "Super Lawyers" are selected by their peers and represent the top 5% of the legal profession.

Although Mr. Hawthorn practices mainly in Southeast Texas, he has handled cases as far away as Fresno, California; Lansing, Michigan; Boston and Miami.

Mr. Hawthorn is a member of the Jefferson County Bar Association (President, 1985-1986), the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association (Director, 1986-1989), the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Jefferson County Defense Lawyers' Association, Texas Bar Foundation and the American College of Trial Lawyers. He was awarded the Professionalism Award in 2006 by the Texas Center for Legal Ethics Professionalism and the Jefferson County Bar Association. Mr. Hawthorn was also awarded the John Hannah, Jr. Award for Public Service in 2009. That award is given by the Eastern District of Texas Bar Association to the Texas attorney admitted to practice in the Eastern district who has demonstrated a superior committment to public service, and who has contributed significantly to raising the public profile and image of the legal profession in the Eastern District of Texas. He has been certified as a Criminal Law Specialist by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1976. His clients have ranged from the indigent to doctors, lawyers, judges, politicians, law enforcement officers and even an active criminal district attorney.

Hawthorn was born and raised in Beaumont. He attended local schools and is a 1963 graduate of Lamar University. He went on to the University of Texas Law School where he was graduated in 1966. After law school, Hawthorn was employed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a Special Agent in Philadelphia and Chicago.

In 1969, Hawthorn returned to Beaumont where he worked as a prosecutor for the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office for two years. He then joined the United States Attorney's Office in Beaumont and was a prosecutor there for two years.

In 1971, Hawthorn left the United States Attorney's Office and entered private practice. Hawthorn specializes in the area of criminal defense although he handles select personal injury and family law matters.

Locations	No. of Attorneys
Beaumont, TX	1

Practice Areas	No. of Attorneys
Family Law	1
Litigation	1