Niles Illich, Ph.D.

“I believe that my first role as an attorney is to find a solution to my client’s problem. When the obvious answers are no longer available, I will work the problem until I find a solution that works for my client. Sometimes this is an entirely unexpected approach and we have to look at the problem in an entirely new way, but I believe that if given enough thought, every client’s problem has a solution.”

Niles has represented more than two hundred clients on appeal. These cases have been in every one of the fourteen appellate courts in Texas. Niles has also represented clients in the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (the highest criminal court in Texas) and the Texas Supreme Court.

In federal court Niles has represented clients in the Fifth Circuit, the Sixth Circuit, the Seventh Circuit, the Eighth Circuit, the Ninth Circuit, the Tenth Circuit, and before the Supreme Court of the United States.

Niles takes a very limited number of habeas cases. Generally, these involve claims that a trial or appellate attorney failed to provide constitutionally effective representation. He has also represented clients in election disputes, sales tax contests, and mandamus proceedings.

Niles is board certified in criminal appellate law. There are approximately 60,000 attorneys in Texas, but only 133 are board certified in criminal appellate law. Niles serves on the committee that writes the board certification exams.

Awards

Credentials

Memberships, Certifications, and Awards

• Board Certified in Texas for Criminal Appellate Law
• Member Committee for Board Certification Exam (criminal appellate law)
• Former Chair Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Amicus Committee
• Former Editor, Federal Bar Association, Federal Lawyer (national magazine with circulation of nearly 20,000)
• Jesuit Legal Society
• President’s Award, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• Fifth Circuit Bar Association
• Federal Bar Association

Education

J.D., University of Houston Law Center

• Graduated in top quarter of class
• Upon graduation, clerked for the Honorable Evelyn Keyes on the First Court of Appeals, Editor Houston Journal of International Law

Ph.D., Texas A&M University

M.A., Clemson University

B.A., Texas A&M University

Licenses

• Texas Bar: All state courts in Texas including the Court of Criminal Appeals, the Texas Supreme Court, and the fourteen intermediate appellate courts.
• All Federal District Courts in Texas
• Northern District of Illinois (federal district court)
• Federal District Courts of Maryland
• Fifth Circuit: Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi federal appeals.
• Sixth Circuit: Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, and Michigan federal appeals
• Seventh Circuit: Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin federal appeals.
• Eighth Circuit: Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota federal appeals
• Ninth Circuit: California, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii federal appeals.
• Tenth Circuit: Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming federal appeals
• Supreme Court of the United States

Publications

• The Thirteenth Amendment And One Hundred And Fifty Years Of Struggle To Criminalize Slavery: A First Amendment Challenge To The Forced Labor Act (18 U.S.C. § 1589) St. Mary’s Law Journal. 2021
• Niles Illich & Mikayla J. Lewison, Juvenile Certifications: Post-Moon and Thomas, where are we? 50 Voice for the Def. (2021).
• A First Amendment Challenge to the Forced Labor Act (18 U.S.C.§ 1589) and the Need for Reform-Page 37 The Federal Lawyer 2021
• A Call for Harmonization Between the Rules of Criminal and Civil Procedure 2021