Celina Trial Attorneys

Celina has shifted from a quiet farm community to one of the cities leading Texas in population growth, with new neighborhoods filling in along the Dallas North Tollway extension and Preston Road. Growth brings opportunity, and it also brings complications: car wrecks on roads still adjusting to heavier traffic, criminal accusations against people who never expected to face the system, and family stress that can pull teenagers into juvenile court.

At Edgett Law Firm, our Celina trial attorneys build every case as if it will be tried, whether the matter eventually settles or sees a jury. That mindset shapes the investigation, the pretrial motions, and the way we negotiate with prosecutors and insurance carriers. Settlement still matters, and most cases close without a verdict, but the value of those resolutions tracks one quiet question: does the other side believe we will pick a jury?

Call Edgett Law Firm at 972-525-4963 for a free consultation. We will listen to what happened, walk through your options under Texas law, and outline what a trial-ready strategy looks like for your situation.

How a Trial-Ready Approach Changes Outcomes

Texas civil and criminal cases mostly resolve before trial. Plea agreements, pretrial diversions, and insurance settlements close the file. The shape of those resolutions, though, often turns on whether the other side thinks we are ready to litigate.

Insurance adjusters track which firms file petitions and try cases. Prosecutors track which defense lawyers file motions to suppress and request hearings. When the answer to that question is yes, the offers and posture shift.

That preparation also surfaces things a quick file review would miss: body camera footage with timestamp gaps, toxicology reports that contradict the arresting officer’s narrative, surveillance video that shows the other driver’s lane drift. We treat discovery and investigation as if a jury will see every piece.

Criminal Defense Cases We Take to Trial

Texas criminal cases break into misdemeanors and felonies under Penal Code Chapter 12. A Class B misdemeanor carries up to 180 days in county jail and a fine of up to $2,000; a first-degree felony exposes a person to 5 to 99 years or life in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (Texas Penal Code Chapter 12).

The presumption of innocence applies in every Texas criminal trial, and the State carries the burden of proving each element of the charge beyond a reasonable doubt. We work that burden hard at every stage.

Common cases include:

• DWI, including BAC over .15 and felony repeat offenses
• Drug possession, delivery, and manufacturing
• Assault, family violence, and aggravated assault
• Theft, burglary, and other property offenses
• Probation revocations and motions to adjudicate

How Texas Defines DWI

Texas Penal Code § 49.04 defines DWI as operating a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated, meaning a person lacks the normal use of mental or physical faculties or has a blood or breath alcohol concentration of .08 or higher (Tex. Penal Code § 49.04). A first DWI is generally a Class B misdemeanor. Under Penal Code § 49.09, a second DWI is a Class A misdemeanor and a third or later DWI is a third-degree felony, which carries a state prison term of 2 to 10 years (Tex. Penal Code § 49.09).

Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Trials

When a Celina family is hurt by another driver’s choices, a property owner’s neglect, or a trucking company’s safety failures, the value of a claim depends on what the carrier thinks a Collin County jury would award. We build that picture in the file from the first week.

Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003 gives most personal injury plaintiffs two years from the date of the incident to file suit. Wrongful death claims share the same two-year window (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003). Miss the deadline and the claim is gone.

Texas also follows a modified comparative fault rule. Under Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001, an injured person can still recover damages if their share of responsibility is 50% or less. Cross that line and recovery is barred. The remaining recovery is reduced by the plaintiff’s percentage of fault (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.001). Our trial preparation focuses on the liability picture early, before the carrier has a chance to lock in a low offer.

Juvenile Cases in Celina

Juvenile court is a separate system with separate stakes. The Texas Family Code defines a “child” for juvenile court purposes as a person 10 years or older and under 17 at the time of the alleged conduct (Tex. Fam. Code § 51.02).

Outcomes can include deferred prosecution, probation, community-based programs, and commitment to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. Some serious offenses can shift to adult court through certification under Texas Family Code § 54.02 (Tex. Fam. Code § 54.02). Some juvenile records can later be sealed under Family Code Chapter 58, but the path varies by offense, disposition, and age (Tex. Fam. Code Ch. 58).

For a deeper look at juvenile representation or personal injury claims, see our companion pages on those areas.

What a Texas Trial Looks Like

Most clients have never set foot in a Collin County courtroom. A short walkthrough helps:

1. Pretrial. Investigation, discovery, witness preparation, and motions to suppress happen here. Most case outcomes are decided before opening statement.
2. Voir dire. Lawyers question the jury panel and use peremptory and for-cause strikes to shape who hears the case.
3. Trial. Opening statements, the State’s or plaintiff’s case, the defense, closing arguments, and jury instructions.
4. Verdict and post-trial. Whether and how to appeal can shape the next steps, and Texas appellate deadlines run on tight clocks.

Collin County Courts

Celina sits primarily in Collin County, with a small slice in Denton County. Most Celina felony and civil district court cases are heard in McKinney through the Collin County District Courts, while misdemeanors run through the Collin County Courts at Law (Collin County Courts). Juvenile matters are heard before designated juvenile court judges in McKinney.

Working those courtrooms regularly gives us a feel for how local judges run dockets, set hearings, and rule on common motions. That familiarity helps with scheduling, plea posture, and trial preparation.

Talk to a Celina Trial Lawyer Today

Speak with a lawyer before talking to police, signing an insurance release, or accepting a plea offer. Edgett Law Firm offers a free consultation, prepares every case for trial from day one, and meets clients where they are in the process. Call 972-525-4963 to start the conversation.