In the small hometown where Tanner grew up (Lindsay, pop: 581 at the time), he learned how to haul hay in the summer + play soccer in the fall + deliver calves in the winter + debate in the spring…

“We did it all. We had to. Somebody had to play the male character in the one-act play.”

In his legal career, Tanner continues to learn and adapt, preparing him for the unexpected situations of a trial.

  • Assistant District Attorney, San Antonio, 2007-2014

  • Trial and Global Disputes Attorney, King & Spalding, 2015-2022

  • Deputy General Counsel, Office of the Governor, Texas, 2022

  • State District Judge, Texas, 2022-2024

Credentials

  • University of Texas, J.D., 2006

  • University of Texas, M.A., Latin American Studies, 2006

  • Fulbright Scholar, Bogota, Colombia, 2002-2003

  • Rhodes College, B.A., 1999

Clerkship

  • Law Clerk to Judge Felix Recio, Southern District of Texas, Brownsville, 2006-2007

Small Town to Big Ideas

Four Paths of Preparation

  • A hard-charging prosecutor who took the toughest cases

    Fearless Prosecutor

    Never fearing a challenging test, Tanner tried 110+ cases to a jury, from fraud to murder, and handled 100s of pre-trial motions.

    He innovated, too, creating a method of picking juries using quantitative analysis. Go in a courtroom in Texas today and you’re likely to see his method in practice.

    “If you’re still using the same stereotypes to pick juries—nurses like this; accountants think like that; professors overthink—you’re wasting time.”

  • Tanner practiced for 7 years as an attorney at King & Spalding

    Law Firm Litigator

    As a member of the Trial and Global Disputes team, Tanner engaged in disputes before federal and state courts, international arbitrations, and in government investigations—representing both plaintiffs and defendants.

    “Work with the best and brightest and watch your skills improve.”

  • Advising a Client in charge of world's seventh largest economy - Texas

    Governor's Deputy General Counsel

    Called to government service again, Tanner advised Governor Abbott on legal issues facing the State of Texas, including issues on environment, criminal justice, security, and litigation involving the State.

    There, he interfaced with Texas governmental agencies, including the Attorney General’s Office, TCEQ, General Land Office, and Department of Public Safety (DPS).

  • Tanner moved cases at unprecedented levels

    Tireless Trial Judge

    As a former State District Judge in Hays County, Judge Tanner ran one of the busiest trial schedules in the state. He reduced backlogs for criminal cases and brought civil cases back to the forefront.

    As he did as a prosecutor, Judge Tanner’s innovative nature took over. He updated the jury duty experience and introduced livestreaming to foster transparency. “It’s not my court. It’s the people’s. Let them see what’s going on.”

Put Tanner’s skills to work in your next trial.

Ready to get started? Let’s talk about how I can help you in your next trial — whether working on your framing and themes, giving you a cold-eyes review of your strategy, or even trying the case with you.

Let’s start a start a conversation. I look forward to hearing from you.