Carlos R. Cortez - Dallas, TX
Attorney at Cortez Law Firm, PLLC
Personal Injury Litigation Lawyers in Dallas, TX
12801 N Central Expy #360 Dallas, TX 75243
- Free Consultation
- 1 Super Lawyers®
-
30
Years
Experience
Dallas Personal Injury Litigation Lawyer
Updated: 03/02/2026
Areas of Practice
- Personal Injury Litigation 90%
- Civil Litigation 5%
- Arbitration 5%
Litigation: 100%
Attorney Information
Overview
Carlos R. Cortez, former judge of the 44th Texas State Civil District Court, practices primarily in the areas of civil litigation and personal injury. He is admitted to practice in the State of Texas and U.S. District Court - Northern District of Texas. He attended the University of North Texas, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice.
Mr. Cortez obtained his J.D. from Texas Wesleyan School of Law. Mr. Cortez was an award winning judge for the State of Texas from 2007-2014 and served on a Presidential Inaugural Committee, presided over the largest corporate buyout lawsuit in the history of American jurisprudence and was presented the Medal of Friendship by the President of Mongolia at the United Nations for his judicial service.
Before taking the bench, Mr. Cortez was recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice for his pro bono work for the victims of the 9/11 tragedy and by the Dallas Bar Association for his pro bono work for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. As an attorney, Mr. Cortez has received many recognitions including having been selected to "D Magazine's" list of Best Lawyers Under 40, Rising Star - Thompson Reuters "Super Lawyers" (2005), and "The National Law Journal's" Top Verdicts of the Year.
His profession affiliations include the State Bar of Texas; U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas; Dallas Bar Association and Dallas Trial Lawyers Association. He has been recognized by numerous prestigious publications, including:
Top 100 Verdicts - The National Law Journal, 2003
Best Lawyers Under 40 - D Magazine, 2004
Rising Star - Thompson Reuters "Super Lawyers", 2005
Top 20 Jury Verdicts, Truck Accidents, 2019
Top 50 Jury Verdicts, Motor Vehicle Accidents, 2019
Top Verdicts & Settlements, Southwest, Texas Lawyer, 2020
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Medal of Friendship from the President of Mongolia at the United Nations, 2013
- United States Department of Justice - 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, 2001 - 2005
- Top 100 Verdicts - The National Law Journal, 2003
- Best Lawyers Under 40 - D Magazine, 2004
- Rising Star - Thomson Reuters "Super Lawyers", 2005
- Top 20 Jury Verdicts, Truck Accidents, 2019
- Top 50 Jury Verdicts, Motor Vehicle Accidents, 2019
- Top Verdicts & Settlements, Southwest, Texas Lawyer, 2020
Other Sources of Feedback About Carlos R. Cortez
Included on the 2026 Texas Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2005 Texas Super Lawyers list
Education
-
Legal Education
-
Texas Wesleyan University School of Law,
Irving,
Texas, June, 1995
J.D.
Honors: summa cum laude
Honors: With Honors
-
Texas Wesleyan University School of Law,
Irving,
Texas, June, 1995
-
Non Legal Education
-
University of North Texas,
Denton,
Texas, 1990
B.S.
Honors: With Honors
Major: Criminal Justice
-
University of North Texas,
Denton,
Texas, 1990
Current Employment Position(s)
-
Managing Partner
Past Positions
- Carlos R. Cortez, P.C., Managing Partner, 1996 - 2006
- 44th State Civil District Court, Presiding Judge, 2007 - 2014
Languages
-
English
-
Spanish
Classes and Seminars
-
Continuing Legal Education Seminars, Dallas Bar Association, 2006 - 2014
- Supreme Court Review, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, 2011
Pro Bono Activities
- 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Attorney - ATLA & Trial Lawyers Care, 2001 - 2005
- Pro Bono College of the State of Texas, 2006
Representative Cases
-
City of Harlingen v. Sharboneau
- Citation: 48 S.W.3d 177
- Court: Supreme Court of Texas
- Year: 2001
-
Ashmore v. JMS Construction, Inc.
- Citation: 2016 Tex.App.LEXIS 13201
- Court: 5th Court of Appeals
- Year: 2016
-
Garza v. Crecelius
- Citation: 2000 Tex.App.LEXIS 6584
- Court: 13th Court of Appeals
- Year: 2000
-
Watson v. Hardman
- Citation: 497 S.W.3d 601 601 (Tex. App. 2016)
-
Abuzaid v. EFYU JO, L.L.C.
- Citation: No. 05-17-00976-CV (Tex. App. May 31, 2018)
-
In re State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co.
- Citation: 606 S.W.3d 780 (Tex. App. 2019)
-
Shirvani v. Celebrity Healthcare Mgmt.
- Citation: No. 05-19-00192-CV (Tex. App. Apr. 16, 2020)
-
In re State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co.
- Citation: No. 19-0791 (Tex. Mar. 19, 2021)
-
In re Guevara
- Citation: 624 S.W.3d 920 (Tex. 2021)
Bar Admissions
- Texas, 1996
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, 2003
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas, 2023
Other Affiliations
- Dallas Trial Lawyers Association, 1996 - Present (Member)
- Dallas Bar Association, 1996 - 2016 (Member)
Fraternities and Sororities
- Phi Alpha Delta
Reviews
Highlights
-
5.0 Value
-
5.0 Quality of Service
-
5.0 Professional Competence
-
Hired Attorney 2019-2023Mr Cortez went above and beyond in handling my case. Very satisfied with the outcome.
Contact
12801 N Central Expy
#360
Dallas, TX 75243
Phone: 214-380-4030
Fax: 214-919-4209
Email: Send a message
Website: https://www.cortezlawfirmpllc.com
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