Cantey Hanger
Mollee Westfall
Former Tarrant County District Court Judge Mollee Westfall has joined Cantey Hanger as a partner, the firm announced on Thursday.
Her practice will focus on litigation and federal white-collar defense.
“We are excited that Mollee chose to bring her outstanding litigation talents to Cantey Hanger,” said Brian Newby, the firm’s managing partner, in a statement. “Her wealth of legal experience and knowledge will be a great asset to our growing team.”
Westfall has been a Senior District Judge since May 2022, during which time she disposed of hundreds of backlogged felony cases and presided in 12 felony trials. Among her many responsibilities, she organized and directed overflow trial docket for the felony district courts to manage the COVID-19 backlog.
In the nearly 15 previous years, Westfall was the presiding judge of the 371st District Court, handling more Zoom cases during 2021 than any other Texas jurist. She worked as Chair of Criminal Subcommittee 2021, and with the Texas Jail Population Work Group 2021. From 2011-21, she was the presiding judge, Tarrant County SWIFT Court program; organizer and presiding judge, High Risk Intimate Partner Violence Bond Caseload from 2018-22; and presiding judge, SAFPF Re-Entry Court, 2009-14.
Before that, she spent nearly eleven years in the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, including four years prosecuting serious physical and sexual abuse cases in the Crimes Against Children Unit.
She was a Republican candidate for Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney in 2022.
“When I decided to leave public service after 27 years and go into private practice, Cantey Hanger was my first call because of its reputation,” Westfall said. “When the partners invited me to meet with the attorneys, I was convinced. The lawyers are sharp, welcoming, and extremely happy at the firm. Just like Fort Worth, Cantey Hanger is in a growth phase and I am very excited about the opportunity to be a part of that.”
Westfall is a 1994 graduate of Texas Tech University School of Law. During 1993-94, she was editor of the Fifth Circuit Symposium of the Texas Tech Law Review and served on the Board of Barristers. She attended The University of Texas as a National Merit Scholar and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Plan II.