Melissa A. Russo

Ms. Russo has defended Texans' rights in federal and state courtrooms, including cases of a quasi-criminal nature. She served as Assistant Attorney General for the State of Texas, defending in constitutional and statutory claims throughout Texas, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Prior to serving as an AAG, Ms. Russo specialized in issues of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. She has presented several family law and intimate partner violence trainings around Texas to county officials, law enforcement, colleges, crisis centers, and attorneys. Ms. Russo further contributed to the authoring of a State Bar of Texas publication concerning jury trends while defending the rights of Texas property owners and their families. It was in this role that Ms. Russo learned to evaluate net recovery through settlement versus pursuing a case through the trial phase.

• Founding Attorney

• The Office of the Attorney General of Texas, Assistant Attorney General, 2018 - 2021
• Texas Advocacy Project, Inc., Staff Attorney
• Johns Marrs, Ellis, & Hodge, LLP, Associate Attorney
• Languages
• English

• Litigating Pro Bono or Meager Means Family Law Cases, CLE #174023487, State Bar of Texas, August 9, 2018 - Present
• Stalking and Intimate Partner Family Violence, Tarrant County College, March 6, 2018 - Present
• Trauma Informed and Empowerment Based Advocacy, Panhandle Crisis Center; Perryton, Texas, August 9, 2018 - Present
• Understanding Protective Orders in Texas, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, 2018 - Present
• Presenter, Trauma Informed and Empowerment Based Advocacy, Panhandle Crisis Center; Perryton, TX, August 9, 2018
• Presenter, Stalking and Intimate Partner Family Violence, Tarrant County College; Fort Worth, TX, March 6, 2018
• Presenter, Understanding Protective Orders in Texas, Texas Department of Criminal Justice

• State Bar of Texas Pro Bono Texas Campaign , 2017 - 2018
• Volunteer Legal Service of Central Texas, 2017 - 2018
• Representative Clients
• Governor, Office of the Texas Governor
• The University of Texas Medical Branch
• Home Depot
• Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General of Texas
• Texas Department of Criminal Justice

• U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 2019
• U.S. District Court Western District of Texas, 2019
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas, 2019
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas, 2019
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, 2019
• Texas, 2016
• Specialties and Certifications
• Mediation 40-Hour Training Certification
• Advanced Family Law Mediation
• 24-Hour Training Certification
• HIPAA Awareness for Business Associates Course
• Certification - Texas House Bill 300 Confidentiality of Medical Information Act
• Discrimination and Harassment Awareness, Certification
• Human Trafficking: Be The One, Certification
• Sensitive Personal Information, Certification
• Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Prevention Program, Certification

• Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, 2017-2019, 2021, 2017 - Present (Member)
• Child Protection Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, 2021 - Present (Member)
• Real Estate Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, 2017 - 2019 (Member)
• Probate and Trust Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, 2017 - 2019 (Member)
• State Bar of Texas
• Appellate Law Section of The State Bar of Texas
• Austin Bar Association
• Williamson County Bar Association
• Williamson Young Lawyers Association
• Fraternities and Sororities
• Phi Beta Kappa