• Subscribe
  • Log In
  • Sign up for email updates
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Texas Lawbook

Free Speech, Due Process and Trial by Jury

  • Appellate
  • Bankruptcy
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Corp. Deal Tracker/M&A
  • GCs/Corp. Legal Depts.
  • Firm Management
  • White-Collar/Regulatory
  • Pro Bono/Public Service/D&I
Avatar photo

Mark Curriden

Mark Curriden is a lawyer/journalist and founder of The Texas Lawbook. In addition, he is a contributing legal correspondent for The Dallas Morning News.

Email Mark

Mark Curriden

Mark Curriden is a lawyer/journalist and founder of The Texas Lawbook. In addition, he is a contributing legal correspondent for The Dallas Morning News.

Mark is the author of the best selling book Contempt of Court: A Turn-of-the-Century Lynching That Launched a Hundred Years of Federalism. The book received the American Bar Association’s Silver Gavel Award and numerous other honors. He also is a frequent lecturer at bar associations, law firm retreats, judicial conferences and other events. His CLE presentations have been approved for ethics credit in nearly every state.

From 1988 to 1994, Mark was the legal affairs writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where he covered the Georgia Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He authored a three-part series of articles that exposed rampant use of drug dealers and criminals turned paid informants by local and federal law enforcement authorities, which led to Congressional oversight hearings. A related series of articles by Mark contributed to a wrongly convicted death row inmate being freed.

The Dallas Morning News made Mark its national legal affairs writer in 1996. For more than six years, Mark wrote extensively about the tobacco litigation, alleged price-fixing in the pharmaceutical industry, the Exxon Valdez litigation, and more than 25 cases before the Supreme Court of the United States. Mark also authored a highly-acclaimed 16-part series on the future of the American jury system. As part of his extensive coverage of the tobacco litigation, Mark unearthed confidential documents and evidence showing that the then Texas Attorney General, Dan Morales, had made a secret deal with a long-time lawyer and friend in which the friend would have profited hundreds of millions of dollars from the tobacco settlement. As a direct result of Mark’s articles, the U.S. Department of Justice opened a criminal investigation, which led to the indictment and conviction of Mr. Morales.

For the past 25 years, Mark has been a senior contributing writer for the ABA Journal, which is the nation’s largest legal publication. His articles have been on the cover of the magazine more than a dozen times. He has received scores of honors for his legal writing, including the American Bar Association’s Silver Gavel Award, the American Judicature Society’s Toni House Award, the American Trial Lawyer’s Amicus Award, and the Chicago Press Club’s Headliner Award. Twice, in 2001 and 2005, the American Board of Trial Advocates named Mark its “Journalist of the Year.”

From 2002 to 2010, Mark was the senior communications counsel at Vinson & Elkins, a 750-lawyer global law firm.

Mark’s book, Contempt of Court, tells the story of Ed Johnson, a young black man from Chattanooga, Tenn., in 1906. Johnson was falsely accused of rape, railroaded through the criminal justice system, found guilty and sentenced to death – all in three weeks. Two African-American lawyers stepped forward to represent Johnson on appeal. In doing so, they filed one of the first federal habeas petitions ever attempted in a state criminal case. The lawyers convinced the Supreme Court of the United States to stay Johnson’s execution. But before they could have him released, a lynch mob, aided by the sheriff and his deputies, lynched Johnson. Angered, the Supreme Court ordered the arrest of the sheriff and leaders of the mob, charging them with contempt of the Supreme Court. It is the only time in U.S. history that the Supreme Court conducted a criminal trial.

You can reach Mark at mark.curriden@texaslawbook.net or 214.232.6783.

Exclusive: Behind the Scenes of the Defense in the BP Criminal Trial

Last Thursday’s not guilty verdict against former BP Macondo site leader Robert Kaluza ended a six-year legal battle fought by Houston trial lawyers David Gerger and Shaun Clarke. The pair dismantled the government’s case in every one of the 22 counts of manslaughter and the single count of water pollution against their client

Gerger and Clarke spent more than 8,000 hours working on the case, reviewed more than 90 million pages of evidence and did battle over a 164-year-old law. They converted guest rooms on the 21st floor of the Loews Hotel in downtown New Orleans into office space. Their success in this case should be taught in law schools and CLEs.

February 28, 2016 Mark Curriden

Harper Lee: Higher Wisdom About the Human Condition

Harper Lee opened our minds and showed us the way toward a higher level of consciousness – and for this, may she always be remembered as a person who advanced humanity’s understanding of its flaws, needs, and hopes. In To Kill a Mockingbird,and Go Set a Watchman, Lee showed us a higher wisdom about race relations, justice and the necessary civility of discourse that needs to take place between insiders and outsiders before American society can think about rising from the fractious, partisan ditch our politics have now put us in.

February 25, 2016 Mark Curriden

TX Employment Lawyers Keep Busy as Energy Layoffs Continue

Lawsuits related to layoffs and job reductions in the oil patch have dramatically increased during the past 10 months. Employment complaints filed in the Southern and Western districts of Texas hit all-time highs in 2015. If filings during the first six weeks of this year are an indication, 2016 could shatter all records in Texas for lawsuits filed due to job reductions.

February 25, 2016 Mark Curriden

V&E and Kirkland Involved in $375 Million Midstream Equity Investment

Rice Energy Inc. announced yesterday that it closed a $375 million strategic midstream equity investment by EIG Global Energy Partners.

Vinson & Elkins partner Doug McWilliams led the deal team for Rice. Kirkland & Ellis corporate partners Andy Calder and John Pitts co-led the legal counsel for EIG’s equity commitment.

February 24, 2016 Mark Curriden

V&E and Kirkland Involved in $375 Million Midstream Equity Investment

Rice Energy Inc. announced yesterday that it closed a $375 million strategic midstream equity investment by EIG Global Energy Partners.
Vinson & Elkins partner Doug McWilliams led the deal team for Rice. Kirkland & Ellis corporate partners Andy Calder and John Pitts co-led the legal counsel for EIG’s equity commitment.

February 24, 2016 Mark Curriden

T&K Partner Selected to Greater Houston Partnership Executive Group

Cassandra Mott has been selected for membership in the Greater Houston Partnership’s Executive Women’s Partnership.

February 23, 2016 Mark Curriden

T&K Partner Selected to Greater Houston Partnership Executive Group

Cassandra Mott has been selected for membership in the Greater Houston Partnership’s Executive Women’s Partnership.

February 23, 2016 Mark Curriden

DMN: United Development Says Top Officers Got Federal Grand Jury Subpoenas

Embattled residential finance and investment firm United Development Funding says its top officers have been subpoenaed to provide a federal grand jury with documents related to the operation of the company.

February 23, 2016 Mark Curriden

Gibson Dunn and Weil Advise on Topgolf Deal

Topgolf Entertainment Group announced today that Providence Equity Partners is making an undisclosed minority investment in the company.

The popular golfing entertainment company said in a press release that the new capital will be used to open at least seven new venues and accelerate its media strategy. Gibson Dunn partner Robert Little led the deal team for the Dallas-based company.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges advised Providence Equity Partners in the transaction.

February 23, 2016 Mark Curriden

Gardner Haas Adds Commercial Litigation Partner

Camp, like firm founders Michael Gardner and Eric Haas, is an alumnus of Brewer Attorneys & Counselors, formerly Bicker & Brewer.

February 22, 2016 Mark Curriden

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Go to page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 312
  • Go to page 313
  • Go to page 314
  • Go to page 315
  • Go to page 316
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 547
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Features

  • P.S. — Litigation Boutique Partner, Once a Teen Advocate for the Texas Dream Act, Now Fights to Save it in Court  - He was once a Texas student with no more than a visa to be in the U.S. who coincidentally helped pass landmark tuition law. Now, Lynn Pinker Hurst & Schwegmann partner Andrés Correa is at the forefront of a legal battle to stop its repeal following a swift federal court ruling. June 27, 2025Krista Torralva

GCs, Lawyers & Firms

  • Willkie Adds Blake Winburne to its Houston Office - Winburne was global head of the energy and infrastructure group at Orrick where he worked for more than nine years. He has been named co-chair of Willkie's energy and infrastructure practice.
  • Thomas Verity Vaults to Norton Rose Fulbright
  • Veteran Houston Partner Jumps from Latham to Simpson
  • Skadden Hires Two M&A Partners from White & Case
  • V&E Adds Three Partners: Two from Kirkland, One from Baker Botts
  • Houston Texans Associate GC Jumps to Munsch Hardt
  • Gray Reed Hires Longtime Houston Exec to Lead Operations and Growth
  • Sorrels Law Adds Trial, Appellate Partner in Dallas
  • Holland & Knight’s Recent Lateral Partner Additions Strengthen RE, Financial Services Offerings
  • Rice Taps Munck Wilson Attorney to be Associate Athletic Director
More GCs, Lawyers & Firms

Lawyers in the News

Hover right to see full list

Barry Barnett
Wes Bearden
Emily Westridge Black
Michael Burke
Alicia Campbell
John Campbell
Madeleine Carpenter
Alexander Clark
Dawn Pittman Collins
Richard Finneran
Elizabeth Freeman
David Gail
Elizabeth Gibson
David Jones
Frank Lopez
Abbe Lowell
Neal Manne
Billy Marsh
Tom Melsheimer
Tasha Moser
Justin Nelson
Reed O'Connor
Kate Pennartz
John “J.” Pieratt
Danielle Reyes
Christopher Richardson
Randy Sorrels
Harry Susman
Larry Vincent
Victor Vital
Brent Walker
Matt Weybrecht
Melody Wilkinson
Alex Wolens

Firms in the News

Hover right to show full list

A&O Shearman
Bryan Cave
Cozen O'Connor
Haynes Boone
Holland & Knight
Jackson Walker
King & Spalding
Kirkland & Ellis
Law Office of Liz Freeman
Paul Hastings
Porter Hedges
Sorrels Law
Susman Godfrey
Toyota
Troutman Pepper Locke
Willkie
Vinson & Elkins
Weil
Winston & Strawn

Footer

Who We Are

  • About Us
  • Our Team
  • Contact Us
  • Submit a News Tip

Stay Connected

  • Sign up for email updates
  • Article Submission Guidelines
  • Premium Subscriber Editorial Calendar

Our Partners

  • The Dallas Morning News
The Texas Lawbook logo

1409 Botham Jean Blvd.
Unit 811
Dallas, TX 75215

214.232.6783

© Copyright 2025 The Texas Lawbook
The content on this website is protected under federal Copyright laws. Any use without the consent of The Texas Lawbook is prohibited.