Jemila Lea has a range of criminal defense expertise including a broad knowledge of mental health policy in a variety of legal settings. She served as an Assistant Public Defender in Dallas County, Texas for nine years. There she represented thousands of individuals considered indigent and accused of criminal offenses ranging from DWI, various drug related offenses, assault, theft, criminal trespass and many other charges.
Prior to becoming a Public Defender she was a policy fellow for the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health located in Austin, Texas. Jemila secured the policy fellowship upon graduation from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School in 2013. She is a graduate of the second class of Texas Future Indigent Defense Leaders (FIDL 2.0) and a member of Gideon’s Promise Class of 2020.
