Biography
Michael Murtha is an attorney in the Trial & Appellate Litigation and Investigations & White Collar Defense practices of Jackson Walker’s Dallas office.
As a former federal clerk at both the trial and appellate levels, Michael draws on his prior experience in the federal judiciary to advise and defend corporations and individuals facing complex criminal and civil accusations at the pre-trial, trial, and appellate levels in federal court. Michael is experienced in representing corporations and individuals facing charges of securities fraud, wire fraud, healthcare fraud, and the like. His practice also includes handling sensitive internal and governmental investigations.
Most notably, Michael represented one of the day traders in the Atlas Trading federal securities fraud prosecution, securing a dismissal of all charges on the eve of trial. Michael was also appointed to the Criminal Justice Act trial panel for the Eastern District of Texas, where he takes appointments to represent individuals facing a variety of federal charges.
In addition to Michael’s white collar and investigations docket, Michael also has a robust civil docket, representing companies and individuals facing antitrust, False Claims Act, defamation, breach of contract, and fraud claims.
Prior to Jackson Walker, Michael served as a federal judicial law clerk to the Honorable Edith Brown Clement of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and to the Honorable Amos L. Mazzant, III of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. He also previously served as a law clerk in the Texas Office of the Solicitor General and advised Texas Senator John Cornyn’s office during the confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett.
Beyond his federal and state clerkships, Michael practiced at a Dallas-based criminal defense firm and at an international law firm, where he handled white collar defense and investigations, appeals, and complex commercial litigation.
Michael is a former Antonin Scalia Fellow with the Public Interest Fellowship.
Education
B.A., magna cum laude, Texas A&M University
- Phi Beta Kappa
J.D., magna cum laude, Notre Dame Law School
- Notre Dame Law Review, Staff Editor (Vol. 93) and Articles Editor (Vol. 94)
- Moot Court Board
Bar Admissions
Texas
Court Admissions
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Eastern, Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas
