Judge Luong began his career as a law clerk for one of the most respected U.S. District Court Judges in the nation. Judge Luong then worked as an associate representing clients in high stakes, “bet the company” civil litigation. In 2007, Judge Luong was named a “Rising Star” in Business Litigation by the Thomson-Reuters Group (recognized in Texas Monthly Magazine). In 2008, Judge Luong left a successful civil practice to accept a position as an Assistant District Attorney, where he handled a wide range of criminal cases ranging from assault-family member charges to the most serious felony offenses including aggravated assault and murders. As a prosecutor, Judge Luong was named a “Rising Star” in Criminal Prosecution–one of only two prosecutors in Harris County selected for this distinction. In 2012, Judge Luong started his own defense practice representing clients in civil matters as well as serious criminal cases and criminal appeals, both in State court and in federal court. Judge Luong was selected by his peers to serve on the Board of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association—one of the largest and most prestigious criminal bar associations in the nation.

In 2018, Judge Luong was elected as the Judge of the 185^th Criminal District Court of Harris County, Texas. Judge Luong was the first Vietnamese American elected to be a judge in a criminal court in the State of Texas, and the first Asian American elected to a felony court bench in Harris County. Judge Luong has presided over thousands of felony cases and multiple felony jury trials. Former Judge Luong has experience resolving thousands of cases. He is one of the few mediators that have experience as a civil litigator, as a criminal prosecutor, and as an elected district court judge.

 
The Law Offices of Jason Luong, PLLC
Principal Attorney/Owner January 1, 2023 to Present and March 2012 to December 31, 2018

 
Judge, 185^th Criminal District Court of Harris County, Texas
January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2022

 
PRESIDING JUDGE, FELONY VETERANS TREATMENT COURT, Harris County, Texas
January 2021 to December 31, 2022

 
HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
Assistant District Attorney May 2008 to March 2012
Misdemeanor Prosecutor May 2008-November 2009
Felony Prosecutor November 2009-May 2011
Chief Misdemeanor Prosecutor May 2011-March 2012

 
SMYSER KAPLAN & VESELKA, L.L.P., Houston, Texas
Senior Associate May 2005 to May 2008

 
BECK REDDEN L.L.P., Houston, Texas
Associate November 2001 to May 2005

 
HONORABLE ROYAL FURGESON, U.S. District Court Judge for Western District of Texas, Midland, Odessa, and Pecos Divisions
Law Clerk 2000-2001

 
HONORABLE HARRIET O’NEILL, The Supreme Court of Texas, Austin, Texas
Intern Spring 1999

 
HONORABLE LYNN N. HUGHES, U.S. District Court Judge for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division
Intern Summer 1998

• THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SCHOOL OF LAW, Austin, Texas Doctor of Jurisprudence with honors, May 2000
  Member, TEXAS LAW REVIEW (1998-2000)
• Studied Abroad at the University of London (Fall 1999)
• RICE UNIVERSITY, Houston, Texas
  B.A. in Political Science and Economics cum laude, May 1997
• ALIEF HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL, Houston, Texas
  Summa cum laude, June 1993

• ADMISSIONS
   
  State of Texas (2001)
  Western District of Texas (2001)
  Southern District of Texas (2002)
  Eastern District of Texas (2002)
  Northern District of Texas (2002)
  United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (2005)
  Supreme Court of the United States of America (2007)

 

• MEMBERSHIPS
   
  TEXAS BAR FOUNDATION
  Fellow April 2022-Present
  Selection is based on outstanding contributions to the legal profession as well as a commitment to the community. 

  TEXAS CENTER FOR THE JUDICIARY
  Member 2019-2022

  TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SPECIALTY COURTS
  Member 2021-2022

  STATE BAR OF TEXAS
  Member 2000-Present
  Vice Chair, Asian Pacific Interest Section 2007-2009
  Committee member, Committee on Racial Diversity in the Profession
  2007-2008

  HOUSTON BAR ASSOCIATION
  Member 2001-Present

  HARRIS COUNTY CRIMINAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION
  Board Member 2016-2018
  Member 2012-2018

  TEXAS CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS ASSOCIATION
  Member 2012-2018

  TEXAS COUNTY AND DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS
  Member 2008-2012

  ASIAN AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION of Houston
  Member, Board of Directors 2008-2010
  Vice President of Development 2008
  Corporate Counsel Committee, Co-Chair 2007
  Gala & Silent Committee, Co-Chair 2006
  Member 11/2003-Present

  MEXICAN AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION OF HOUSTON
  Member 2016-Present

  HOUSTON YOUNG LAWYERS ASSOCIATION
  Member 11/2001-2011
  Leadership Academy 2003-2004
  Selected to participate in the inaugural HYLA Leadership Academy class.
  Arts & Entertainment Committee Member 2002­-2004

 

• SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS/WRITINGS/AWARDS

   
  “Breaking barriers in the Workplace as an Asian-American Lawyer,” Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Race in the Law Seminar, April 22, 2022,
  Austin, Texas

   
  “What Every Lawyer Needs to Know about Handling a Criminal Case,”
  State Bar of Texas, Asian Pacific Interest Section Annual Meeting, May 2012, Austin, Texas.     

   
  Panel Member on Jury Trials and Litigation, National Convention of Vietnamese American Attorneys, Annual Meeting, July 2012, Houston, Texas.

   
  Federal and State Courts Take Different Approaches to Damage Claims in (b)(2) Class Actions, International Association of Defense Counsel, (co-author).

   
  Choice-of-Law Analysis Applies to Nationwide Class Actions Asserting U.C.C. Warranty Claims, Committee on Commercial & Business Litigation, ABA Section of Litigation (Winter 2004) (co-author)

   
  Note, Forcing Constraint: The Case for Amending the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 78 Texas L. Rev. 1181 (2000)

  Recipient of the Best Constitutional Law Note Award 1999 & Best Published Note Award 2000

   
  Innovative Thinking in Jury Innovations, 18 Texas State Bar Litig. Sec. Rep. 15 (1999) (co-author).

   
  Named One of Houston’s Top Lawyers by Houstonia Magazine, 2017

   
  Named One of Houston’s Highest Rated Lawyers by Houstonia Magazine, 2013

   
  Named “Rising Star” in Criminal Prosecution by Texas Monthly Magazine, 2008 (One of only two prosecutors with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office to receive this distinction).

   
  Named “Rising Star” in Business Litigation by Texas Monthly Magazine, 2007

• Houston, TX

• English