Aulbaugh Law: A Former Chief Felony Prosecutor Focused on Felony DWI Defense

TO OUR READERS: This profile is independent editorial content produced by Awesome Attorneys. Aulbaugh Law Firm did not pay for, commission, sponsor, or review this article, and inclusion in this series cannot be purchased. Nothing here is legal advice, an endorsement, or a recommendation to hire any lawyer; readers should evaluate counsel independently and may verify any Texas attorney’s license and discipline history through the State Bar of Texas at texasbar.com. Facts are drawn from the sources identified in the Methodology section and were verified as of August 2026.

AT A GLANCE

I. A Felony DWI Specialist, Not a General Practice With DWI Added On

Aulbaugh’s firm specifically emphasizes felony DWI defense, a distinct and more serious charge category than standard first-offense DWI, arising when circumstances such as prior convictions, high blood alcohol content, or a child passenger elevate what might otherwise be a misdemeanor into a felony. That specific focus, rather than treating felony DWI as one item in a broad general-practice list, reflects a documented specialization in the more legally complex end of DWI defense.

II. A Former Chief Felony Prosecutor’s Insight Applied to Defense

Aulbaugh’s background as a former Chief Felony Prosecutor gives him direct institutional knowledge of how Texas prosecutors build and pursue felony cases, knowledge his firm’s own materials describe as providing “unique insight into the charges you face and how to beat them.” That prosecutorial background, combined with his subsequent Board Certification in Criminal Law, reflects the same prosecutor-to-defense trajectory documented at several other firms in this series, applied here specifically to the felony DWI space.

III. Practice Areas

• Felony DWI defense
• Standard (misdemeanor) DWI/DUI defense
• General criminal defense

IV. Case Outcomes

This profile located the firm’s stated service model, direct personal calls, frequent meetings, and constantly updated communication rather than a delegated intake-staff model, but did not locate an itemized, case-by-case published results list with specific outcomes as of this research date; that gap is disclosed here rather than filled in.

V. The Client Voice

This profile located the firm’s own service-model description emphasizing direct attorney access (“you’ll get James and an entire team behind you”) but did not locate a substantial, independently attributed volume of third-party consumer reviews (Google, Avvo, Yelp) for this firm as of this research date; that gap is disclosed rather than papered over with marketing copy. Prospective clients should ask the firm directly for references during a consultation.

VI. Community and Local Presence

The firm serves a specifically defined six-county area (Dallas, Collin, Denton, Ellis, Hopkins, and Kaufman Counties) rather than marketing itself as a statewide practice, reflecting a defined North Texas regional focus.

VII. Credentials and Recognition

James Aulbaugh is a Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a genuine peer- and exam-based credential the firm’s own materials note is held by only about 800 lawyers in the entire state. No further third-party peer-review awards (Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers) were independently located for Aulbaugh as of this research date; that limitation is disclosed rather than assumed away.

VIII. The Texas Legal Backdrop

In Texas, DWI is generally charged as a misdemeanor, but specific circumstances, prior convictions, a child passenger under 15, or certain aggravating factors, can elevate even a first-time offense to a felony under Texas Penal Code Chapter 49, part of Aulbaugh’s documented specialty. Felony DWI convictions carry extended driver’s license suspension, substantial fines, and potential imprisonment, penalties significantly beyond standard misdemeanor DWI consequences. None of this is legal advice; consult a licensed Texas attorney about your specific situation.

IX. The Awesome Attorneys Assessment

Aulbaugh’s structural strength is a genuine, documented specialization in felony DWI specifically, backed by both formal board certification and direct experience as a former Chief Felony Prosecutor who understands how the state builds these more serious cases. For a Dallas client facing an elevated, felony-level DWI charge specifically, rather than a routine first offense, that focused combination of credential and prosecutorial insight is a real, checkable asset.

The honest limitation is one worth stating plainly: this profile could not verify a substantial, independently attributed consumer review record for the firm, unlike several other firms in this series, and a client should ask directly for case-specific references during a consultation.

X. Methodology & Sources

This profile was researched and written independently by Awesome Attorneys in August 2026 without the participation, sponsorship, or payment of Aulbaugh Law Firm. Primary source: the firm’s website aulbaughlaw.com (home, felony DWI page, general criminal defense page). Verification sources: TexasNetLaw directory listing (office address). Statutes cited in Section VIII were verified against the Texas Constitution and Statutes database (statutes.capitol.texas.gov).

Publisher Disclosure & Independence Notice

Awesome Attorneys is an independent legal-directory publisher. This profile was not paid for by Aulbaugh Law Firm, and inclusion in our editorial coverage cannot be purchased. Awesome Attorneys may separately offer premium sponsored placements to attorneys and firms; sponsorship status, where it exists, is always disclosed and does not alter the editorial content of a profile such as this one. Nothing in this article constitutes legal advice or an attorney referral.