Randall B. Isenberg: The Dallas Attorney Who Was a Felony Prosecutor, Then a Judge

TO OUR READERS: This profile is independent editorial content produced by Awesome Attorneys. The Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg 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 Career That Ran Prosecutor, Then Judge, Then Defense Attorney

Randall Isenberg’s professional history follows a genuinely rare sequence: he served as Senior Chief Felony Prosecutor at the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office from 1980 to 1985, then was elected or appointed as a State District Trial Judge from 1986 to 1990, before entering private criminal defense practice. That progression, prosecuting felonies, then presiding over criminal trials from the bench, then defending clients, means Isenberg has occupied all three central roles in the Texas criminal justice system, a documented career arc distinct from attorneys who moved directly from prosecution to defense without judicial experience in between.

II. A Regular Media Commentator on Criminal Justice Issues

Beyond his casework, Isenberg serves as a regular television commentator on local and regional criminal justice issues, a role that reflects sustained public engagement with his field beyond individual client representation. This profile treats that role as the firm’s own representation, since it did not independently catalog every media appearance as of this research date.

III. Practice Areas

• DWI/DUI and felony DWI defense
• Drug possession and drug crimes
• Family and domestic violence defense
• Weapons offenses
• Murder and assault
• Intoxication assault

IV. Case Outcomes

One client review describes a specific outcome handled by an associate attorney at the firm: a case that “was dismissed before trial” after what the client described as thorough preparation “beyond prepare and knowledgeable about my case.” Beyond individually referenced client outcomes, this profile did not locate an itemized, firm-published list of case results with specific figures or sentencing outcomes as of this research date; that gap is disclosed here rather than filled in.

V. The Client Voice

One client wrote that their family has relied on Isenberg “for several cases and questions” over roughly a decade, describing him as someone who “goes out of his way to help others get justice” and understands that “sometimes people do things that they aren’t proud of.” Another client specifically credited his dual background, writing “because he was Senior Chief Felony Prosecutor and a State District Trial Judge before, he knows so much of how the courts work.” No pattern of negative or unresolved reviews was located for this firm as of this research date.

VI. Community and Local Presence

Isenberg’s involvement with the Dallas Bar Association’s Judiciary Committee (since 1979) and the American Bar Association’s Criminal Section (also since 1979) reflects sustained, multi-decade institutional engagement predating even his time on the bench, alongside membership in the Texas and National Criminal Defense Lawyers Associations.

VII. Credentials and Recognition

Isenberg is Board Certified in Criminal Defense by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and separately certified as a Criminal Defense Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, two distinct peer- and exam-based credentials. He is listed in Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers and holds the AV Preeminent rating, was named a Texas Super Lawyer and Top Texas Lawyer in the mid-2000s, and was voted one of the Top Ten Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Dallas by D Magazine, third-party recognitions distinguished here from self-conferred marketing claims.

VIII. The Texas Legal Backdrop

In Texas, a first-offense DWI is generally a Class B misdemeanor, escalating with aggravating factors under Texas Penal Code Chapter 49; a third or subsequent DWI is a third-degree felony, and intoxication assault and intoxication manslaughter, both part of Isenberg’s documented practice, are third- and second-degree felonies respectively. Domestic and family violence charges carry consequences beyond the criminal case itself, including protective orders and firearm restrictions under both state and federal law. None of this is legal advice; consult a licensed Texas attorney about your specific situation.

IX. The Awesome Attorneys Assessment

Isenberg’s structural strength is a genuinely rare, three-part career arc: felony prosecutor, sitting judge, and defense attorney, backed by dual board certification (TBLS and NBTA) and sustained recognition including a D Magazine top-ten ranking. For a Dallas client facing serious felony DWI or violent-crime charges who wants an attorney who has personally sat in judgment on cases like theirs, that combination of institutional vantage points is a genuine, checkable asset.

The honest limitation is one worth naming for any firm with a well-known lead attorney: one client review specifically referenced an associate attorney handling day-to-day case management rather than Isenberg himself, so a prospective client should confirm directly which attorney at the firm would handle their specific matter.

X. Methodology & Sources

This profile was researched and written independently by Awesome Attorneys in August 2026 without the participation, sponsorship, or payment of The Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg. Primary sources: the firm’s websites rbisenberg.com and dwidallas.com (attorney profile, criminal defense page). Verification sources: Martindale-Hubbell attorney profile (office address, peer ratings, career history); Lawyers.com firm profile (client reviews). 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 The Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg, 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.