"Outstanding Stories in the Criminal Legal System" with Dick DeGuerin

"Well, I accept a lot of cases. Basically, my criteria is something that needs to be challenging. So you get some tough cases that way, and if you get the reputation for trying tough cases, people come to you. Growing up, I was younger than all my classmates…and I was smaller. But what I learned was the law and the rules of evidence…great equalizer…In the hands of someone that knows the law, you're as big as anybody in the courtroom." (Dick DeGuerin)

This episode of Austin Roots features Dick DeGuerin, a legendary Houston-based criminal defense attorney with deep Austin roots. Raised in the city and educated at UT Law, Dick shares wide-ranging stories spanning his college days, legal career, famous cases, and lifelong love of Texas music. The conversation begins with memories of 1960s Austin, fraternity life, underground rock and roll radio (KTXN), the Ranger humor magazine, and colorful campus characters like Frank Irwin and "Daddyo" (Bill Whitliff). Dick recalls early encounters with Kinky Friedman and the Terrytown scene. The discussion shifts to his legal career: his time at the Harris County DA's office, then 12 years under legendary attorney Percy Foreman, who mentored him through high-stakes criminal cases. Dick explains his philosophy of taking on seemingly unwinnable cases, as exemplified by the Robert Durst trial in Galveston, and his representation of Billy Joe Shaver. A standout segment covers his direct involvement in the 1993 Waco siege, where he entered the Branch Davidian compound multiple times as David Koresh's attorney, offering a rare ground-level perspective on the standoff and ATF's use of force. Throughout, Dick weaves in his passion for Texas music, playing ukulele and guitar since childhood, friendships with Guy Clark, Terry Allen, Billy Joe Shaver, and Jimmy Dale Gilmore, and his New Year's gatherings in Marfa.

Content Warning: adult themes
Content created during the global pandemic, in the room, and on Zoom.

Chapters:
01:04 - University of Texas in the '60s: Fraternity life, booking bands, Dave McNeely
01:47 - Underground rock and roll radio: KTXN
02:10 - Lavada Durst Jr. and the fraternity party scene
06:43 - A high school epiphany, Tarrytown, and a close call with a plainclothes cop
10:01 - Percy Foreman: mentorship and the DA's office
10:21 - Learning from Percy: trying capital cases in his early 30s
15:51 - Taking "unwinnable" cases; how the Robert Durst trial in Galveston proved the strategy
18:16 - Representing Billy Joe Shaver and quoting his lyrics in closing argument
20:38 - Guy Clark, black diamond strings, and a life in Texas music
24:28 - The Armadillo World Headquarters: Dick's memories of Eddie and the scene
26:25 - Waco & the Branch Davidians: the call that started it all
26:30 - Inside the compound: a firsthand account

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Guest List: Dick DeGuerin, one of the most storied criminal defense attorneys in Texas history.

Production Team:
Host, Eddie Wilson - Armadillo World Headquarters founder @Threadgills
Host, Dr. Jason Mellard - Cultural historian @jasondeanmellard
Editor, Renee O'Connor
Music Mixing, Matt Carlson @axemanguitar
Producer, Renee O'Connor @realreneeoconnor
Producer, Sandra Wilson @sandrawilson709
Executive Producer, TSSI
Music by Jake Andrews Music @jakeandrewsmusic
Production assistant, Miles Muir @miles_muir
Production consultant, Katey Psencik