Attorney Bios
Kelly Shackelford, Esq., is Chief Counsel of Liberty Institute, a post he has held since 1997. Mr. Shackelford, a constitutional scholar, has argued before the U.S. and Texas Supreme Courts and has testified before the U.S. Congress and the Texas Legislature. He was recently named one of the 25 greatest Texas lawyers in the past quarter-century by Texas Lawyer, and is the recipient of the prestigious William Bentley Ball Award for Life and Religious Freedom Defense for his leadership and pioneering work protecting religious freedom. Mr. Shackelford is a highly sought after speaker and frequent guest on national TV news and talk show programs including The O'Reilly Factor, Sean Hannity, Good Morning America, NBC's Today Show, CNN, and MSNBC. He also has been featured in the Associated Press, The New York Times, The Washington Times, The Washington Post, the L.A. Times, among many others.
Hiram Sasser, Esq.,is the Director of Litigation for Liberty Institute. Mr. Sasser's practice focuses on First Amendment and other constitutional and civil rights issues. He argued before the Texas Supreme Court and won a unanimous ruling protecting the rights of pastors and churches and also argued before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in defense of the minute of silence law in Texas. He has appeared on ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, CNN, and the BBC and has been heard on various radio stations throughout the United States, Asia, Africa and Europe.
Prior to joining Liberty Institute, Mr. Sasser graduated summa cum laude from Oklahoma City University School of Law, where he received recognition as the "Outstanding Graduate". Mr. Sasser earned his B.A. from Oklahoma State University. His military service includes serving as Headquarters Commander, a Company Executive Officer, and Training Officer in the United States Army Reserves.
Jeff Mateer, Esq., is General Counsel of Liberty Institute. Mr. Mateer joined Liberty Institute in 2010 after nineteen years in private litigation practice. He has represented clients ranging from large international organizations to local businesses, schools, ministries, churches, and individuals in complex federal and state court actions involving religious liberty, civil rights, employment, intellectual property, and business matters. In addition to having received an A-V rating my Martindale-Hubbell, Mr. Mateer has been honored as a Texas Rising Star and Texas Super Lawyer. Mr. Mateer received his undergraduate education at Dickinson College, where he graduated with honors in 1987, and his legal education at Southern Methodist University, where he graduated with honors in 1990. He is licensed to practice law by the State of Texas and is admitted to practice before all Texas state and federal district courts and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Erin Leu, Esq., is a native Texan and a 2009 graduate of the Harvard Law School. During her time at Harvard, she was in the leadership of the Society for Law, Life, and Religion, served as a Senior Editor of the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy, and was an active member in the Federalist Society. Erin is a Blackstone Fellow and has worked for the Senate Judiciary Committee for Senator John Cornyn and as an intern for House Speaker Tom Craddick on the Human Services Committee. Erin graduated Phi Beta Kappa and with highest honors from the University of Texas at Austin in 2006, with degrees in both economics and government.
Jonathan Saenz, Esq., heads the Liberty Institute offices at the Texas Capitol in Austin. He serves as an Attorney and Director of Legislative Affairs, and is frequently invited to testify before the Texas Legislature on various bills affecting families and freedoms. Mr. Saenz advocates for religious liberty, sanctity of human life and traditional conservative values in various state and federal cases, and in legislation as well. He has been featured in local, national and international media such as Agape Press, USA Radio, CBN, America Talks-Live, Fox's National Election Headquarters, Dallas Morning News, and Houston Chronicle among many others.
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