Cheryl Wattley

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Director, Clinical Education
Associate Professor of Law
B.A., Smith College, 1975
J.D., Boston University School of Law, 1978

Associate Professor Cheryl Brown Wattley teaches criminal procedure, criminal law, trial techniques, and civil rights.

Professor Wattley graduated from Smith College, cum laude, with high honors in Sociology. She received her Juris Doctorate degree from Boston University College of Law.

Professor Wattley began her legal career as an Assistant United States Attorney, District of Connecticut. She later transferred to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas where she focused on the prosecution of white collar crime. Professor Wattley received numerous awards and commendations for her service as a prosecutor including two Department of Justice Special Achievement Awards and the United States Postal Inspection Service National Award.

For the past eighteen years, Professor Wattley has been actively engaged in the practice of law in the areas of criminal defense and employment litigation. Professor Wattley has also represented clients in post-conviction proceedings leading to the exoneration of clients who were wrongfully convicted.

Professor Wattley also served on a variety of civic and professional boards and committees including the State Bar of Texas Board of Disciplinary Appeals; District 6 Grievance Committee; Dallas Bar Foundation; and Board of Regents for Texas Woman’s University. She was also appointed to serve on “Dallas Together” a mayoral committee appointed to address racial issues within the city. Professor Wattley was also appointed Vice Chairperson for the 1990 and 2000 City of Dallas Redistricting Commission.

Professor Wattley has also served as Visiting Assistant Professor and adjunct faculty member at Southern Methodist University School of Law. She has also been an instructor for National Institute of Trial Advocacy programs and a presenter at a variety of continuing legal education programs.