Lawyers who solicit criminal defendants by mail wouldn’t need to fear prosecution under the state’s barratry laws, if Gov. Rick Perry signs a bill that’s landed on his desk. House Bill 1711 would slightly expand the state’s 2011 civil barratry law, and somewhat shrink the criminal barratry statute.
HB 1711 tweaks provisions in the Government Code that allow a person to sue a lawyer for illegally soliciting his legal business. It also deletes a provision in the penal code that makes it a criminal offense if a lawyer sends written solicitations to a criminal defendant within 31 days of his arrest or citation.
