Sarah Durham – Board Certified Criminal Appeal Attorney

– PARTNER –

Need help with post conviction appeals or sentencing relief?
Board Certified Criminal Appeals Lawyer Sarah Durham can provide the attention and detail you need.

Sarah-Board-Cert
CONTACT MATT
Sarah Durham

Tel: 325-230-2751

Contact@BlizzardLawFirm.com

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Criminal Appeal →

Habeas Corpus 11.07 →

Post-Conviction Appeal →

Amendment 821 →

EDUCATION

University of North Texas at Dallas College of Law – Doctor of Jurisprudence

University of Texas at Tyler – Master of Education

University of North Texas – Bachelor of Arts, Literature

BOARD CERTIFIED CRIMINAL APPEALS ATTORNEY

At the helm of our post-conviction division, Sarah Durham, Texas Board of Legal Specialization Certified in Criminal Appeals,  is a beacon of hope for those who seek it most. Under her stewardship, the division has reached significant milestones, tirelessly advocating for those unjustly behind bars. Armed with her law degree and a master’s in education, Sarah’s approach intertwines legal principle with human compassion, recognizing the individual stories behind legal petitions. In 2025 Sarah was selected as a top Texas Super Lawyers criminal defense attorney.

Sarah is a former high school English teacher equipped with a master’s degree in Education along with her Juris Doctorate, possesses an unwavering dedication to the realm of research and writing within Texas and US Federal criminal defense, as well as criminal appellate and post-conviction writ work.

Harnessing her skills, Sarah consistently employs her adeptness at conveying intricate concepts in an understandable manner while advocating ardently on behalf of her clients.

Super Lawyer Rising Star

Attorney Sarah Durham is a highly respected criminal appellate lawyer who has been Board Certified in Criminal Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a distinction earned by only a small percentage of Texas attorneys.

Board certification recognizes her advanced knowledge, extensive experience, and proven skill in handling complex criminal appeals. Sarah focuses on identifying legal errors, constitutional violations, and procedural issues that can impact the outcome of a case, whether challenging a conviction or an excessive sentence. Her meticulous approach, strong legal writing, and deep understanding of Texas appellate courts make her a trusted advocate for clients seeking justice beyond the trial level.

Board Certfied In Criminal Appellate Law

Attorney Sarah Durham has been selected to the 2026 Texas Rising Stars list from Super Lawyers – Thompson-Reuters. This independent esteemed recognition is awarded to no more than 2.5 percent of attorneys in each state, based on a rigorous process of peer nomination, independent research, and peer evaluation.

Durham was recognized for her outstanding legal performance in criminal defense and a proven track record of securing significant results for her clients. Her dedication and relentless work ethic have been instrumental in achieving exceptional results.

Named Law Firm Partner

In February 2024, Sarah was elevated to Partner with the Blizzard and Zimmerman Attorneys law firm in a testament to her efforts in seeking freedom for persons convicted of Texas state and federal crimes.

Being an attorney, and a criminal defense attorney at that, Sarah knows that her news to clients is not always happy, and conversations can begin or grow emotional. So, when she consults with prospective clients, or speaks to current clients her goal is to provide a positive moment in their day, even if what they’re talking about is anything but.

Maybe that just looks like talking through an issue a few times, listening for longer than might be necessary, or sending a letter or scheduling a phone to let them know that while things may still be the same in their case, thinking about it, working on it, and she has them on her mind that day.

PASSIONATE ADVOCACY THROUGH RESEARCH AND WRITING

Sarah’s practice focuses on appellate advocacy and juvenile criminal defense.

She daily works on preparing briefs to be filed in 1 of the 15 intermediate Courts of Appeals across Texas or to 1 of the 2 Supreme Court of Texas – the Texas Supreme Court, or, more often, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

Sarah also focuses on and can often be found working on post-conviction writs of habeas corpus, including 11.07; new evidence; and other extraordinary writings for post-conviction relief.

Sarah does write a lot and gets to go to court now and again for oral argument, evidentiary hearings, and new trial hearings.

Review some of the results that Sarah has attained for her Texas state and US Federal criminal law clients.

Federal Courts of Admittance

  • Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Texas Northern District Court

AREAS OF PRACTICE

  • Federal Criminal Cases
  • Texas Criminal Cases
  • Direct Appeals
  • 11.07 Writ of Habeas Corpus (Texas state and Federal)
  • Non-Disclosures
  • Expunctions
  • Sealing Records
  • Release from Sex Offender Registration Requirements
  • Early Release from Probation

TEXAS ROOTS

Sarah grew up in Decatur, Texas, a quintessential small Texas town replete with a vibrant downtown square; community-attended Friday night football; and one of the prettiest courthouses in the State.

She’s a second career attorney after being a high school English teacher for close to a decade. She gained a valuable and transferrable skill set from her years in the classroom – learning, teaching, debating, and negotiating with ever-clever students.

As a criminal defense attorney, Sarah enjoys helping others when life’s legal issues require both skill and compassion.

When she’s not lawyering, she loves to garden, pretends to be a runner, and spends time with her husband, Josh, and their children, Taylor, Ella, and Ronan.

EXPERIENCE AND ADVOCACY THAT MATTERS

A graduate of the University of North Texas and the University of North Texas at Dallas College of Law, Sarah focused primarily on appellate advocacy, enjoying internships and clerkships at US Federal and Texas state courts of appeal.

Sarah also served for two years as one of the founding officers of UNT’s Christian Legal Society .

In February 2023, Sarah was named as an Advisory Member of the Big Country Reentry Coalition and she serves as the groups Treasurer.

University of North Texas at Dallas College of Law

  • Doctor of Jurisprudence
  • Dean’s List
  • Teaching Fellow
  • Student Volunteer: Legal Hospice; Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program; Dallas ISD
  • Focused Education: Appellate Law; Civil Settlements; Mediation; Labor and Employment Law

Career Highlights

  • High School English Teacher
  • Decatur TX High School
  • Hallsville TX High School

Judicial Intern

  • Northern District of Texas, Federal Magistrate Judge Irma Ramirez, Dallas, TX

Judicial Intern

  • Second District Court of Appeals, Chief Justice Terrie Livingston (ret.), Fort Worth, TX

Legal Intern

  • Department of Labor, Solicitor’s Office, Dallas, TX

Law Clerk

  • Fifth District Court of Appeals, Dallas, TX

Awards and Honors

  • The Honorable Barbara MG Lynn Inn of Court, Pupil
  • Teaching Fellow
  • Dean’s List
  • Student Volunteer: Legal Hospice; Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program; Dallas ISD

Memberships

  • Board Member and Treasurer of Big County Reentry Coalition
  • Christian Legal Society : Inaugural Class
  • State Bar of Texas Pro Bono College Member 2021

CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION – CLE – STATE BAR OF TEXAS

2025

2025 Advanced Criminal Law CLE – Texas Bar Association, Austin

2024

Current Innocence for Lawyers, sponsored by Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Austin
2024 Robert O. Dawson Conference on Criminal Appeals – University of Texas Law
The Dual Nature of Applying AI in the Practice of Law

2023

Non-Capital Habeas Conference – Portland, OR / Administrative Office of the US Courts Defender Services Office Training Division
Defending Sex Crime Allegations: Adults and Children

2022

Advanced Criminal Law
Annual Federal Criminal Practice Seminar
Top 10 Appellate Advocacy Moments in Film
The Red, Writ, and Blue: Post Conviction Writs
Bail Reform – Part 1
2022 Conference on Criminal Appeals
Social Media Evidence

2021

Mining the Golden Nuggets of Federal Practice
2021 Conference Criminal Appeals
An Evening with the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Post-Conviction and Parole
ESupplement to 2020 Conference on Criminal Appeals
2020 Robert O. Dawson Conference on Criminal appealsPost-Conviction and Parole
Justice James A. Baker Guide to Ethics and Professionalism
Understanding Expunctions and Disclosures
Supplement to 2020 Conference on Criminal Appeals

Super Lawyers
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