Hale, Stephen

Mr. Hale has been practicing Law over half his life. He is licensed in Alaska and Texas. His primary focus has been with criminal law both as a prosecutor and defense attorney. While serving as a felony prosecutor in Grayson County Texas in 1985 and 1986 he successfully prosecuted several murder cases along with two death penalty cases.

Stephen was elected in 1992 to the Office of County Attorney of Wise County Texas. He served in that office until 1997 at which time he went back into private practice.

While serving as the Wise County Attorney Stephen gain National recognition and was praised in THE NATIONAL REVIEW  April 8, 1996 for his policy of dismissing misdemeanor possession of marijuana cases. He dismissed over 500 such cases under his discretionary powers as a prosecutor. He did so because he felt it was in the interest of justice. This practice brought him both praise and condemnation from different media sources and other public figures. Through it all Mr. Hale maintained that it is the primary duty of all prosecutors to see that justice is done and to not just seek convictions.

He has also successfully represented injured clients and family members of deceased victims in personal injury and wrongful death cases. These cases resulted in huge settlements for his clients. Stephen relishes defending the underdog and helping victims seek justice. He continues to seek justice for his clients today.

Mr. Hale became licensed to practice law both in State and Federal Courts in Alaska in 1982. His office was in Juneau, Alaska where he successfully represented citizens accused of crimes as well as victims in their quest for justice in personal injury and wrongful death cases.

Stephen commercially fished for halibut in Juneau as a Captain of his own vessel the “Amber Dawn” in the 1980’s. He also represented fishermen with their legal matters with the Department of Fish and Game. He had been a Contract Administrative Hearing Officer for that agency in 1981 and 1982.

Stephen was drafted during the Vietnam War. He received an Honorable Discharge from the United States Army after two years of service. He helped organized and became the Legal Officer for the Vietnam Veterans of Alaska in 1983.

His education was completed with the help of the G.I. Bill in his birth State of Texas. He graduated from North Texas Sate University in 1977. It is now called University of North Texas. He received a Teaching Degree and is licensed to teach History and Debate.  He entered Law School in Houston at South Texas College of Law and graduated in 1980.

He returned to Alaska in 2007 and became the Public Defender for the State of Alaska in Kotzebue. He defended Native Alaskans who were charged with crimes. He also represented parents in OCS matters. He left the Public Defender Agency in 2009 and began work at Dan Allan’s Office in 2010.