It's in our DNA.
At Crossroads Defenders (CxD), we believe in the power of transformation. As science and medicine advance to cure disease and ease ailments, so must we refine the very “DNA” of public defense, creating legal advocates engineered for justice. Our team of attorneys and staff collaborates to develop innovative strategies and uphold the highest standards of excellence.
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We take a holistic approach, addressing both the legal issues at hand and the underlying factors that contribute to criminal legal system involvement. We know life isn’t always fair—especially for those living in poverty—but we use every tool at our disposal to help level the playing field. At CxD, we are committed to fighting for our clients and providing them with the opportunity they deserve.
Our Story
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Welcome to Crossroads Defenders (CxD). Founded in May 2024, through the combined efforts Victoria, Jackson, Lavaca, and Refugio Counties, CxD sprang into existence to address the growing attorney shortage and ballooning costs of the existing indigent defense system. The office is buoyed by a generous grant from the Texas Indigent Defense Commission. At the helm is Chief Defender, Brian Watson, steering the ship, and guided by the wisdom of our oversight board composed of county judges, attorneys, and court staff.
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Mission and Vision
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Our mission? To provide zealous, client-centered advocacy to indigent clients, while also offering a broad range of holistic services. Housing, employment, mental health, immigration, homelessness, substance abuse—you name it, we tackle it. Our vision is ambitious: to become an incubator and clinical institute for cutting-edge holistic defense techniques, while reducing crime, enhancing public safety, and lifting our clients out of poverty, addiction, and hopelessness.
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Milestones
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The Crossroads Regional Public Defender was the brain child of Victoria County Judge Ben Zeller, along with support from Refugio County Judge Gigi Poynter, Lavaca County Judge Keith Mudd, and Jackson County Judge Jill Sklar. These Judges recognized the twin benefits a public defender's office provides: 1. effective representation for the poor and 2. significant tax payer savings for their county constituents.
At the request of these stakeholders, a planning study was performed by Kristin Meeks with the Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC). This planning study demonstrated serious savings opportunities and operational advantages over the current wheel systems used by many Texas counties. TIDC then approved a multi-million dollar improvement grant to start up a rural regional public defender's office.
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Subsequently the seven member oversight board conducted a far reaching search for its first Chief Public Defender, culminating in the hiring of Brian Watson on May 6th, 2024. A day that will live in...well, perhaps just in our annual reports, but it made quite a stir. Let's just say that we were born to fight.
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Culture
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At Crossroads Defenders, we pride ourselves on a work culture that is as collaborative as it is driven. We're in the business of finding solutions—personal, legal, and structural. Every member of our team works with a blend of brilliance and dedication. Every attorney is expected to be a leader, and to help grow the organization. At Crossroads we believe that investing in our people pays dividends to our clients.
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The Building
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Housed in the historic McFaddin Building in downtown Victoria, Crossroads Defenders is proud to work in the "nicest public defender's office in Texas" according to TIDC Executive Director, Scott Ehlers. Victoria County purchased the building from Marek, Griffin & Knaupp PLLC, legal legends in their own right. The historic acquisition allowed the public defender's office to expedite service delivery, and saved local tax payers a significant amount of money over the initial plans. CxD is thankful to have found its home on Liberty Street.
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Future Goals
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Our immediate task is to assemble the legal version of the 1995 Chicago Bulls, a dream team: 19 attorneys and 28 total employees. Simultaneously, we’re working on expanding our brand and letting the world know about our project. In the long run, we aim to become the gold standard of holistic defense, with plans to hammer our tracks across South Texas.
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