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Overview – Board Certified Trial Lawyer
Patrick Short is a trial lawyer based in Rockwall County, Texas, the county east of Dallas County with over 32 years of experience representing clients in East and North Texas in personal injury, wrongful death, criminal defense, and selected civil litigation matters. Patrick is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and in Criminal Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He is also Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Patrick is one of eight lawyers in the State of Texas that are double Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in both Personal Injury Trial Law and Criminal Law.

Patrick has been selected as a Texas Super Lawyer every year since 2006 in addition to his invitation-only selection of the American Trial Lawyers Association’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers in 2009 and 2011. He has been selected to the invitation-only Best Attorneys of America.

Patrick is admitted to practice law before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the U.S. District Court for the Northern and Eastern… Read More

Patrick is admitted to practice law before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the U.S. District Court for the Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas, as well as Texas state courts. He earned his J.D. (Juris Doctorate) from California Western Law School in 1982 and his B.A. in psychology from Baylor University in 1979. He graduated from the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College in Dubois, Wyoming in July 2009.

Currently, Patrick is serving his fourth two-year term on the McLendon-Chisholm City Council, Place 3. A Spanish-speaker, he served as interim Hispanic pastor from 2004 to 2007 at Lake Pointe Church, where he has remained a member since 1985. Prior to starting his own law firm, Patrick served as the Assistant Criminal District Attorney in Rockwall County, Texas from 1985 to 1986. He is a member of many associations, including: Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, The National Trial Lawyers, the Christian Legal Society, the Christian Trial Lawyers Association, the Rockwall County Bar Association, Rockwall County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Collin County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, the Dallas County Bar, and the Texas Bar Association.

Patrick represents injured persons in personal injury and wrongful death claims in the North Texas and East Texas area and throughout the entire state of Texas. Defense of citizens accused, investigated or arrested for criminal law violations in Texas counties, such as: Rockwall, Dallas, Collin, Denton, Kaufman, Hopkins, Hunt, Tarrant, Grayson, Ellis and all counties in Texas. Patrick believes in the right to trial by jury.

Top 100 Trial Lawyers, 2009, 2011
Texas Super Lawyer, every year since 2006 to present.
American Trial Lawyer’s Association Top 100 Trial Lawyers.
Best Attorneys of America.

Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Law, by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Criminal Law,
Board Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Criminal Law.

In 2014 of 97,000 active attorneys in Texas, there are 7,225 who are Board Certified in one of the twenty-three specialized areas of law in Texas. Patrick Short is one (1) of eight (8) lawyers in Texas who are Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Personal Injury Trial Law and Criminal Law. Less than 1.5% of active lawyers in Texas are Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law and less that 1% is Board Certified in Criminal Law.

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To the Honorable Court Comes now the Defendant, an American-born citizen, invoking the full protection of the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and all applicable federal and state civil rights statutes. The Defendant respectfully moves this Court for immediate dismissal of all charges, full restitution, and the initiation of a federal inquiry into the unlawful alteration of arrest records ~ acts that constitute a direct assault on constitutional law, civil rights, and the integrity of the American justice system. I. Statement of Facts The Defendant’s arrest records were unlawfully altered, amended, or falsified on multiple occasions. Up to nine (9) separate instances ~ without judicial authorization, due process, or the Defendant’s knowledge or consent. These alterations occurred within official courthouse systems, representing a deliberate and systemic act of tampering with public records, a felony under both federal and state law. This misconduct deprived the Defendant of liberty, reputation, and due process, violating the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. Neither the Defendant nor counsel was ever permitted to appear before a judge. The entire judicial process was subverted, replaced by falsified documentation and administrative deceit. These actions were not clerical errors. They were calculated violations . A coordinated effort to manipulate the record, obstruct justice, and conceal misconduct. The Defendant asserts that this pattern of falsification constitutes a constitutional crisis, undermining the rule of law and eroding public trust in the judiciary. II. Constitutional and Statutory Violations A. Fourth Amendment The unlawful alteration of arrest records constitutes an unreasonable seizure of identity and liberty. By fabricating or distorting the factual basis of prior proceedings, state actors effectively seized the Defendant’s legal identity and replaced it with a false narrative, violating the right to be secure in person and record. B. Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments (Due Process and Equal Protection) The Defendant was denied procedural due process when records were altered without notice, hearing, or opportunity to contest. Equal protection was violated through selective and discriminatory treatment. These acts deprived the Defendant of the fundamental fairness guaranteed by the Constitution and created a two-tiered system of justice . One for the protected, and one for the silenced. C. Sixth Amendment The Defendant’s right to a fair trial and accurate recordkeeping was destroyed. Altered records directly affect defense strategy, credibility, and sentencing considerations. The falsification of judicial documents renders any subsequent proceedings constitutionally void. D. Civil Rights Statutes Under 42 U.S.C. §1983, any person acting under color of law who deprives another of constitutional rights is liable for damages. The Defendant reserves the right to pursue civil action against all responsible parties, including law enforcement agencies, clerks, prosecutors, and any third parties complicit in the falsification of records. Each alteration constitutes a separate and actionable violation of civil rights. III. Legal Argument for Dismissal and Restitution Fruit of the Poisonous Tree Doctrine Any evidence derived from falsified or altered records is inadmissible. The foundation of the prosecution’s case is therefore tainted and must be dismissed in its entirety. The doctrine mandates exclusion of all evidence obtained through unlawful means, ensuring that justice is not built upon corruption. Violation of Brady v. Maryland (373 U.S. 83, 1963) The suppression or alteration of exculpatory evidence constitutes prosecutorial misconduct and mandates dismissal. By concealing or distorting material facts, the prosecution deprived the Defendant of a fair opportunity to present a complete defense. Judicial Integrity and Public Trust The Court has an inherent duty to preserve the integrity of its records. Allowing prosecution to proceed on falsified documentation undermines the rule of law and erodes public confidence in the justice system. The judiciary must act decisively to correct and condemn such violations to maintain its legitimacy and moral authority. IV. Damages and Valuation of Harm The Defendant seeks restitution and damages commensurate with the magnitude of the constitutional violations and the systemic corruption exposed. The following categories of harm justify a valuation exceeding $2.5 billion USD, reflecting both compensatory and punitive damages: Loss of Liberty and Due Process ~ The unlawful deprivation of freedom and denial of judicial access. Reputational and Emotional Harm ~ Two decades of stigma, psychological trauma, and social isolation. Economic and Opportunity Loss ~ Destruction of career, income potential, and professional standing. Punitive Damages ~ To punish and deter future misconduct by state actors and institutions. Institutional Accountability ~ Damages for systemic corruption, falsification of public records, and erosion of public trust. Public Interest Damages ~ Compensation for the broader societal harm caused by the corruption of judicial integrity. This case represents not merely a personal injury, but a national constitutional breach — a precedent that, if left unpunished, endangers every citizen’s right to due process and equal protection under the law. V. Relief Sought The Defendant respectfully requests: Immediate dismissal of all charges with prejudice. Expungement of all falsified or altered records. Independent forensic audit of all arrest and court records associated with the Defendant. Referral to the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division for investigation into systemic misconduct. Award of compensatory and punitive damages totaling $2.5 billion USD, subject to adjustment upon discovery. Public acknowledgment of wrongdoing and formal correction of all judicial records. VI. Conclusion The Defendant stands as a sovereign American citizen whose rights were not merely violated but erased. The unlawful alteration of official records is not a clerical mistake. It is a constitutional crime. It is the theft of truth, the erasure of identity, and the corruption of the very system sworn to protect it. Justice demands not only dismissal but restitution, reform, and accountability. The Constitution cannot defend itself; it relies on citizens and courts of conscience to do so. This motion is not a plea for mercy . It is a demand for justice, truth, and the restoration of the rule of law. Respectfully submitted, Sign: ~ {Jeremy H. Hars} ~

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