Luke Calhoun

Mitchell “Luke” Calhoun is a criminal defense trial lawyer and founding partner of Dotzel Calhoun LP. His practice is devoted exclusively to defending individuals accused of crimes, with a particular focus on serious felony cases.

Luke has been recognized by D Magazine as both a “Best Lawyer Under 40” and a “Best Lawyer” in criminal defense.

Before entering private practice, Luke spent nearly a decade as a prosecutor in Collin County, where he ultimately served as a Chief Felony Prosecutor. During his time at the District Attorney’s Office, he handled many of the county’s most serious and high-profile felony cases, including Capital Murder, Murder, Aggravated Robbery, child sexual abuse allegations, Online Solicitation of a Minor, and other violent and sex-related offenses. He also supervised younger prosecutors, managed district court felony dockets, and was regularly entrusted with complex trial work.

Luke has tried nearly 100 jury trials to verdict and handled thousands of criminal cases ranging from DWI to homicide. His courtroom experience and extensive understanding of how prosecutors investigate, evaluate, and prepare serious criminal cases now shape the way he approaches criminal defense. He is known for detailed preparation, direct communication with clients, and a practical approach to high-stakes cases.

Over the course of his career, Luke has taught law enforcement officers, lawyers, and law students on topics including criminal investigations, trial advocacy, and courtroom strategy. His cases have been featured in publications including Texas Monthly and The Dallas Morning News.

His years as both a prosecutor and defense lawyer reinforced the importance of preparation, credibility, and understanding the full story before making judgments about people’s lives. Luke particularly enjoys jury trial work and believes the best trial lawyers are able to simplify complicated situations and communicate clearly with jurors during high-stakes moments.

Luke’s interest in trial advocacy began long before entering practice. During law school, he won multiple national oral advocacy championships, was a national finalist in an additional competition, and received his law school’s “Top Gun” Trial Advocate award. From 2018 through 2020, he also volunteered as a head coach for SMU Dedman School of Law’s nationally recognized mock trial program.

As a defense lawyer, Luke understands that individuals facing criminal allegations are often experiencing one of the most stressful and uncertain periods of their lives. He approaches every case with the seriousness, preparation, and honesty that high-stakes criminal cases demand.