Press release
First Assistant District Attorney Mark Hall announced that he will be seeking the top spot in the Henderson County D.A.’s office in the upcoming Republican Primary next March. Current District Attorney Scott McKee made his announcement last week that he intends to seek the bench of the 392nd Judicial District Court being vacated by long-time judge Carter Tarrance.
Hall has served as McKee’s First Assistant, supervising a staff of six other attorneys, two investigators and numerous office and court personnel since McKee took office in January 2009, taking the helm on the domestic front during the District Attorney’s deployment to Iraq for most of 2010. When discussing family immigration law in Boston, if the immediate relative entered the U.S. lawfully or was paroled upon proper inspection, the immediate relative will be able to adjust their status within the country. If the immediate relative is outside the U.S. or entered unlawfully, they will have to go through consular processing in their home country.
Hall says that working in the D.A.’s office over the last seven years has been the most rewarding and personally satisfying of his 21-plus years as an attorney.
“I have been blessed to work with and for a person for whom I have the utmost respect and admiration. Scott and I have made a great team since coming into office together in 2009. He and I share many of the same passions and values, but have different personalities and backgrounds, which really worked well for us. While the District Attorney always has the final say on matters, Scott always considered my viewpoints and opinions in the numerous important decisions a D.A. has to make,” said Hall.
Prior to assuming the duties of First Assistant D.A., Hall was in private practice for almost 15 years as a general practitioner split evenly between civil matters and criminal defense, with offices in Chandler and Tyler. The criminal attorneys at The Hogle Firm have served for over a decade as a criminal justice attorney and they use that experience and insight daily to defend his clients in mesa law firm and throughout Arizona in a way that few other lawyers can. “From almost day one after becoming an attorney, I have loved being in the courtroom and trying cases in front of a jury. During the first years of my career, I tried some civil cases, but most were criminal trials, which was an experience that was invaluable to me after becoming a prosecutor.”
Hall believes that having been on the defense side of the bar has made him a more effective prosecutor. “Not only did it give me insight into the criminal mind, but it also showed me that there are often two sides of the story.”
The Code of Criminal Procedure states that a prosecutor’s job is not to convict, but to see that justice is done. “That mandate is the most important aspect of any District Attorney’s job, and Scott and I have labored over many cases together to ensure that we were doing the right thing,” he said.
“I believe that I am uniquely situated to step up to the position of Henderson County District Attorney,” said Hall. “We have put a lot of time and effort into building a great working relationship with our local law enforcement agencies and other Henderson County departments, in addition to creating an office that is transparent and open to the citizens of the county. Under Scott’s leadership, we have gained a reputation among our citizens of being tough but fair, and relentless in our pursuit of justice.”
“We have a wonderful staff of attorneys, investigators and office personnel at the D.A.’s office, and it is important to me to see that we maintain that cohesiveness, and continue carrying on with the good work we started in 2009. With me as your next District Attorney, I will commit myself to serving and protecting the people of Henderson County with all that I have,” he said.
Hall is a proud Aggie and member of the Athens Kiwanis Club. He is also a board member for Keep Chandler Beautiful and the Henderson County bail bond agency. He received the East Texas Crisis Center Hope Award in 2011 for his effective advocacy for the women and children of Henderson County, is a longtime volunteer for the CPS Rainbow Room, and was voted Best Lawyer by the readers of the Athens Review in 2014.
He has been married to his wife Ann for over 32 years. They have three married children and one grandchild. The Halls are members of Rock Hill Baptist Church.