Jim Leitner - Intake Bureau Chief

Jim Leitner is a native Houstonian who graduated from the University of St. Thomas in 1972 and the University of Houston Bates College of Law in 1975.

He began his legal career as an assistant district attorney under Carol Vance. He also served under District Attorney Johnny Holmes, where he advanced to a district court chief.

Jim then moved to Belton, Texas, where he served for four years as the first assistant district attorney in Bell and Lampasas counties.

After his stint in Belton, he returned to Houston, where he practiced criminal defense law for over 20 years. Jim also served as the first assistant district attorney to Patricia Lykos for four years and then as general counsel to the Harris County sheriff.

Jim has been board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization as a specialist in criminal law continuously since 1983.

Jim also served in the U.S. Coast Guard, where he climbed the ranks from enlisted seaman recruit to commander and commanding officer before he retired from the service.

Jim began competing in Olympic lifting when he was 16. He won two teenage national championships, one NCAA national championship, two Pan American Games and one Masters World Championship. In later years, he started vying for bench-press competitions and in 2021, he benched 370 lbs. for his 71st birthday.