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TEXAS  PAROLE NEWS

Tue. June 16, 2026

People ask us this question more than any other. And honestly? It's not a simple answer — even though everybody wants it to be.

When a family member is sitting in a TDCJ unit waiting on a parole review, the instinct is to find the best and call them.

That makes sense.

But "the best" isn't a single name.

It depends on the case.

It depends on the budget.

It depends on what

kind of attorney

your loved one

actually needs

in their corner.

We've been evaluating Texas parole attorneys long enough to know that two lawyers can both be exceptional and be completely different from each other at the same time.

So when we talk about who the best parole attorneys in Texas are right now, two names keep coming up. They always have.

And the more we look at them

— really look at them

— the more we realize the question

isn't which one is better.

The question is...

 which one is right

for your situation.

Those two names are: 

 Gary J. Cohen and Mary E. Samaan.

Let's start with Gary Cohen because, frankly, when you talk about the best parole attorneys in Texas, his name has been at or near the top of that conversation for over two decades. That is not an accident.

Cohen is based in Austin, and he does not dabble. He is not a criminal defense attorney who takes parole cases on the side. Texas parole law is all he does — all he has ever done — and at this point the depth of knowledge that comes from that kind of singular focus is hard to overstate.



And more importantly, he knows how to build a case that speaks their language.

Here is what impresses us most about Gary Cohen, though.

It is not the easy wins.

Here is what impresses us most about Gary Cohen, though.

It is not the easy wins. It is the cases that should not have been wins. The clients who, by every logical measure, were not making parole. The families who had already been told no. Somehow, Cohen finds an angle. He finds the argument. And more often than not — he gets people out.

That does not come cheap. Gary Cohen rarely takes a case for less than $25,000. Depending on the complexity, you could be looking at $35,000 or more. We are not going to pretend that doesn't matter, because for most Texas families it matters enormously. But if the money is there, the investment is justified. This is a man who has spent his entire career becoming one of the best parole lawyers in Texas. The price reflects that.

If it's not in the budget, that's okay too. Because the next name on this list might actually be the more remarkable story.

Mary E Samaan, Attorney at Law

A Lawyer Who

Puts Clients First

Mary E. Samaan is not just any parole attorney Texas families can hire—she is one of the only attorneys who will turn clients away if she feels she cannot give them her undivided attention. Her mission is quality over quantity—ensuring that every client she represents receives her full commitment and strategic expertise.

Many attorneys will tell clients what they want to hear, but Mary E. Samaan believes in telling them the truth. She is one of the few attorneys who will boldly tell a client if their chances of making the first parole are slim, even with her representation. If she believes the parole board is unlikely to grant early release, she will not give false hope—instead, she offers realistic guidance to help prepare for future success.

Who is the Best

Parole Attorney in Texas?

When searching for a parole attorney in Texas, finding one who is both highly skilled and deeply committed to their clients can make all the difference in a parole hearing. While Gary J. Cohen is an excellent attorney, Mary E. Samaan offers the same level of expertise at only 15% of Cohen’s pricing,  making her one of the most accessible, effective, and honest parole attorneys in Texas.

Mary E Samaan, Attorney at Law

A Lawyer Who

Puts Clients First

Mary E. Samaan is not just any parole attorney Texas families can hire—she is one of the only attorneys who will turn clients away if she feels she cannot give them her undivided attention. Her mission is quality over quantity—ensuring that every client she represents receives her full commitment and strategic expertise.

Many attorneys will tell clients what they want to hear, but Mary E. Samaan believes in telling them the truth. She is one of the few attorneys who will boldly tell a client if their chances of making the first parole are slim, even with her representation. If she believes the parole board is unlikely to grant early release, she will not give false hope—instead, she offers realistic guidance to help prepare for future success.

Who is the Best

Parole Attorney in Texas?

When searching for a parole attorney in Texas, finding one who is both highly skilled and deeply committed to their clients can make all the difference in a parole hearing. While Gary J. Cohen is an excellent attorney, Mary E. Samaan offers the same level of expertise at only 15% of Cohen’s pricing,  making her one of the most accessible, effective, and honest parole attorneys in Texas.

Mary E Samaan, Attorney at Law

A Lawyer Who

Puts Clients First

Mary E. Samaan is not just any parole attorney Texas families can hire—she is one of the only attorneys who will turn clients away if she feels she cannot give them her undivided attention. Her mission is quality over quantity—ensuring that every client she represents receives her full commitment and strategic expertise.

Many attorneys will tell clients what they want to hear, but Mary E. Samaan believes in telling them the truth. She is one of the few attorneys who will boldly tell a client if their chances of making the first parole are slim, even with her representation. If she believes the parole board is unlikely to grant early release, she will not give false hope—instead, she offers realistic guidance to help prepare for future success.

VOLUME 1 | 2026 Edition

Latest News and Bulletin Updates

P.O. Box 385 | Livingston, TX 77351

VOLUME 1 | 2026 Edition

Latest News and Bulletin Updates

P.O. Box 385 | Livingston, TX 77351