Events
Shem Vinton
Assistant Professor of Practice
Education
- J.D., SMU Dedman School of Law, 2018
- B.A., University of Texas, 2008
Contact Information
License to Practice
- Texas
Specialties and Course
- Legal Writing
- Research
- Criminal Law
Publications
“The Difference a D.A. Makes,” Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law, Forthcoming (with Prof. Pamela Metzger and Dr. Victoria Smiegocki)
“Charging Decisions, Pretrial Detention, and the Defense Attorney’s Duty to Enforce,” American Society of Criminology Annual Meeting, November 17, 2022, Atlanta, GA
“Weeding Out Racial Disparity: Dallas DA Declination Policies,” Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center: Criminal Justice Reform Workshop, February 9, 2023, Dallas, TX (with Prof. Pamela Metzger and Dr. Victoria Smiegocki)
“Roundtable: Challenges and Innovations in Courts Research and Practice” presenting on “Innovations in Prosecutorial Screening and Charging,” American Society of Criminology Annual Meeting, November 15, 2023, Philadelphia, PA (with Prof. Pamela Metzger and Dr. Victoria Smiegocki)
Biography
Originally from Pearsall, TX—like many of his current students—Professor Vinton was a non-traditional law student. Before attending the SMU Dedman School of Law, Professor Vinton enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves and completed several active-duty tours, including one supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom/New Dawn. After graduating from law school, Professor Vinton served as an Assistant District Attorney in Nueces County, representing the State of Texas in misdemeanor and felony prosecutions, as well as representing his office on the Veterans’ Court treatment staff.
In 2022, Professor Vinton returned to his law school to work as a policy attorney for the Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center, where his research focused on early-stage criminal procedure and prosecutorial discretion. As part of his work with the Deason Center, Professor Vinton had the opportunity to meet with elected prosecuting attorneys across the country and discuss their charging policies, and to work closely with the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office on several research projects.
Most recently, and before joining the faculty at St. Mary’s, Professor Vinton served as an Assistant Public Defender in Bexar County, representing indigent defendants charged with misdemeanor offenses.
When not preparing asynchronous materials for his class at either his office or home studio, Professor Vinton enjoys word puzzles, reading, running, and spending time with his friends and family.