Cletus Ernster

Cletus Ernster is a Houston civil rights attorney and managing member whose practice addresses misconduct, discrimination, and violations of legal rights. He represents individuals in matters involving police and government misconduct, racial harassment, sexual harassment, and legal malpractice. His work also draws on experience with employment discrimination and personal injury litigation. He focuses on disputes in which a client’s rights, professional representation, or treatment by institutions is central to the case.

Cletus earned a Bachelor of Arts from Trinity University in 1990 and a Juris Doctor from Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law in 1995. He also pursued graduate study in American History at the University of Houston. His legal education and later litigation work provided a foundation for examining civil rights claims, professional duties, and actions by government agencies. These cases often depend on close review of events, documents, and the legal standards governing public or professional conduct.

Cletus began his legal career in Houston at a personal injury litigation practice that represented plaintiffs in serious injury and wrongful death matters. He later worked on litigation involving civil rights, employment discrimination, racial profiling, and legal malpractice. His experience includes work on Haussecker v. Childs, a Texas Supreme Court legal malpractice case reported in 1998. That range of litigation informs his representation of people pursuing claims involving attorney misconduct and harmful violations of protected rights.

Cletus Ernster received a Special President’s Award from the Texas NAACP in 2005 and an Alex Award for Legal Excellence from the NAACP Houston chapter in the same year. He has also received congressional recognition for efforts addressing racial justice and equality. He was a guest speaker at a University of Texas symposium concerning consumer racial profiling. His professional record reflects sustained involvement in civil rights litigation and advocacy for people seeking accountability for misconduct. His early plaintiff-side litigation also provided experience with disputes arising from serious injury and death.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Ernster Law Firm, PLLC
• Member, State Bar of Texas
• Past Board Member, Houston Chapter of the National Employment Lawyers Association
• Member, College of the State Bar of Texas
• Member, Bar Association of the Federal Fifth Circuit
• Member, Houston Bar Association
• Member, Texas Center for Legal Ethics
• Member, Lawyers of Distinction
• Member, National Police Accountability Project

Licensed State

• Texas

Education

• Trinity University
  Bachelor’s degree

Awards & Badges