About Yolanda M. Torres

 Yolanda M. Torres graduated from Southern Methodist University School of Law in 1997 and entered private practice in the areas of professional liability, insurance defense and medical malpractice.  

In 1999 she became a cooperating attorney with the Texas Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and investigated numerous allegations of abuse and excessive force by TDCJ prison guards.

In 2000 she filed a 42 U.S.C. §1983 action against TDCJ over its policy of eavesdropping on attorney-client phone calls. In response, TDCJ voluntarily changed its policy to recognize and protect the attorney-client privilege.

From 2001-2005 she served as the Litigation Director of the ACLU of Texas' Prison and Jail Accountability Project.  She also served as a cooperating attorney in the Ruiz v. Johnson prisoner class action lawsuit and participated in on-site inspections of TDCJ prison units across the state.

In 2003 she opened her own practice and for the past 20+ years she has successfully advocated on behalf of TDCJ prisoners in prison disciplinary cases, prison administrative matters, federal excessive force claims, parole reviews and parole revocation hearings.