The requested records involve outside attorneys hired by Brazoria County in connection with the John Mendoza Jr. shooting investigation.
Brazoria County DA Asks Texas Attorney General to Withhold Records on Outside Counsel Hired After John Mendoza Jr. Shooting
By Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose
Why did Brazoria County hire outside legal counsel following the fatal shooting of John Mendoza Jr., and why is the District Attorney now asking the Texas Attorney General to keep those records from the public?
Those are questions at the center of a new Texas Public Information Act dispute after podcast host Kevin Henry requested documents related to outside attorneys retained by Brazoria County following the officer-involved shooting.
The records request seeks documents that would show:
The attorney engagement letter.
The scope of legal representation.
Financial terms of the agreement.
Communications regarding hiring outside counsel.
Authority used to retain the attorneys.
Invoices and payment records.
According to the request, the records involve outside attorney Norman Giles and the law firm Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP in connection with matters involving John Mendoza Jr., John Mendoza Sr., and attorney Charles Adams.
DA Requests Attorney General Ruling
Instead of immediately releasing the records, Brazoria County Criminal District Attorney Tom Selleck notified the Texas Attorney General that his office intends to seek permission to withhold portions of the requested information.
In the July 2, 2026 letter, the DA cites several exceptions under the Texas Public Information Act, including:
Confidential information
Litigation exception
Law enforcement exception
Agency memoranda
The Attorney General will ultimately determine whether those claimed exemptions apply.
Kevin Henry Challenges the County’s Position
Kevin Henry argues the requested documents involve public expenditures rather than protected legal advice.
In his filing, he contends that:
Engagement letters for outside legal services are generally public records.
Financial terms of public contracts are typically subject to disclosure.
Outside counsel was retained before litigation was filed.
The public has a strong interest in understanding how taxpayer money is being spent following the fatal shooting.
Henry also argues that disclosure is particularly important because the request concerns the death of John Mendoza Jr. during an encounter with a Brazoria County Sheriff’s deputy.
Why This Matters
When government agencies retain outside attorneys, taxpayers often pay those legal expenses.
The records requested could provide additional information about:
When outside counsel was hired.
What work the attorneys were retained to perform.
How much taxpayers may ultimately pay.
The legal scope of the representation.
Whether those documents remain confidential now rests with the Texas Attorney General’s Office.
What Happens Next
The Attorney General will review both Brazoria County’s arguments for withholding the records and Kevin Henry’s response opposing those claims.
If the Attorney General orders disclosure, Brazoria County may be required to release some or all of the requested documents. If the ruling favors the county, portions of the records could remain withheld.
I’ll continue following this public records dispute and provide updates as additional filings become available.
The Texas Attorney General will now determine whether the requested records must be released or whether the county may lawfully withhold some or all of them under the Texas Public Information Act.
More John Mendoza Jr. Coverage: Follow my ongoing investigative reporting into the John Mendoza Jr. shooting, including public records requests, legal filings, the outside counsel controversy, attorney statements, and previous developments in the case.
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