Title IX Attorney in Lubbock

Defense for Texas Tech Students Facing Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Texas Tech students accused of misconduct may need to address a campus proceeding while evaluating whether the allegations create separate criminal exposure. At King Law, P.C., we provide Title IX violation defense in Lubbock with a criminal law perspective suited to these overlapping concerns.

Attorney Michael King leads our representation. He has more than 15 years of criminal defense experience, including service as an Assistant Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of Texas from 2007 through 2013.

Call our Title IX lawyer in Lubbock at (806) 370-7800 to request a free case review and discuss the allegations, the campus process, and any related legal concerns.

What Title IX Allegations Can Involve

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination in education programs that receive federal financial assistance. Campus allegations can involve sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking.

Texas Tech’s Title IX and Sexual Misconduct process is administrative, not criminal. It determines responsibility under university policies and may proceed separately from a law-enforcement investigation or criminal case. A campus complaint doesn’t establish criminal responsibility, and a criminal accusation doesn’t determine the outcome of a university proceeding.

The applicable policies and offices depend on whether Texas Tech classifies the allegations as Title IX Sexual Misconduct, Non-Title IX Sexual Misconduct, or a broader Code of Student Conduct matter. The Office for Student Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct administers the university’s Title IX process, while the Office of Student Conduct handles broader disciplinary proceedings.

Texas Tech’s Title IX Grievance Process

The process begins with written notice describing the allegations against the respondent, meaning the student accused of misconduct. Texas Tech gives the respondent at least three days to prepare for a meeting with an investigator. During that time, the student can review the Notice of Allegations and consider how to approach the initial meeting.

Texas Tech presumes both parties aren’t responsible until the university reaches a final determination. It applies the preponderance of the evidence standard to alleged Title IX and Code of Student Conduct violations, asking whether the alleged conduct was more likely than not to have occurred.

The investigation and responsibility determination focus on university policies rather than the criminal burden of proof. Because the standards, procedures, and potential consequences differ, a response limited to the campus proceeding may not address concerns arising from a separate criminal investigation.

Advisor Rights, Evidence Review & Live Hearings

Under 34 C.F.R. § 106.45, a respondent may select an advisor of choice throughout a Title IX proceeding, and that advisor may be an attorney. In formal complaints governed by the 2020 Title IX grievance rule, an advisor may attend meetings, review evidence, and conduct cross-examination during a live hearing.

Parties in those formal complaints receive at least 10 days to submit a written response to directly related evidence before the investigative report is completed. This review can identify relevant communications, records, witness information, and factual disputes before the matter advances.

Texas Tech appeal grounds may include:

• A procedural error that affected the outcome
• New evidence that wasn’t reasonably available when the determination was made
• A sanction outside the normal range
• A conflict of interest or bias involving designated Title IX personnel

The written determination controls the deadline for filing an appeal. Students and families should review that document directly because it states the applicable deadline and instructions.

Possible Academic, Disciplinary & Criminal Consequences

A Title IX determination can carry institutional consequences, but no particular sanction is automatic. Public universities must provide notice and a meaningful hearing before imposing expulsion. Depending on the determination and sanction, the matter may also affect a student’s disciplinary record or ability to reenroll.

Texas Tech maintains disciplinary records for at least seven years. Under Texas Education Code § 51.9364, a student who becomes ineligible to reenroll for a nonacademic and nonfinancial reason, including disciplinary suspension or expulsion, may receive a transcript notation. A student may request removal after becoming eligible to reenroll or if the institution finds good cause.

Campus-related sexual assault allegations in Lubbock may also be investigated by the Texas Tech University Police Department in coordination with local prosecutors. A resulting criminal case may be heard in a Lubbock court, including the 140th District Court. Statements made during the administrative process therefore require careful consideration when a separate criminal-defense matter is possible.

Our Defense Approach to Title IX Matters in Lubbock

We begin with a thorough case evaluation that considers the written allegations, the applicable university procedures, available evidence, and any indication of a separate law-enforcement investigation. We then develop a personalized legal strategy based on the facts and the proceedings the student faces.

Attorney Michael King’s defense background informs our assessment when campus allegations may raise state or federal legal concerns. We represent clients in both state and federal court systems throughout Texas, allowing us to evaluate related legal exposure without treating the university proceeding as a criminal trial.

Students and families don’t have to wait for a hearing or final determination to seek guidance. An early review can clarify which rules apply, what the written notice requires, and which deadlines appear in the university’s documents.

Discuss the Allegation with a Title IX Defense Attorney

Our free case review provides an initial assessment of potential defense options for a Texas Tech allegation or related legal concern. Our contact form offers another way to begin that discussion.

Call King Law, P.C. at (806) 370-7800 to schedule your free Title IX defense case review.