Who Is Jason Nassour? 7 Things To Know About WilCo Attorney

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — Even before Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody was indicted on an evidence-tampering charge on Monday, many were familiar with the lawman and his deputies through their appearance on the now-canceled reality show "Live PD."

Fewer know of Jason Nassour, who, until recently served as the county's general counsel. Along with Chody, the Austin attorney was indicted on a charge of tampering with evidence related to video showing the last moments of Javier Ambler as the "Live PD" cameras rolled. A Black father of two children, Ambler was stopped by police in March 2019 for failing to dim his headlights as he passed deputies on the road, tased numerous times while the encounter escalated and died after the confrontation before repeatedly telling deputies he was unable to breathe.

So who is Jason Nassour? Here are seven things to know.

1. According to his LinkedIn account, the attorney is a partner at the law firm of Keel and Nassour L.L.P. located at 3839 Bee Cave Rd. in the northwest part of the city. In his LinkedIn bio, Nassour describes his role at the law firm as solely focused on helping clients protest property values to secure lower tax bills. "My firm represents millions of square feet of office, retail and industrial properties across Texas to dispute property value administratively before various taxing districts and ultimately appealing those results to District Court," Nassour wrote as part of his LinkedIn biography. "Our objective is to lower the tax burden for the property owner and in most cases for the tenants that are responsible for the tax burden."

2. Nassour earned his law degree from the Baylor University School of Law, which he attended from 1994-97. In a peer recommendation also posted on his LinkedIn account, the owner of a security consulting firm wrote: "Jason's knowledge and attention to ones [sic] needs is by far one of his greatest attributes."

3. After Williamson County commissioners voted to end local participation with "Live PD" in August 2019, Chody signed a separate agreement with the show's producers, Big Fish Entertainment, LLC earlier this year — unbeknownst to commissioners who would take the unusual step of suing Chody in compelling him to abide by the end of the agreement. Amid Chody's fight to keep the "Live PD" cameras rolling in WilCo, Nassour defended the sheriff against commissioners. Aiding such efforts was Nassour's boss, County Attorney Doyle "Dee" Hobbs, who sued commissioners over a past relationship the county sheriff had with the now-canceled "Live PD" program.

4. Nassour's position was cut from the county budget in August, a move prompted by a perceived conflict of interest given Nassour's refusal to cut ties to his law firm in representing the county — an arrangement Nassour once pledged in accepting the general counsel's role for the county. The commissioners' vote to cut Nassour's position was 4-1, with Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell the sole dissenting vote. Commissioners agreed to hire outside counsel for litigation matters rather than retaining Nassour.

5. Despite having his position cut from the county budget, Nassour continues to draw a salary until Oct. 1 as part of the agreement. Responding to a Patch request for information last month, county spokesperson Connie Odom said Nassour's current annual salary is $111,999.94, not including benefits.

6. The perception that Nassour's work at the county was often at odds with county interests was no abstraction. Patch last month requested information on expenses incurred by the county as a result of Nassour's work. "Yes, it is fair to say litigation against the county has risen," Odom wrote in a reply to questions from Patch about Nassour-driven lawsuits against the county. Following a request from Patch, the county spokesperson provided a few examples:

• In 2010, Nassour assisted prior County Attorney Jana Duty with a suit to remove prior County Judge Dan A. Gattis. The suit was unsuccessful and ultimately dismissed. Ultimately, the matter cost the county $87,000 in taxpayer money as part of a settlement, Patch learned.

• Also in 2010, Nassour assisted Duty with a suit against the commissioners court, county auditor and county budget officer relating to budget decisions. The suit was also unsuccessful and ultimately dismissed.
• Nassour is currently assisting Duty's successor, Hobbs, in a suit against the commissioners court about budget decisions again. Judge David Peeples ruled in the commissioners court favor and dismissed the suit. Hobbs has appealed and it is currently on appeal.
• Nassour also represented two plaintiffs against the county in 2006 or 2007. The matter was settled.

7. Despite his current relationship with the Williamson County Commissioners Court, Nassour once sought to become a commissioner himself. He ran for the position in the 2016 Republican primary election in Travis County when he was soundly defeated by Gerald Daugherty, who secured about 71 percent of the vote.