Family, Little League and Fighting for the Underdog

Discovery with Worth Carroll

Published in 2024 Texas Rising Stars magazine

By Worth Carroll on March 18, 2024

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My nickname is … I’ve had a bunch of nicknames over the years—some favorable, and others not. I had a basketball coach in high school who loved to say he was cursed by having a point guard named “Worthless.” One day I’ll flip it into a good PI billboard if I can convince my law partners to let me.

I can’t go a day without … sharing a Topo Chico with my son Townes, sharing a pack of Smarties with my son Royal, and sharing a coffee from Houndstooth with my wife and co-worker, Nat.

If you were in my office, you’d … find me leaving at 4:15 on most days to coach Little League. Go ’Cudas!

The lawyer I most admire is … without a doubt, my dad, Otis Carroll. He is a phenomenal advocate and a fierce cross-examiner. More than that, I’ve always admired the way he cares for and about people, which he has always preached as the essential skills for being an effective trial lawyer.

My pre-trial routine involves … listening to “Shook Ones, Part II” by Mobb Deep on repeat on the way to the courthouse. I often get a case of imposter syndrome on the run-up to trial, and Mobb Deep reminds me that there’s no place for doing things halfway—“ain’t no such thing as halfway crooks”—which helps remind me that advocacy for my client is more important than my potential personal embarrassment.

When I started, I wish I knew that … I didn’t have to try to be mean to be a good trial lawyer.

My most embarrassing moment as a lawyer was … there have been many, but I am thankful that those memories fade pretty quickly. I do remember all the times—which happen relatively frequently—that I announce “good morning” at an afternoon docket call.

When I win a case, I celebrate by … trying to remember the great Franklin Jones Jr.’s sage advice: “The sun don’t shine on the same dog every day.”

My real-life heroes are … underdogs and people who fight for underdogs—people like John Brown and Lucy Parsons and Emiliano Zapata. I had a bunch of underdogs tattooed on my back to remind me to keep troth when I feel like I am fighting a losing battle.

On weekends I … coach Little League, eat tacos, hang with my kids and wife, and hopefully don’t open my laptop.

My motto is … “people over principles.”

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