Welcome back to Sanctuary in the Jungle, a podcast for criminal defense attorneys about the importance of humanity and reason in the criminal legal system.

In this episode, host Aaron A. Nelson sits down with Texas criminal defense attorney and writer Matthew Hefti. Matt’s path to becoming a defense lawyer is deeply personal. While deployed overseas, he was involved in a tragic incident and charged with homicide in the military justice system. Matt shares how his various experiences—from writing a novel, to dismantling bombs to parenting and religion—informs how he stands with his clients and how he works to make the system more just. Drawing from his own case, he discusses how change often comes from recognizing where discretion exists—even when the system insists “there’s no other option.”

This episode is a powerful listen for criminal defense attorneys, public defenders, and trial lawyers seeking deeper insight into how we can better tell clients’ stories, demand accountability, and bring more healing into defense work.

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Matt is also the author of A Hard and Heavy Thing, a novel about friendship, sacrifice, and the weight of it all. In 2016, it was named Top Ten Books of the Year by Military times, Top Ten First Novels of the Year by Booklist and Great Group Reads pick by the Women’s National book Association.

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