Jeff Mateer is the Chief Legal Officer of First Liberty Institute, responsible for overseeing and directing the organization’s legal operations, including litigation, media/communications, and external affairs teams. He rejoined First Liberty Institute in October 2020 after serving as First Assistant Attorney General of Texas, where he managed the operations of the Texas Attorney General’s Office, handling a vast number of cases, overseeing hundreds of attorneys and thousands of employees, and managing a substantial budget.
Prior to his role in government, Jeff served as General Counsel of First Liberty Institute and practiced law in private firms, representing a diverse range of clients in complex federal and state court cases involving religious liberty, civil rights, employment, intellectual property, and business matters. He has a strong track record of successfully trying cases before both jury and bench trials, as well as arguing before various appellate courts, including the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Jeff has received accolades for his legal work, including being recognized as a Texas Rising Star and Texas Super Lawyer. He obtained his undergraduate degree with honors from Dickinson College in 1987 and graduated with honors from Southern Methodist University’s law school in 1990, where he also served as an editor of the law review. Jeff is licensed to practice law in Texas and is admitted to practice before numerous state and federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court.