Personal Info

Founding partner of Sumpter & González, Corinne Sumpter practices law, but her care for detail relates more to a novelist’s than a lawyer’s. Her client’s files grow the thickest and the margins of her paperwork accumulate the most notes. She has an expert knowledge of law, but she never allows casework to become procedural. For her, each client presents an opportunity to tell a unique story, to develop a protagonist and to structure a narrative.

Kristin Etter, one of three partners at Sumpter & González, brings to the Firm a well developed belief structure founded upon her respect for cultural diversity, various histories and social justice. While she probably would not balk at being called "liberal" in the popular political sense, the word more accurately describes her when used in the Lockean sense. Kristin believes in individualism, government by consent and the sanctity of a person's legal rights. In other words, she bases her legal practice on our nation's founding principles.

While attending college she read words written by Benjamin Franklin that touched deeply: "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." The quote exemplifies Kristin's personal and professional beliefs, while it also spotlights her extensive background in the philosophical values that support our legal system.

She grew up in Helena, Montana as a self-described tomboy. She tells a story about how her mother once left her at the hair salon alone. Kristin asked the stylist to make her look like a boy and by the time her mother returned, her long blond hair had been cut short. It has grown out since then, but she still holds onto some of those early tendencies. She is, for example, the only one of our four attorneys to take an active interest in shooting guns. She studied history at the University of Montana, with a particular interest in the Constitution. The rights protected by the Second Amendment spoke directly to her sense of individuality, so after earning a BA she entered law school at the University of Montana.

Being a fluent Spanish speaker allowed Kristin to move to Laredo, where she worked for the Federal Public Defender's Office. She has had considerable success practicing federal law as well as in juvenile and state cases. Her unassuming demeanor and mental acumen make her an excellent legal representative-both a warm personality and a tireless advocate. She joined the S&G team in 2003 and has helped shape its most important goal, which is, as she puts it, "to provide zealous legal representation of the highest professional level while at the same time giving each and every client personal, individualized attention in a non-intimidating manner from a staff that truly cares."

When she's not busy culling favor with judges, prosecutors and clients she isn't even working with, Kristin likes to enjoy the fruits of the individual rights and cultural diversity that she defends everyday in court. Before moving to Montana, her father served in the US Navy, which allowed her to experience life in a number of geographic locations. She has since loved traveling and continues to visit as many different countries as possible, such as Laos, Burma, Mexico, Canada, Italy, France, Spain, England, Thailand, Cuba, Cambodia, and Costa Rica. When she can't travel she experiences culture by indulging her love of foreign film and vegetarian cuisine.

In addition to her usual case load, Kristin is currently engaged in legislative work on behalf of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.