Joseph Searcy Bracewell Jr. (January 19, 1918 – May 13, 2003), was a Texas Democratic politician and founder of the law firm Bracewell LLP, based in Houston.

[1] A state House member from 1947 to 1949 and a senator from 1949 to 1959, Bracewell wrote bills establishing what later became the M.D.

In 1945, Bracewell, his father, his brother, and a future state district judge joined to form the precursor of the firm that became Bracewell & Giuliani when former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani joined the group in March 2005.

Bracewell served in World War II on the staff of General George S. Patton.

He was president and board chairman of the Houston Grand Opera, interim president of the South Texas College of Law, board chairman of the visitors of Texas A&M University at Galveston.