As a judge, Mike has presided over 125 jury trials from jury selection to verdict. Some judges have presided over far fewer trials in many more years than Mike has been on the bench. Mike has retained his Board Certification as a specialist in Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Trial Law since 1996.

Mike spent much of his previous legal career in the courtroom. While most lawyers spent their time in the office providing legal services, Mike tried cases. He represented clients ranging from everyday citizens to publicly-held corporations. He was Board Certified as a Specialist in Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 1996. Board Certification is the highest recognition by the Texas Bar of an attorney's skill and qualifications. It requires substantial involvement in the trial process, critical peer review from colleagues, opposing counsel and judges, as well as passing a difficult six hour written exam covering complicated topics of trial procedure, evidence and law. Less than 1% of Texas lawyers are Board Certified in two areas of Trial Law.

Tarrant County Court at Law No. 3 is a trial court that covers all of Tarrant County and has jurisdiction in civil cases under $200,000, appeals from the Justice of the Peace Courts and has jurisdiction over cases involving eminent domain. The Court hears matters involving business controversies, injunctions, eminent domain proceedings, personal injury, deceptive trade claims, collection suits, real estate matters and a host of other legal claims. The types of cases Mike handled throughout his career as an attorney.

Mike graduated 4th in his class from the nationally-recognized Texas Tech School of Law where he received the distinction of graduating magna cum laude. He also served as Research Editor on the prestigious Texas Tech Law Review. Mike was on the Dean's List for every semester he attended law school and is awarded the Order of the Coif for High Attainments in the Study of Law. He was awarded the American Jurisprudence Award for excellence in the study of Commercial Law, Conflict of Laws, Family Law and Texas Criminal Procedure. Mike was also active in Mock Trial during his law school years.

Mike has been licensed since 1988. He then worked for one year as a Briefing Attorney to the Texas Supreme Court, a prestigious and highly coveted position offered to only 18 of the most qualified graduates from law schools all across the country. This unique opportunity exposes a young lawyer to the highest form of legal analysis and the work of some of the best legal minds in the world.

Mike has been a member of the State Bar College since 1991, a distinction earned by less than 6% of Texas attorneys. Members of the College must spend at least twice as much time participating in Continuing Legal Education as the ordinary lawyer or judge. Mike’s time devoted to staying abreast the ever-changing law reflects his dedication to academic excellence.

Mike earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Texas at Arlington where he was a member its nationally acclaimed Debate team.

Before his election as Judge, Mike spent over 20 years in civil practice and:

• Appeared in all civil District Courts in Tarrant County, including Family District Courts, as well as all Tarrant County Courts at Law, and Justice of the Peace Courts
  
  
• Practiced in civil District Courts, County Courts at Law and Justice of the Peace Courts in Bell, Collin, Dallas, Denton, Eastland, Ellis, Harris, Hill, Hood, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro, Palo Pinto, Parker, and Wise Counties
  
  
• Handled complex civil litigation, real estate transactions, commercial litigation, collections, domestic relations matters, corporate formations, partnership dissolutions, and general corporate matters
  
  
• Represented clients ranging from everyday citizens to multimillion dollar publicly-held corporations
  
  
• Argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  
  
• Prepared briefs and argued to the Fort Worth Court of Appeals and Dallas Court of Appeals as well as preparing briefs in cases for the Texas Supreme Court and Waco Court of Appeals
  
  
• Practiced before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas
  
  
• Was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court
  
  
• Prepared and presented a Continuing Legal Education program regarding technical aspects of unsolicited email ("spam") and the Do-Not-Call List to the Tarrant County Bar Association
  
  
• Prepared and presented an instructional program regarding trial preparation for the Legal Assistants Division of the State Bar of Texas
  
  
• Prepared articles for the Tarrant County Bar Bulletin and other publications
  

• Region 8 Director, Texas Association of County Court at Law Judges (2011-12)
  
  
• Licensed by the State Bar of Texas to practice in all Texas Courts
  
  
• Board Certified Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Trial Law-- Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1996 - present (Less than 1% of Texas Attorneys are Board Certified in these two areas of Trial Law)
  
  
• Fellow, College of the State Bar of Texas, 1991 -- present (a voluntary organization consisting of attorneys who devote twice the required time to Continuing Legal Education)
  
  
• Life Fellow - Texas Bar Foundation an organization dedicated to improving the legal service though the support of charitable and educational activities (Fellows are selected from 1/3 of 1% of the membership of the State Bar of Texas. Selection is based on an outstanding record in the legal profession as well as a commitment to support the community at large. Once nominees are selected, each nominee must be elected by the Texas Bar Foundation Board of Trustees.)
   
• Licensed to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States of America
  
  
• Licensed to practice before the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
  
  
• Licensed to practice before the United States District Court, Northern District of Texas
  
  
• Tarrant County Bar Association
   
• Arlington Bar Association
   
• Order of the Coif, for high attainment in the study of law
   
• A/V rated "Prominent" (highest possible rating) by Martindale-Hubble® for legal ability and ethics based on peer evaluations
   
• Research Editor, Texas Tech Law Review
   
• Doctor of Jurisprudence, magna cum laude, Texas Tech University School of Law. Mike Graduated 4th in his class.

Tarrant County College
Fort Worth, Texas
Part Time Adjunct Professor, 2000, 2005 - present
United States Government and Texas State and Local Government

Texas Wesleyan University 
Fort Worth, Texas  
Part Time Adjunct Professor, 1997 - 1999
Legal Studies Program

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