BEAUMONT, Texas — A Beaumont attorney has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be a federal judge.
Michael Truncale will fill a vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in Beaumont.
Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz both praised the senate's confirmation, saying Truncale's 'professionalism and commitment to the rule of law' will serve Texans well.
Truncale is a partner at Orgain Bell & Tucker, LLP.
From a U.S. Senate press release:
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) today released the following statements after the Senate confirmed Michael Truncale to fill a vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in Beaumont:
“Michael’s legal expertise and devotion to serving his fellow Texans will make him an excellent federal judge,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I thank my Senate colleagues for supporting his confirmation and wish him the best as he takes the bench in Beaumont.”
“I am pleased the Senate has confirmed Michael Truncale to the federal bench,” Sen. Cruz said. “The Senate is continuing to deliver on its promise to the American people to confirm principled, constitutionalist judges, and I have no doubt Texans in the Eastern District will be well served by Michael’s professionalism and commitment to the rule of law.”
The Senators recommended Michael Truncale to President Trump following an extensive review and interview process of the candidate pool by the bipartisan Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee (FJEC).
Sen. Cornyn and Sen. Cruz established the FJEC, a bipartisan panel of leading attorneys in Texas, to help identify the most qualified candidates to fill judicial vacancies. The panel reviewed applications, interviewed candidates, and made recommendations to the Senators, who interviewed individuals before making their recommendations to the President.
Michael Truncale is a partner at Orgain Bell & Tucker, LLP, where he has handled a wide range of litigation matters, including products liability and commercial disputes, since joining the firm as an associate in 1985. During his time in private practice, Mr. Truncale has devoted considerable time to public service. Governor Perry appointed Mr. Truncale to serve a four-year term as a regent of the Texas State University System and Governor Abbott appointed him to serve a six-year term as a board member of the Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Board.
Mr. Truncale is Board Certified in civil trial by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and is Board Certified in personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He also has extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution, serving as a mediator in more than 2,000 cases in state and federal courts throughout Texas. Mr. Truncale received his B.B.A., magna cum laude, from Lamar University, his M.B.A. from the University of North Texas, and his J.D. from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.