Of Counsel

Michael S. Truesdale

Mike is an appellate lawyer with extensive experience in prosecuting and defending appeals on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants. In trial courts, he focuses on error identification and briefing/arguing issues with appellate implications. He has worked on numerous cases before the Texas Supreme Court and handled appeals in nearly all Texas intermediate appellate courts. Mike has led appeals in other states’ courts and in the Federal, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Circuit Courts of Appeals, and has authored briefs before the U.S. Supreme Court. He also actively advocates for the developmental expansion of appellate pro bono programs across the state and nation.

Email: mtruesdale@enochkever.com
Phone: (512) 615-1232‬

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Professional Background

Publications & Presentations

Professional & Community Activities

Professional Background

Experience

  • 26+ years prosecuting and defending cases on appeal
  • Appears regularly in trial courts on matters with potential appellate implications
  • Led appeals in the Supreme Court of Texas, nearly all Texas intermediate appellate courts, in other states' courts, in the Federal, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Circuit Courts of Appeals, and in the United States Supreme Court

Awards & Recognition

  • Board Certified in Appellate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
  • AV Preeminent, Peer Review Rated, Martindale Hubbell
  • Texas Super Lawyer, Appellate Law, 2009–present, Texas Rising Star 2004-2007
  • Daniel H. Benson Public Service Award (given to an alumnus “who has demonstrated significant and substantial contributions to furthering ideals of public service in the law”), Texas Tech School of Law, 2015
  • George and Sarah Dupree Award (given annually "To the member of the graduating class who, in the opinion of his colleagues, best exemplifies the ability, the integrity, and sense of professional responsibility desired in one soon to join the legal profession.”), Texas Tech School of Law, 1994

Admitted to Practice

  • Texas
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Federal Circuits
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, and Western Districts of Texas

Education

  • Texas Tech University School of Law, Lubbock, Texas
    - J.D., 1994
    - Managing Editor, Texas Tech Law Review
    - ABA National Appellate Moot Court National Champion
    - magna cum laude
  • Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
    - M.A., English and Communication Studies, 1990
  • Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
    - B.A., English and Economics 1988
    - In Honors Studies; cum laude

Publications & Presentations

Select Books/Law Review Articles

  • A Practitioner’s Guide to Class Action (Supplement) (ABA Press 2012)
    - Author, Federal Class Actions:  Interlocutory Appeals (chapter)
  • A Practitioner’s Guide to Class Action (ABA Press 2010)
    - Assistant Editor
    - Author, Federal Class Actions:  Interlocutory Appeals (chapter)
    - Author, Texas Class Action Practice (chapter)
  • Michael S. Truesdale and Sean McCaffity, Appellate Procedure, 32 Tex. Tech L. Rev. 614 (2001)
  • Craig T. Enoch and Michael S. Truesdale, Issues and Petitions: The Impact on Supreme Court Practice, 31 St. Mary's L.J. 565 (2000) (lead article)
  • Michael S. Truesdale and James Landon, Employment Law Update, 31 Tex. Tech L. Rev. 711 (2000)

Select National Presentations

  • Michael S. Truesdale, Entirely Appealing: How Pro Bono Passions Can Be Transformative, (UT, Austin, Texas, 2019) (moderator/panelist)
  • Michael S. Truesdale, Developing an Effective Pro Bono Appellate Project, (ABA/KIND, Houston, Texas, 2017) (panelist)
  • Michael S. Truesdale, Appellate Pro Bono: A 360-Degree Discussion, (ABA Equal Justice Conference Workshop, Pittsburgh, PA, 2017) (panelist)
  • Michael S. Truesdale, How to Launch a Pro Bono Appeals Program, (ABA Equal Justice Conference, Austin, TX, 2015) (panelist)
  • Michael S. Truesdale, Pro Se Assistance Panel, (NAACC Conference, Richmond, VA, 2014) (panelist)

Select Journal Articles

  • Michael S. Truesdale, Why I Support Appellate Pro Bono Programs (and Why You Should Too), Appellate Advocate (Summer, 2012)
  • Michael S. Truesdale and Laurie Ratliff, Supreme Court Update, Appellate Advocate (Spring eds., 2000 - 2006)
  • Michael S. Truesdale and David S. Coale, User-Friendly Courts Update, Appellate Advocate (Winter, 2002)
  • Michael S. Truesdale, Update: Report of the User-Friendly Court Committee, Appellate Advocate (Spring, 2000)

Professional & Community Activities

  • Texas Commission for Lawyer Discipline, 2019-present
  • Supreme Court of Texas, Program Liaison, Pro Bono Program, 2011-present
  • State Bar of Texas Appellate Section, Chair, 2017-2018
  • Travis County Bar Association, Civil Appellate Section, Chair, 1999-2000
  • Lloyd Lochridge Inn of Court, 2009-2014, Robert Calvert Inn of Court
  • Austin Partners in Education, Mentor 2007-2016
  • Boy Scouts of America, Pack 2, Den 9 Leader, 2007-2010
  • Reading is Fundamental Austin, Volunteer and Board Member, 2001-2006
  • Anderson High School Debate, Volunteer, 2010-2015
  • North Austin Soccer Association, Coach, 2006-2008

Practice Areas

Latest Articles

Aug 27, 2021

Shelby O’Brien Elected Chair of the Travis County Women Lawyers’ Foundation

Topic: Announcements

Shelby O’Brien has been elected Chair of the Travis County Women Lawyers’ Foundation after having served as President of the…
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Aug 27, 2021

Melissa Lorber and Shelby O’Brien recognized for second year in a row as Top Appellate Attorneys by Austin Monthly

Topic: Awards And Recognition

Enoch Kever attorneys, Melissa Lorber and Shelby O’Brien, have been recognized again by Austin Monthly as trusted experts in Appellate…
Read More

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