Of Counsel

Michael S. Truesdale

For twenty-eight years, Mike has prosecuted and defended cases in appellate courts throughout Texas and across the country.  As a part of his appellate practice, Mike also works with lawyers in high-profile cases to preserve errors by leading briefing and giving arguments on trial court issues with appellate implications.  He has served as counsel in numerous cases before the Supreme Court of Texas and has handled appeals in nearly all fourteen Texas intermediate courts of appeals.  In addition to authoring briefs in multiple United States Supreme Court cases, Mike has led appeals and argued before various Federal Circuit Courts of Appeals, including the Federal, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Circuits, and in state courts including Michigan.  Mike is a frequent speaker and author on issues relating to appellate practice and ethics, and actively advocates for the development and expansion of appellate pro bono programs across Texas and the nation.

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

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Professional Background

Publications & Presentations

Professional & Community Activities

Professional Background

Experience

  • 27+ 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
  • Authored briefs before the U.S. Supreme Court

Awards & Recognition

  • Board Certified in Appellate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
  • AV Preeminent, Peer Review Rated, Martindale Hubbell 2005-present
  • Texas Super Lawyers, 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, magna cum laude
    - Managing Editor, Texas Tech Law Review
    - ABA National Appellate Moot Court National Champion
  • 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 (Legal Services)

  • 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 Regional Presentations (2021-2022)

  • Michael S. Truesdale and Marla Broaddus, Arbitration Update, (UT, Austin, Texas, 2022)
  • Michael S. Truesdale, Panelist, Supreme Court and Fifth Circuit Update, (UT, San Antonio, Texas, 2022)
  • Michael S. Truesdale, Most Common Violations Facing Lawyers, (State Bar of Texas Oil and Gas Disputes, 2022)
  • Michael S. Truesdale, Guest, Texas Appellate Law Podcast (December 2021)

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)

Other Publications

  • “A Reappraisal of a Language-Based Justification for Holistic Resolutional Focus (Speech Communication Association, Chicago 1991)
  • “Kenneth Burke and Political Rhetoric” (SCA/ACA Conference, Alta Utah 1991)
  • “Reagan’s Rhetoric:  A Dramatistic Analysis of Reagan’s First Inaugural Address, Master’s Thesis (Texas Tech University Graduate School 1991)

Professional & Community Activities

  • Texas Lawyers Assistance Program, 2022-present
  • 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
  • American Inns of Court
    - Barbara Jordan Inn of Court, 2021-present (Team Leader, Executive Committee)
    - Lloyd Lochridge Inn of Court, 2009-2014 (Team Leader)
    - Robert Calvert Inn of Court (Team Leader)
  • 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
  • Austin Huns Rugby Club, Social Member

Practice Areas

Latest Articles

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