Michael Massengale was appointed to the First Court of Appeals by Governor Rick Perry on June 15, 2009, and he was elected in November 2010. Before joining the court, he was a partner in the trial department at Baker Botts L.L.P. where he specialized in commercial litigation. His practice areas included corporate mergers and acquisitions, fraudulent transfers, securities fraud, and antitrust. He also worked on personal injury and property damage lawsuits. He served as first-chair trial counsel in seven cases tried to verdicts in Texas state courts, as well as participating in various capacities in many other trials and arbitrations over nearly ten years of private practice.
Among other civic and professional activities, Justice Massengale serves as a commissioner on the Permanent Judicial Commission For Children, Youth & Families, and he is the current chair of the Houston Bar Association's County Law Library Committee. He is also a member of the Ethics and Professionalism Committee of the American Bar Association Section of Litigation.
Justice Massengale graduated with honors from The University of Texas School of Law. He earned the Outstanding Editor Award from the Texas Law Review, having published his student note, served as Book Review Editor, and edited the ninth edition of Texas Rules of Form. After law school, he clerked for Judge Harold R. DeMoss, Jr. of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
He is an Eagle Scout and a graduate of Dartmouth College.
Updated: 23-May-2011
