Randy Michel

Location: College Station, Texas

Phone: 979-764-2435

Fax: 979-764-2436

Email: E-mail Me

Excelling both as an undergraduate and graduate student, Randy Michel earned a commission in the United States Air Force. Then, as a young military officer, he proved his mettle through preparation, courage, and dedication, for which he was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal and an Oak Leaf Cluster for heroism on the Arctic Circle. After completing his military service, Michel turned in a stellar performance in law school, and he continues to distinguish himself today in local, state, federal, and appellate courtrooms across Texas and beyond.

Randy Michel attributes much of his success to his tenacity and his willingness to outwork his adversaries. He is highly regarded by other lawyers because they know that when they enter the courtroom, Michel will have worked harder, will be better prepared, and will be better organized than anyone else in the room.

Judicial Experience

Elected (1998) as Judge, County Court at Law #1, to serve Brazos County (1999 - 2002); one of five trial judges in the County, serving a 4-year term of office; re-elected (unopposed, 2002) for another 4-year term; resigned 2006.

Appointed by College Station's City Council to serve as Presiding Judge of Municipal Court for the City of College Station (May, 1995 - January, 1997). Part-time position.

Appointed by College Station's City Council to sit as one of the two part-time Associate Judges of the Municipal for the City of College Station (January, 1992 - May, 1995; 1997 - 1998).

Mediation and Arbitration Experience

Certified as a mediator by the National Mediation Arbitration Services, Inc., and by the American Arbitration Association, (1991 - 1998).

National Mediation Arbitration Services, Inc. panel member on single-member panel arbitrations.

Court-appointed arbitrator by state courts in and out of Brazos County, Texas.

Instructor-trainer in mediation with National Mediation Academy, Dallas, Texas.

Certified as an arbitrator by the Better Business Bureau of America, 1987 - 1998; panel member on single-member and three-person panel arbitrations.

Selected as a mediator by the courts of Brazos County and by private litigants to mediate general civil and family law cases pending in local courts (1990 - 1998).

Selected as a mediator by District Court Judges in eight (8) counties adjacent to Brazos County to mediate general civil and family law cases (1991 - 1998).

Selected as a mediator by U. S. District Courts for the Southern District of Texas (1992 - 1998).

Collaborative Law Training and Memberships

2-day Interdisciplinary Collaborative Law Training by CLI-Tx, Ft Worth, May 23-24, 2013

9th Annual Civil Collaborative Law Training by CLI-Tx, Dallas, October 4, 2013

Collaborative Law Institute of Texas, member (2013 - present)

International Academy of Collaborative Law Professionals, member (2013 - present)

Brazos Valley Collaborative Divorce Alliance, President (2013 - present) 

Areas of Practice

• Family and Probate
• Estate Planning
• Elder Care
• Estate Administration
• Trusts
• Will Drafting
• Will Contesting
• Adoption
• Custody & Visitation
• Child Support

Litigation Percentage

• 80% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Certified Legal Specialties

• Certified as a Mediator, National Mediation Arbitration Services, Inc. 
• Certified as a Mediator, American Arbitration Association, 1998
• Certified as an Arbitrator, Better Business Bureau of America, 1988

Bar Admissions

• Kentucky, 1980
• Texas, 1983
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court Western District of Texas
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court Western District of Kentucky
• U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit

Education

• University of Kentucky College of Law, Lexington, Kentucky
  • Juris Doctor - December, 1979
• University of Oklahoma 
  • M.S. - December, 1972
  • Honors: 4.0 GPA (out of 4.0)
  • Honors: Recipient of Both Teaching and Research Fellowships
  • Major: Psychology
• Baylor University, Waco, Texas
  • B.A. - May, 1971
  • Honors: Awarded Air Force ROTC Scholarship (3 Years)
  • Honors: Omicron Delta Kappa (Leadership and Academic Honorary)
  • Honors: Phi Eta Sigma (Freshman Academic Honorary)
  • Honors: Dean's Distinguished List
  • Major: Psychology

Published Works

• Designing Some Civility into Family Law Cases, Texas Center for the Judiciary, Vol. 31 , No. 1, In Chambers, pp. 4-5 Spring, 2004
• A Refresher on Undue Influence, Texas Center for the Judiciary, Vol. 28, No. 3, In Chambers, pp. 10 - 11 , Winter, 2001
• Should Jurors Be Allowed To Pose Written Questions To Witnesses During Trial?, Texas Bar Journal, 1020 - 1026 November, Vol. 55, No. 11, 1992
• Reasonable Medical Probability In Texas, (Co-Author), Texas Bar Journal, Vol. 49, No. 1, 12 - 19 January, 1986
• To Certify or Not To Certify: A Question Among Mediators, for Alternative Dispute Resolutions, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section of the State Bar of Texas, 1994
• Justice Gone Awry: The Arrest and Trials of Jesus Christ , Wine Press, 1995
• Family Law Mediation and General Mediation Training Materials , National Mediation Academy, Dallas, TX, 1993
• Multi-Stage Probabilistic Information Processing, (Co-Author), University of Oklahoma

Papers Presented

• Gaffes, Goofs, and Guffaws -- Some Law on Summation, Brazos County Bar Association, 2004
• Attorney's Fees: The Why's and Why Not's Behind the Judge's Decision, Brazos County Bar Association, May 16, 2003
• Frankly, Voir Dire, I Don't Give a D**n (with Apologies to Gone With the Wind), Brazos County Bar Association, August 16, 2002
• When Is a Final Judgment Really Final?, Deputy and District Clerks in Bryan, Texas, June 14, 2002
• Overview of the Texas Family Code, Dispute Resolution Center for Family Mediation Training/Certification in Bryan, Texas, January 12, 2000
• What Do the Judges Look For in Written Documents?, St. Mary's University School of Law CLE., January 21, 1999
• How To Be More Persuasive During Mediation, St. Mary's University School of Law CLE., January 21, 1999
• Overview of a Minor in Possession of Alcohol, (including Top Ten Excuses For Being a MIP), Office of Alcohol & Drug Education at Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas, November 20, 1996
• Lecturer, Teaching American Government, Blinn College, 2001 - 2005

Honors and Awards

• Awarded Air Force Commendation Medal, 1975
• First Oak Leaf Cluster for Heroism on the Arctic Circle, Alaska, 1976
• One of the First Three Recipients of the Brazos County Bar Association's Pro Bono Award, 1990
• Recipient of the Barbara Weathers Walker (Bar Association's) Pro Bono Award a Second Time, Only Lawyer in Brazos County to Receive the Award Twice, 1999
• Selection as a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, 1993
• Presented the Award of Merit by the State Bar of Texas, 1996 - 1997
• President of Brazos County Bar Association, in Recognition of the Most Outstanding Bar Association in Texas for Class II (Membership Size between 110 - 220 Members)
• Distinguished Volunteer Citizen, by the African-American National Heritage Society, 2002
• Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation, 1993 - 2000
• Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation, 2001 - Present

Professional Associations and Memberships

• National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, 2016 - Present
• The American Society of Legal Writers, 2011 - Present
• Brazos County Juvenile Board, Board Member, 1999 - 2005
• Brazos County Bar Association, President, 1996 - 1997
• Brazos County Bar Association, President-Elect, 1995 - 1996
• Brazos County Bar Association, Vice President, 1994 - 1995
• Brazos County Bar Association, Secretary/Treasurer, 1993 - 1994
• Brazos County Civil Legal Aid Referral, Inc., Board of Directors, 1990 - 1995
• Brazos County Civil Legal Aid Referral, Inc., Board Chair, 1994 - 1995
• National Association of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, 1999 - 2006
• Texas Association of County Court at Law Judges, 1999 - 2006
• State Bar of Texas, Appellate, Family Law, Litigation, Real Estate & Probate Section , Member, 1983 - Present
• Kentucky Bar Association, 1980 - Present

Pro Bono Activities

• Board of Elders, Grace Bible Church, College Station, 1999 - 2005
• Deacon Board Member, Grace Bible Church, College Station, 1994 - 1996
• Texas Prison Ministry, Wallace-Pack I and II, in Hempstead, TX , 1994 - 1996
• Commissioner, Planning & Zoning Commission, City of College Station, 1988 - 1992
• Board of Directors, Brazos Food Bank , 1990 - 1996
• Treasurer, Brazos Food Bank, 1994 - 1996
• Member, Leadership Brazos Class, 1987 - 1988
• National Youth Sports Coaches Association
• Little League Baseball and Flag Football Coach, 1988 - 1992
• Board of Directors, Local Chapter, American Diabetes Association, 1984 - 1985
• United States Air Force, Honorably Discharged as a Captain, 1973 - 1977

Fraternities/Sororities

• Omicron Delta Kappa