Michael Truncale was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 14, 2019, and appointed by President Donald J. Trump on May 16, 2019. As a nominee, he received the unanimous well-qualified rating by the American Bar Association.

Prior to confirmation, Michael was a trial lawyer thirty-four years with the firm of Orgain Bell & Tucker, LLP. After trying his first lawsuit to verdict one week after he was licensed, he tried a broad range of cases in state and federal courts throughout Texas. He was also a certified mediator, having mediated over 2,000 cases, and was a Fellow in the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Michael is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, and Board Certified in Personal Injury Litigation by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. For most of his career, he had the A/V Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell, and was listed consistently as a Texas Super Lawyer in Texas Monthly since 2007.  From 2004 through

2018, he served as a member of the Standing Committee of the State Bar of Texas  Pattern  Jury  Charges—Malpractice,  Premises, and  Products Liability. He is a past president of the Eastern District Bar Association, the Jefferson County Bar Association, and the Michelle F. Mehaffy Chapter of the American Inn of Court.

Michael attended public schools in Beaumont before receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Lamar University with high honors. He also received his Masters of Business Administration from the University of North Texas, and he earned his law degree from the Southern Methodist University  Dedman School of Law.    He later served on the Alumni Advisory Council of the law school.

Michael was a civic and community leader. Governor Rick Perry appointed him to the Board of Regents of the Texas State University  System. Governor Greg Abbott appointed him to the Texas Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Board.