Michael Landrum: Proven Experience as Judge in Harris County
Mediator, Arbitrator
Michael Landrum served Texas as Judge of the 113th Civil District Court in Harris County for more than five years, beginning in 2013. During that time, he presided in more than 170 civil trials involving disputes concerning land, debt, personal injury, trespass, malpractice, contracts, employment, tax, leases, defamation, construction, and all types of business matters. Members of the Houston Bar Association consistently ranked Landrum among the best trial judges for competency, hard work, and fairness.
Before being sworn in as judge, Landrum dedicated his legal career to representing businesses and business people in matters involving a wide variety of transactional, litigation and appellate matters. He appeared before state and federal trial and appellate courts across Texas.
Michael Landrum has been a licensed attorney for over 40 years. He holds specialist certifications in the fields of Civil Trial Law and Civil Appellate Law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Fewer than 1 percent of all Texas attorneys are certified as specialists in two areas of law.
For more than 25 years before becoming a judge, Michael Landrum heard commercial and construction cases in arbitration matters administered by the American Arbitration Association, and financial industry cases administered by FINRA. He has issued more than 250 arbitration awards, sitting as sole arbitrator or as a panel member.
Michael Landrum has been a mediator since 1994.
Landrum has taught a class about American courts at Houston Baptist University, served as judicial liaison to the Houston Young Lawyers Association, lectures in continuing legal education programs, judges student mock trial and moot court competitions, and is active in Houston Bar Association activities.
Michael is a native Houstonian. He grew up in the Spring Branch area and attended Memorial High School. He received his B.A. from The University of St. Thomas and his law degree from the University of Texas.
Professional Background & Accomplishments
- Launched arbitration and mediation practice in January 2019
- Incumbent Judge, 113th Civil District Court of Harris County, Texas May, 2013-December 2018
- Board Certified, Civil Trial Law (1989) and Civil Appellate Law, (1995), Texas Board of Legal Specialization
- Highest rated “AV Pre-eminent” by Martindale Hubbell in ethics and proficiency
- Multiple year panelist and lecturer, continuing legal education
- Forty year legal career. Before taking the bench, represented clients in hundreds of cases in state and federal trial courts and appearing in scores of cases before state and federal appellate courts
- Tax Master for Harris County Civil District Courts, 1996 thru 2010. This involved dispositions in thousands of delinquent ad valorem tax cases
- American Arbitration Panel of Neutrals deciding commercial and construction arbitration matters, from 1990 to 2013; arbitrator for FINRA Dispute Resolution from 2005 to 2013
- Graduate, University of Texas School of Law, 1976
- Graduate, University of St. Thomas, B. A. 1973, Cum Laude
Community Involvement & Personal Information
- The Landrums have been active in the Spring Branch Independent School District for many years where Mary Grace served as an elected Trustee.
- Houston Bar Association Alternate Dispute Resolution Section Council
- Volunteer Judge for law school Moot Court and Mock Trial competitions
- The Landrum’s are active members of St. Cecilia Catholic Church.
- Member – Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists
- Former Spring Branch ISD School Finance Team member
- Former pro bono legal counsel to The Crossroads School – a private school serving children with special needs
- Married to Mary Grace for 35 years