--- title: "Michael H. Schneider Sr. | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-h-schneider-sr-2866" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Michael H. Schneider Sr. U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas · U.S. District Judge ## Profile - Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas - State: Texas - Role: U.S. District Judge - Service status: former - Last verified: 2026-08-23 ## Summary Michael H. Schneider Sr. served on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas from 2004 until his retirement in 2016, preserving a judicial career that also included Texas municipal, district, appellate, and supreme courts. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, 2004–2016; senior status from January 7 to October 1, 2016; service ended upon retirement - Michael Haygood Schneider Sr. is a retired American federal judge who served on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas from 2004 until his retirement in 2016 - Justice, Supreme Court of Texas, 2002–2004 - Chief Justice, First Court of Appeals of Texas, Houston (1996–2002) - Presiding Judge, 157th District Court, Harris County (1990–1996) - Municipal judge, West University Place, Texas, 1978–1990 - Municipal judge, West University Place, TX (1978–1990) - Assistant district attorney, Harris County, Texas, 1971–1975 - Assistant District Attorney, Harris County, TX (1971–1975) ### Education - University of Virginia School of Law — LL.M. (2001) - University of Houston Law Center — J.D. (1970) - Stephen F. Austin State University — B.S. (1965) - A.A. — Lon Morris College — 1963 ### Additional information - Retired: October 1, 2016 - Appointed: May 17, 2004, by President George W. Bush to replace John H. Hannah Jr. - Commissioned: September 10, 2004 - Nomination date: 2004-05-17 - Confirmation date: 2004-09-07 - Commission date: 2004-09-10 - Confirmed: September 7, 2004, by the U.S. Senate (vote 92–1) - Named Trial Judge of the Year by the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists (1994, 2001) - Private practice, Houston, Texas, 1975–1976 and 1989–1990 - Private practice, TX (1975–1976, 1989–1990) - General solicitor, Union Pacific Railroad Co. (1986–1989) - Corporate legal practice, 1976–1989 - General attorney, Bawden Drilling, Inc. (1980–1986) - General attorney, Dresser Industries (1976–1980) - Born January 6, 1943, San Antonio, Texas. - Date of birth: 1943 - Michael H. Schneider Sr. had a distinguished career spanning public prosecution, private legal practice, municipal and state judicial service, and ultimately a federal judgeship. - Member of the American Bar Association, Texas Bar Foundation, Houston Bar Foundation, Houston Bar Association, and State Bar of Texas - His tenure on the Eastern District of Texas court was marked by a strong record in Texas legal and judicial leadership roles before his retirement. - Birth place: San Antonio, Texas ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392226) - [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392226) - [Schneider, Michael Haygood, Sr. — Biographical Directory of Federal Judges](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392226) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2866/michael-h-schneider-sr/) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2866/michael-h-schneider-sr/) - [Michael Haygood Schneider | Texas State Cemetery](https://cemetery.texas.gov/locate-a-plot/plotholder/michael-haygood-schneider) - [- NOMINATION OF MICHAEL H. SCHNEIDER, SR., OF TEXAS, ...](https://www.congress.gov/108/chrg/CHRG-108shrg32198/CHRG-108shrg32198.htm) - [Wikidata: Michael H. Schneider, Sr.](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16106447) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-h-schneider-sr-2866", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-h-schneider-sr-2866", "name": "Michael H. Schneider Sr. | KnowJudges", "description": "Michael H. Schneider Sr., U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-h-schneider-sr-2866#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-h-schneider-sr-2866#judge", "name": "Michael H. 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