Overview of Practice

Michael P. “Mike” Metcalf doing business as Metcalf Mediation & Arbitration Services is engaged in the practice of law that centers on the mediation and arbitration of civil disputes. Judge Metcalf has more than 40 years of legal experience that includes service in the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corp, as a District Attorney, District Judge and trial lawyer. Mike, a trial lawyer, is board-certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Trial Law.

Judicial Pioneer in Alternative Dispute Resolution

Judge Metcalf was a judicial pioneer who recognized the need for litigants to seek a resolution to their case before trial. As District Judge of a six county Judicial District with a heavy trial docket, Mike recognized a deeply unfulfilled need to explore settlement of cases pending in his court. Long before mediation became a part of the modern legal system, Judge Metcalf instituted a system of settlement conferences in his Court. The settlement conferences were a precursor to mediation and were designed to give the parties an opportunity to discuss settlement of their dispute before going to trial.

Mediation & Arbitration Approach

From a diverse background of having served the legal profession for over forty years starting as an Army JAG officer, then as a trial lawyer and Judge, Mike now focuses his effort exclusively on the Arbitration and Mediation of civil disputes. His work as a mediator has resulted in a track record of having brought hundreds of disputes to an end by settlement.

A strong record of settling disputes springs from a unique mediation process Mike started, calculated to encourage the parties to continue with the process. In cases Mike mediates, if the case does not settle at the first session, he recesses the mediation and proffers to the parties the opportunity to return for a free two-hour round two “wrap up” session. For those parties choosing to take advantage of the wrap up session, over 90% of the cases ultimately settle. It is this never say never attitude that has led to a remarkable record of resolving cases.

Sitting as an Arbitrator, Mike believes strongly in hearing all of the admissible evidence and reaching a decision in a timely manner based upon the facts admitted at the trial. Parties to the arbitration can rest assured that the rule of law applicable to the dispute will be fairly and timely applied.

Education & Credentials

Court Admissions

• U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit
• U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Texas
• The Texas Supreme Court
• State Courts of Texas
• The United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces

Government & Public Service

Commissioned as an officer in the United States Army in January 1963, Mike served on active duty as an Assistant Staff Judge Advocate in the U.S. Army JAG Corps (September 1966 – September 1970). His distinguished service included assignment as assistant staff judge advocate to the Military Assistance Advisory Group Headquarters (MAAG-China) in Taipei, Taiwan, where he served as a Foreign Claims Commissioner, Trial Observer, and legal advisor.

He later served the public as District Attorney for the 69th Judicial District (February 1971 – April 1975) prosecuting felony-grade cases, and subsequently as District Judge for the 69th Judicial District (April 1975 – December 1978) presiding over civil and felony criminal dockets across a multi-county district.