Special to The News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn on Tuesday released the following statements after the Senate confirmed Michael Truncale to fill a vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in Beaumont:

“I am pleased the Senate has confirmed Michael Truncale to the federal bench,” Cruz said. “The Senate is continuing to deliver on its promise to the American people to confirm principled, constitutionalist judges, and I have no doubt Texans in the Eastern District will be well served by Michael’s professionalism and commitment to the rule of law.”

“Michael’s legal expertise and devotion to serving his fellow Texans will make him an excellent federal judge,” Cornyn said. “I thank my Senate colleagues for supporting his confirmation and wish him the best as he takes the bench in Beaumont.”

The senators recommended Truncale to President Trump following an extensive review and interview process of the candidate pool by the bipartisan Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee. Cruz and Cornyn established the FJEC, a bipartisan panel of leading attorneys in Texas, to help identify the most qualified candidates to fill judicial vacancies. The panel reviewed applications, interviewed candidates and made recommendations to the senators, who interviewed individuals before making their recommendations to the president.

Truncale is a partner at Orgain Bell & Tucker, LLP, where he has handled a wide range of litigation matters, including products liability and commercial disputes, since joining the firm as an associate in 1985. During his time in private practice, Mr. Truncale has devoted considerable time to public service.

Gov. Rick Perry appointed Truncale to serve a four-year term as a regent of the Texas State University System and Gov. Greg Abbott appointed him to serve a six-year term as a board member of the Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Board.

Truncale is board certified in civil trial by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and is board certified in personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He also has extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution, serving as a mediator in more than 2,000 cases in state and federal courts throughout Texas.

Truncale earned a bachelor’s in business administration, magna cum laude, from Lamar University, an MBA from the University of North Texas and his law degree from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.