Senior Judge Richard Schell was appointed to the Eastern District of Texas by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. He was nominated on April 13, 1988, confirmed by the Senate on May 27, 1988, and received his commission on June 6, 1988. He filled the seat vacated by Judge William Steger. Judge Schell served as Chief Judge from 1994 to 2001 and assumed senior status on March 10, 2015.
Before his federal appointment, Judge Schell served as a Judge of the County Court at Law in Collin County, Texas from 1982 to 1986, and in private practice in McKinney, Texas from 1977 to 1982. He also served as an Assistant District Attorney for Collin County in 1976, and as an instructor at SMU Dedman School of Law from 1975 to 1976. Since 2010, he has served as a visiting professor at SMU Dedman School of Law.
Education
- Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, J.D., 1975
- Southern Methodist University, B.A., 1972
Career
- Instructor, SMU Dedman School of Law (1975–1976)
- Assistant District Attorney, Collin County, TX (1976)
- Private practice, McKinney, TX (1977–1982)
- Judge, County Court at Law, Collin County, TX (1982–1986)
- Private practice (1986–1988)
- Visiting Professor, SMU Dedman School of Law (2010–present)