Page 22 - Briefcase Volume 36 Number 2

ALUMNI

JUDGE JOHN COSELLI

As the son of a transactional attorney and an English teacher administration of fairness, equality and justice than I had as a
and journalist, Judge John Coselli and his siblings grew up lawyer mediator or arbitrator, which drew my interest to that
believing that maintaining focus in the classroom would kind of public service.”
eventually lead to a rewarding career. Coselli’s advice to attorneys or students interested in
While his brothers went on to practice medicine, the 1977 the judiciary is to exude honesty, courtesy, reliability and
alumnus of the University of Houston Law Center took mother professionalism while building a rapport with attorneys they
and father's wishes to heart by pursuing the practice of law. encounter professionally or personally.
“My parents had always impressed us with the value of “You need all of those to protect your reputation every day
having an education from the time we were very young,” of your career,” he said. “One of the most valuable things that
Coselli said. “All of us knew that we were going to need an we have as lawyers and as judges is how we are perceived for
education and were going to have advanced degrees of some our honesty and our professionalism.
kind. We all knew we were going to do something more than “You should become politically active, and it is also
just college.” important to engage in Bar activities, to network, to do pro
Since completing his legal education, Coselli has been a bono work and to give back to the community. It’s challenging
mainstay in Houston’s legal community for more than 40 to maintain your reputation for fairness in the legal process,
years. From 1977-1999, he was in private practice at the firm and it’s something you have to work hard at.”
Carl, Lee & Coselli. In addition to his roles as an arbitrator, mediator and
During that time, Coselli enhanced his legal skills by gaining special master of the court, Coselli serves his alma mater as
experience as an arbitrator and a mediator. While he enjoyed a mediation instructor with the Law Center’s A.A. White
helping two parties reach an agreement as a neutral party, he Dispute Resolution Center.
felt he could make a bigger impact on the justice system. “The A.A. White Dispute Resolution Center is a great place
“I have always been concerned about the impact of fairness for me to give back to the law school,” he said. “It’s been a
and equality in the justice system, especially for those who are privilege to have the opportunity to exercise skills talents
underrepresented,” Coselli said. “I was hopeful that sometime capabilities that began at the Law Center, and I’ve been able to
in my life I would have the opportunity to make a greater and give back as a judge.”
better difference than I could do in private practice as a lawyer Coselli’s contribution to the legal profession can be
and as a neutral party.” illustrated through his broad civil litigation and transactional
Coselli would get the opportunity he had been hoping for. practice as an attorney, and state and federal court cases he
His career took a new path when he was appointed as a district has mediated.
court judge by then-Gov. George W. Bush. Coselli served as the “In the over 40 years since I received my law degree from the
presiding judge of the 125th Civil District Court until 2009. He Law Center, I’ve spent over 20 of those years practicing law
continues to sit by assignment as a district court judge. and about 20 of those years as a judge,” Coselli said. “Over the
“I enjoy listening to people who have problems present their years, I’ve enjoyed everything that I’ve done in the practice of
issues and their difficulties and then helping them sort that law and have learned to identify my strengths and weaknesses.
out,” Coselli said. “I have always been privileged to have that “The University of Houston Law Center played a really
opportunity to help people work through their problems. significant role in giving me the opportunity to have an
“Serving as a judge gave me a broader access to the enjoyable and rewarding career. I’ve never forgotten that.” ■

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