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Judge Andrew M. Edison Biography

Biography
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Biography

Judge Andrew Edison is a United States Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Texas. He earned his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. Prior to taking the bench in 2018, Judge Edison was a highly respected trial lawyer, appearing for the past 25 years in state courts, federal courts and arbitration panels across the country. He lectures frequently at various continuing legal education seminars and serves as an adjunct law professor, teaching Remedies, Evidence, and Trial Advocacy. Outside the law, Judge Edison is an avid sports fan and can often be found attending sports events all over the globe. Although he is not blessed with much athletic ability, Judge Edison has managed to run--and complete--five marathons, including the Boston Marathon.
Education

          University of Virginia School of Law
               J.D., 1994

          Dartmouth College
               B.A., Government, cum laude, 1991
Legal Experience

         United States Magistrate Judge
         Southern District of Texas (Galveston Division)
              February 2018 – present

         Partner, Edison, McDowell & Hetherington LLP
              January 2009 – February 2018    

         Partner, Bracewell LLP
              September 1994 - December 2000; February 2002 - January 2009

         Enron Corp.
         Senior Counsel
              January 2001 - December 2001

         University of Houston Law Center
         Adjunct Professor teaching Trial Advocacy and Remedies
              2002 – 2022, 2024

         St. Mary's University, School of Law
         Adjunct Professor teaching Remedies and Evidence
              2023 - 2024
Recent Speeches / Publications
"Meet the Magistrate Judges" (Panelist with Judges Christina Bryan and Richard Farrer for Houston Bar Association) (March 2018)
"Chamber Chat” (Panelist with Judge Jeff Bohm before Garland Walker Inns of Court) (April 2018)
"What Does a Magistrate Judge Do?" (Windsor Club) (May 2018)
"Federal and State Observations" (Presentation with State Court Judge R.K. Sandill before ABOTA Teachers’ Law School) (June 2018)
"Judicial Panel" (Presentation with Judges Shashi Kewalramani and K. Nicole Mitchell for Fall Institute on Intellectual Property Law) (September 2018)
“Innovation in E-Discovery Conference” (Panelist with United States District Judge Andrew S. Hanen) (November 2018)
“Judicial Perspective – What Labor Lawyers Need to Know” (Houston Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law Section) (December 2018)
“JFK: The Assassination, The Zapruder Film and Just Compensation” (ALI CLE Eminent Domain and Land Valuation Litigation in Palm Springs, California) (January 2019)
“Discovery Cooperation and Proportionality in Complex Products Litigation” (DRI Product Liability Conference in Austin, Texas with Judges Alan Albright and Xavier Rodriguez) (February 2019)
“HYLA Leadership Academy” (panelist with Harris County District Court Judge Lauren Reeder) (March 2019)
“Medical Marijuana” (Houston Association of Legal Professionals) (April 2019)
“Federal and State Court Judges’ Best Practices” (panelist with Judges Micaela Alvarez and Daryl Moore) (April 2019)
“Seventh Amendment - Right to Trial by Jury” (Panel discussion with Pete Patterson, Judge Beau Miller and Judge Erin Lunceford for ABOTA’s Teachers’ Law School) (June 2019)
“Taking the Zapruder Film: Facts and Fictions Relating to John F. Kennedy’s Assassination” (Texas City Attorney’s Association Summer Conference in San Antonio, Texas) (June 2019)
“Perspectives from the Bench” (Eminent Domain Institute) (July 2019)
“What Works and What Doesn't in Pretrial Proceedings: Zealous and Candid Advocacy” (Panelist with Chief Judge Lee H. Rosenthal and Judge Sim Lake for SDTX Bench-Bar Conference) (October 2019)
“Prosecutorial Ethics: A 360° View” (Panelist with Professor Suzanne Valdez and AUSA Mitch Neurock) (January 2020)
“COVID-19 and the Courts” (Panelist with Judge Nancy F. Atlas and Judge Peter Bray for Atlas IP Inn of Court) (April 2020)
“How Courts are Navigating the Pandemic: A Conversation with our Federal Judiciary” (Panelist with Chief Judge Lee H. Rosenthal and Chief Bankruptcy Judge David Jones for Federal Bar Association Monthly Luncheon) (April 2020)
“Litigation Practices During the Pandemic” (Houston Young Lawyers Association) (April 2020)
“Best Practices for Remote Hearings and Depositions” (American Intellectual Property Law Association) (May 2020)
“The Black Hills Land Dispute: The Longest Ongoing Legal Battle in American History” (Eminent Domain Institute) (August 2020)
“What I Know as a Judge That I Wish I Knew as a Lawyer” (The Texas Association of Defense Counsel) (September 2020)
“Judicial Panel” (Panelist with Judges Peter Bray and Christina Bryan for Fall Institute on Intellectual Property Law) (October 2020)
“Court Proceedings Under COVID-19 Restrictions” (Panel with Judges Bonnie L. Goldstein, Gloria M. Rincones, and Dale B. Tillery for the Texas Bar CLE on Prosecuting & Defending Truck and Auto Collision Cases) (November 2020)
“COVID-19 and the Practice of IP Law: Litigation (Advanced Intellectual Property Law" (Panelist with Judge Barbara Lynn, Alexander Hadjis, and Steven Pollinger)
(February 2021)
“Magistrate Judges Panel: Civil and Criminal" (Panel with Judges Kimberly Johnson, Jeffrey Manske, and Lee Ann Remo for the Texas Bar CLE on Federal Court Practice)
(May 2021)
“Robert Moses - The Taking of New York City" (Eminent Domain Institute) (August 2021)
“Practical Pointers and Observations In Court" (Panel with Judge Xavier Rodriguez for Texas Bar CLE on Removal and Remand) (November 2021)
“Views From The Judiciary On All Things Litigation Finance" (Panel with Judge Charles R. Eskridge, III and Judge Lauren Reeder for LIFTINCON Litigation Funding Conference (March 2022)
“Ethics and Professionalism in the Courtroom and Through Discovery, Mediation and Litigation Process" (GNOBFA Conference in New Orleans) (April 2022)
“Common Pitfalls in Personal Injury Litigation After Removal" (Texas Bar CLE on Advanced Personal Injury Law) (September 2022)
“The Most Famous Case in the History Of The Southern District of Texas: The Muhammad Ali Trial" (CLE for SDTX Summer Program) (August 2022)
“Judging in a Post-Pandemic World" (Panelist with Judge Jeff Brown and Judge Randy Crane for SDTX Bench-Bar Conference) (October 2022)
"The Maritime Dictionary For Litigation Terms - What Do They Mean" (Panel with James Mercante For GNOBFA Conference in New Orleans) (April 2023)
"Magistrate Judges Panel: Civil and Criminal" (Panel with Judges Kimberly Johnson, Jeffrey Manske, and Lee Ann Remo for Texas Bar CLE on Federal Court Practice) (May 2023)
“What I Wish I Knew as a Lawyer that I Now Know as a Judge” (Houston Bar Association Litigation Section) (Nov. 2023)
“Rule B/Bank Account Garnishment of 3rd Parties” (UT Admiralty and Maritime Law Conference) (February 2024)
“What They Don’t Teach You in Law School” (St. Mary’s Law School Federal Bar Association Chapter) (February 2024)
Keynote Address at The University of Houston Law Review Banquet (April 2024)
(Panelist with Raymond Ward discussing Maritime Law Update For GNOBFA Conference in New Orleans) (May 2024)
Early Mediation: Strategies for Success (American Bar Association) (June 2024)
Awards and Recognition

          “Texas Super Lawyer” (Business Litigation), Texas Monthly 2009-2018

          “Houston Top Lawyer” in the Summer 2015 and 2016 issues of H Texas Magazine

          “Texas Rising Star” (Business Litigation), Texas Monthly, 2004-2006

          Outstanding Individual Contribution to the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program (2001)

          American Board of Trial Advocates, National Board Representative (2018-2022)

          Honorary Alumnus at University of Houston Law Center (2022)