Michael Truncale
Prior to becoming a federal judge, I was a trial lawyer, mediator, and arbitrator. In this capacity, I learned the importance of understanding that there are two sides to every story. Through the adversarial process, the truth emerges. Also, I learned that corrective measures (e.g. verdicts, settlements) need to be tailored to create the appropriate outcome based upon the facts and the law. The skills that I learned as a lawyer, mediator, and arbitrator are the skills that I rely upon as a judge. As a judge, I apply the rule of law to the facts of each case. I let the law and the facts guide me. I suspect that the same skills would be useful in analyzing matters that come before the Board of Discipline. Finally, I have learned that regardless of the merits of claims or defenses, all participants in the process should be treated with dignity and respect.