About John
John Schmude built a legal path that moves from small office practice to the bench and back into firm partnership. He earned a political science degree from the University of Massachusetts in 1995 and later took his legal training at South Texas College of Law, receiving his J.D. in 2008.
Soon after law school he established himself in private practice. In 2009 he served as president of Schmude Law Office, a role that placed him at the center of day-to-day case work and firm management. That early leadership experience preceded a period on the bench; in 2015 he served as judge of the 247th District Court, hearing matters that touched on the family and civil dockets that district courts typically handle.
His time as a judge was followed by participation in state-level policy work. In 2017 he was part of the Workgroup for the Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families under the Office of the Governor of Texas. That involvement linked courtroom experience to efforts to refine how state courts address cases affecting children and families.
After the judicial and policy roles he returned to private practice and later joined Skillern Firm as a partner. In that capacity he contributes courtroom experience and trial perspective to the firm’s team. The record shows continuing membership in professional associations since 2009, though specifics of those memberships are part of his broader professional profile rather than the record here.
He holds Board Certification in Family Law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. That certification indicates additional testing and peer review in family law practice. Over the years his work has included matters commonly found in family law and related civil proceedings. He has handled cases that require both courtroom readiness and negotiated resolution.
Colleagues and clients have encountered him in three professional roles: private practitioner, judge, and firm partner. Each role shaped how he approaches case assessment and courtroom strategy. He remains licensed to practice in Texas and is based at Skillern Firm, where he draws on his judicial background and family law certification in handling client matters.
He currently practices family law and related civil litigation at Skillern Firm, representing clients through trial and alternative dispute resolution processes.
