BOARD: Nancy Atlas

Nancy F. Atlas is a former United States District Judge in Houston, Texas, with a long and distinguished career in litigation, mediation, and judicial service. She was born in New York City and obtained her undergraduate degree at Tufts University and a law degree at New York University School of Law. She was instrumental in introducing mediation to Houston courts and lawyers, enjoying a robust mediation practice prior to her appointment to the federal bench in 1995.

While a federal judge, Nancy handled thousands of criminal and civil cases largely involving the United States constitution and federal laws. She served on many judicial and bar association committees to improve court policies and law practice in the U.S. District Courts locally and nationally. She also served on and chaired the federal judiciary’s national Committee on Judicial Security, the local court security committee, and the local Court’s Automation Committee. Through the Federal Judicial Center, Nancy served as a mentor judge and taught various subjects to newly-appointed and experienced federal district judges. She co-founded the Intellectual Property Inn of Court in Houston, which now bears her name and in which she remains an active advisor. Nancy has been a frequent speaker on a wide variety of law-related programs.