When government agencies or public officials overstep their authority, your constitutional rights—and your family’s stability—are put at risk. Mike Schneider Law stands up for individuals and families whose civil rights have been violated, with a strong focus on cases involving child welfare agencies and wrongful actions by Child Protective Services (CPS).
Cases involving unlawful investigations, improper child removal, or government overreach require strength, clarity, and strategy. With decades of experience on the bench and in the courtroom, Judge Mike Schneider (Ret.) brings a rare level of insight to these matters—protecting your rights, your family, and your future while holding agencies accountable.
Civil Rights services
- Illegal or improper CPS investigations and child removals
- Fourth Amendment violations/Unlawful Searches and Seizures
- Failure by CPS to use “reasonable efforts” to not remove children
- Retaliation by CPS
Civil rights violations can turn your life upside down, especially when they involve your family, your job, or your freedom. Judge Mike Schneider (Ret.) provides the clarity and protection you need.
Why Clients Trust Mike Schneider
When government actions threaten your family, your freedom, or your reputation, you need an advocate who sees the full picture.
As a former state district court judge, Mike Schneider has spent decades handling cases involving CPS, family rights, constitutional protections, and abuses of power.
His background gives clients a rare advantage: insight into how public agencies make decisions, how due-process violations occur, and how to expose misconduct when officials overstep their authority.
When your civil rights have been compromised, Mike provides the skilled, determined representation needed to hold public institutions to their legal obligations.
What Makes Mike More Than A
Civil Rights Lawyer?
With decades of diverse trial experience—from every side of the bench and bar—and a deep institutional knowledge of the many agencies with whom he has worked, Mike Schneider has protected mothers, fathers, foster and adoptive parents, grandparents, siblings and anyone accused in countless high-profile cases featured in national and global media.
He has extensive experience representing clients before numerous state agencies, including:
- Child Protective Services (CPS)
- Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS)
- Texas Health and Human Services
- State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH)
- Title IX Departments
When Mike is on your side, you get More Than a Lawyer.
- Former State District Court Judge
- Former Assistant Harris County Attorney
- Seasoned Trial Attorney with Years of Courtroom Advocacy on Behalf of Caregivers
- Expert Witness & Consultant
- Court-Appointed Amicus in Child Custody Cases
- CPS Administrative Insider
- Child Welfare Researcher & Policy Analyst
- CLE Trainer & Educator for Lawyers
Decades of Diverse Trial Experience
Mike has successfully tried hundreds of trials as a lawyer and state district judge, ranging from thorny child custody battles and protective orders to felony criminal investigations and a range of charges and indictments from injury to a child to sexual assault and capital murder.
Early in his judicial tenure, the Houston Chronicle praised his “demonstrated competency” in handling high-profile cases and consistently endorsed him throughout his entire judicial career, noting, “Schneider has devoted his career to protecting children‚ both as an assistant Harris County attorney and as general counsel of Houston’s renowned Children’s Assessment Center.”
Deep Knowledge of Child Welfare Investigations and Administrative Hearings
The goal is to keep clients out of the courts. The moment CPS or law enforcement investigations begin, parental rights—and those of foster parents, grandparents and other caregivers—are in immediate jeopardy, and the risk of criminal prosecution is heightened. Mike’s experience navigating this complex maze of law enforcement and child welfare investigators, pediatric hospitals, social workers, and often the media is unmatched.
History of High-Profile Success
Judge Schneider is known for his aggressive defense of the most consequential criminal and CPS investigations and in the courtroom at every stage—with clients across the United States. Mike has protected mothers, fathers, foster and adoptive parents, grandparents, siblings and anyone accused in countless high-profile cases featured in national media and across the globe.
Due to his deep understanding of the child welfare systems and agencies, he has an 80–90% success rate in preventing CPS lawsuits through his involvement in administrative and investigation cases.
Understands Every Side of the Bench & Bar
Mike joined the Harris County Attorney’s Office in 1999, serving as Chief of the 313th District Court and managed and tried thousands of child custody cases involving the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (CPS).
In 2001, he became Deputy Division Chief of the office’s Children’s Protective Division, and from 2004 until he took the bench in 2006, served as General Counsel to the world-renowned Children’s Assessment Center in Houston’s Rice Village.
He proudly served as Commissioner of the Supreme Court of Texas Children’s Commission and Chair of the State Bar of Texas Juvenile Law Section.
Advocacy Founder & Leader
Mike has founded or served as a leading member of numerous advocacy courts, programs and organizations including:
- Commissioner, Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families (Children’s Commission), Austin (2015-21)
- Founder of first Juvenile Drug Court in Harris County
- Founder, Harris County Juvenile Human Trafficking Court, Creating Advocacy Resilience and Empowerment (“CARE” formerly “GIRLS” Court)
- Founder, Juvenile Sealing Program, with Houston Bar Association and University of Houston Law Center Juvenile and Capital Advocacy Program
- Founder, myvoiceincourt.org, an Online Resource for Children in Texas Foster Care
- Council & Founding Member of Child Welfare Section, State Bar of Texas, Austin
- Board Member, The Way Home Adoption, Inc. (2019-24)
- Chair, Officer, Juvenile Law Section, State Bar of Texas, Austin
- Board of Directors, Center for Science and Law, Palo Alto, California
- Board Member, Criss Cole Children’s Foundation, Houston
- Member of Data Committee, Children’s Commission, Austin
Conducted Years of Legal Research & Policy Analysis
In 2017, Mike was appointed Adjunct Research Scientist in the Psychology Department of Columbia University in the City of New York by Dr. Carl Hart and in 2022 to the Board of the Center for Science and the Law.
In 2019 Mike served the Texas Legislature as Policy Analyst on child welfare issues for State Representative Gene Wu.
Mike has a deep understanding of the policies that affect his clients the most.
Trained & Educated Thousands of Lawyers
Mike has created and taught Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs that have trained thousands of lawyers on topics including CPS and child abuse, substance use, complex custody litigation, ethics, expert witnesses, human trafficking, record sealing, and many more at the following institutions:
- Advocacy University
- Healing Specialties Texas
- Houston Bar Association
- University of Houston Law Center Juvenile & Capital Advocacy Program
- Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison, Sing Sing Correctional Facility
Other Practice Areas
Child Welfare & CPS Defense
We fight for clients at every stage of child custody battles, including CPS involvement—preventing cases from escalating to litigation or appeals whenever possible.
Family Law
Custody, divorce, adoption, and parental rights representation for spouses, families, grandparents, foster parents, and caregivers fighting for the children in their care.
Criminal Law
Strategic defense in state and federal cases, including felony and juvenile matters impacting or triggered by child custody investigations and litigation.
Civil Rights Law
Advocacy for caregivers, professionals, and individuals facing agency investigations or constitutional rights violations.
Administrative Law
Navigating complex state and agency proceedings impacting families and children, including CPS investigations, licensing actions, and regulatory disputes.
How We Handle Civil Rights Disputes
Disputes involving civil rights investigations often involve strict procedures and short deadlines.
Depending on your situation, we may recommend:
Negotiate
before escalation
Resolve
issues directly with the agency efficiently
Prepare
and guide you through administrative hearings
Represent
commissions, or judges
File
appeals to challenge harmful agency actions
Challenge
adverse decisions using proper legal processes
Litigate
courts
Commitment to Justice Reform and Due Process
Civil rights violations don’t happen in a vacuum. When an agency cuts corners, when due process is ignored, or when CPS or law enforcement oversteps its authority, the impact reaches far beyond a single case.
These failures often signal deeper systemic problems—issues that can affect countless families if left unchallenged.
Mike has spent decades witnessing how breakdowns in due process can harm individuals and destabilize families. His work is grounded not only in defending his clients’ rights but also in pushing back against the policies, practices, and institutional habits that allow abuses to occur.
By holding agencies accountable, Mike helps set standards that protect others, strengthen the justice system, and prevent future misconduct.
He has been recognized for his dedication to standing up for parents, children, and individuals who have been wronged by the very systems meant to protect them.
Press & News
Over the years, Mike’s involvement in countless high-profile cases has earned him national and global recognition in news and media:
The Insight You Need When Authorities Overstep
When government agencies disregard due process or threaten your family, you need More Than a Lawyer—you need someone who has worked inside the very systems you’re up against.
Mike Schneider Law brings decades of courtroom, judicial, agency, and policy experience to defend your family with unmatched insight and compassion.
Schedule Your Consultation Today!
Every moment counts when facing CPS, criminal, or family law issues. It is essential that we build your defense strategy as soon as possible. Let’s schedule a confidential, complimentary consultation.