For the past eight years, Scott J. Becker has presided over the 219th State District Court in Collin County. Now, the experienced attorney and judge is bringing his expertise to Dallas-based law firm, McCathern PLLC, where he’ll serve as Partner in the Frisco office. We sat down with Mr. Becker to learn more about his new role.
As judge of a general jurisdiction court, I worked on civil law suits, felony criminal matters and family law—I’m board certified in family law. So, I will handle all three areas for the firm, and also help to increase our business in those fields.
I had two cases featured on national TV—one on 48 Hours and one on Dateline. Both were local murder cases. Even though I was nervous at first, it was a neat experience to have cameras in the court room. It’s important for the public to have faith in our court system, and it’s easier to do that when you can see the system working.
As for me, I actually wasn’t on TV a whole lot. I only show up when reading the verdict. Nobody watches Dateline to see the judge, they watch to see the murder mystery.
It was a unique perspective. It’s not common to have the benefit of being the person who made the decisions. Now, I think I’m better suited to know what’s persuasive to a judge. I think it will make me more effective in analyzing cases and advocating a client’s position before the court, and it will be incredibly effective in giving the client advice. It’s important to know how to fight, but it’s even more important to know when to fight. I can give our clients the benefit of that insight when making those decisions.
I was always an argumentative kid; I had a response for everything. Teachers and coaches would always say, “Hey, you’d make a great lawyer one day.” Subliminally, it was put into my head to go be a lawyer. Also, Hollywood made it seem cool.
But more than anything, I think it stems from my competitive side. I was an athlete growing up, all the way into college. I enjoyed competing and working to get better at things. Being in law school and then trying cases in front of juries was the closest thing to competing athletically that I could find. Now instead of getting that rush from competing on the field, I get it from helping clients in the courtroom.
I have three boys, ages 11, nine and seven, so my hobbies are their hobbies. Lately I’ve been trying to learn more about Fortnite and Minecraft. Right now they’re competing in gymnastics and trampoline, so I enjoy going to those meets.
In my free time, I like watching Longhorn sporting events because I went to UT. I also like, reading, and playing poker and golf.
I’ve been reading lots of Malcolm Gladwell lately, so I’ll go with his book David and Goliath.
My faith is very important to me. When I was about 30, I saw Billy Graham when he came into town. I accepted Christ that day, and that has influenced everything that’s happened since. I met my wife, it led to my kids… everything I’ve done well in life is because of my faith. It got me through tough times, including running for office and surviving colon cancer. My faith gives me peace when I have to make big decisions in life. I don’t think it makes me better than the next guy, but I think it makes me better than I was.
Another thing that’s vital to where I am now goes back to my college years. When I was freshman at UT, I walked onto the baseball team. I wasn’t good enough to get a scholarship, but I was good enough to play. I realized that you can achieve a lot simply by pursuing things. And even though I never became a pro baseball player, it was a formative experience for me. It taught me the value of being part of a team, working hard to achieve a goal, staying persistent and providing value to those around me. All those things continue to inform my life all these years later.
I ended up giving up baseball to pursue academics, which was a hard choice. I knew I wasn’t going to be a pro, but I could do something special with a degree. I made the call, and I’m glad I did.
Connect with McCathern Law Firm here.
What will you be focusing on now that you’ve joined McCathern?
As judge of a general jurisdiction court, I worked on civil law suits, felony criminal matters and family law—I’m board certified in family law. So, I will handle all three areas for the firm, and also help to increase our business in those fields.
What are some of your most high-profile or interesting cases you worked on while serving as a judge?
It’s important to know how to fight, but it’s even more important to know when to fight. I can give our clients the benefit of that insight when making those decisions.
I had two cases featured on national TV—one on 48 Hours and one on Dateline. Both were local murder cases. Even though I was nervous at first, it was a neat experience to have cameras in the court room. It’s important for the public to have faith in our court system, and it’s easier to do that when you can see the system working.
As for me, I actually wasn’t on TV a whole lot. I only show up when reading the verdict. Nobody watches Dateline to see the judge, they watch to see the murder mystery.
How has your time on the bench impacted the way you’ll approach cases as a practicing attorney?
It was a unique perspective. It’s not common to have the benefit of being the person who made the decisions. Now, I think I’m better suited to know what’s persuasive to a judge. I think it will make me more effective in analyzing cases and advocating a client’s position before the court, and it will be incredibly effective in giving the client advice. It’s important to know how to fight, but it’s even more important to know when to fight. I can give our clients the benefit of that insight when making those decisions.
Thinking back to the beginning, what first inspired you to enter the legal field?
I was always an argumentative kid; I had a response for everything. Teachers and coaches would always say, “Hey, you’d make a great lawyer one day.” Subliminally, it was put into my head to go be a lawyer. Also, Hollywood made it seem cool.
But more than anything, I think it stems from my competitive side. I was an athlete growing up, all the way into college. I enjoyed competing and working to get better at things. Being in law school and then trying cases in front of juries was the closest thing to competing athletically that I could find. Now instead of getting that rush from competing on the field, I get it from helping clients in the courtroom.
How do you spend your time when you’re not working?
I have three boys, ages 11, nine and seven, so my hobbies are their hobbies. Lately I’ve been trying to learn more about Fortnite and Minecraft. Right now they’re competing in gymnastics and trampoline, so I enjoy going to those meets.
In my free time, I like watching Longhorn sporting events because I went to UT. I also like, reading, and playing poker and golf.
What’s the best book you’ve read lately?
I’ve been reading lots of Malcolm Gladwell lately, so I’ll go with his book David and Goliath.
What are a couple key moments from your past that helped bring you to where you are now?
My faith is very important to me. When I was about 30, I saw Billy Graham when he came into town. I accepted Christ that day, and that has influenced everything that’s happened since. I met my wife, it led to my kids… everything I’ve done well in life is because of my faith. It got me through tough times, including running for office and surviving colon cancer. My faith gives me peace when I have to make big decisions in life. I don’t think it makes me better than the next guy, but I think it makes me better than I was.
Another thing that’s vital to where I am now goes back to my college years. When I was freshman at UT, I walked onto the baseball team. I wasn’t good enough to get a scholarship, but I was good enough to play. I realized that you can achieve a lot simply by pursuing things. And even though I never became a pro baseball player, it was a formative experience for me. It taught me the value of being part of a team, working hard to achieve a goal, staying persistent and providing value to those around me. All those things continue to inform my life all these years later.
I ended up giving up baseball to pursue academics, which was a hard choice. I knew I wasn’t going to be a pro, but I could do something special with a degree. I made the call, and I’m glad I did.
Connect with McCathern Law Firm here.
