A Better Approach To Resolving Disputes
In alternative dispute resolution, experience matters. Judge Gary Coley brings to the table a perspective informed by more than 30 years in law, including 16 years on the bench. In addition to his experience in presiding over 20,000+ hearings, Judge Coley approaches mediation and arbitration with the skills needed to move cases forward in a fair, productive, and timely manner:
- Judicial experience. His years on the bench have equipped him with well-grounded insights into the strengths and weaknesses of each case, and how judges and juries might interpret them.
- Candid communication. Whether delivering constructive advice or hard truths, Judge Coley maintains the same candor and practicality that won him acclaim on the bench.
- Intense preparation. Judge Coley rigorously reviews every detail of a case before a session, ensuring efficient, effective, and informed resolutions.
CASE EXPERTISE
- Commercial & Business Disputes
- Personal Injury
- Probate
- Medical Malpractice
- Products Liability
- Premises Liability
- Employment Discrimination
- Real Estate
- Residential & Commercial Construction
- Family Law Disputes
- Intellectual Property Disputes
- Fire & Property
Having served for more than sixteen years as a Judge of the 74th District Court, Judge Coley has built a reputation for fairness, innovation, and leadership. During that time, he has earned the trust of the legal community through his ability to navigate challenging cases with clarity and precision.
His judicial career spanned a broad range of legal matters, including commercial litigation, personal injury, medical malpractice, catastrophic injury, family law, and criminal law. He applies his vast legal knowledge to help parties reach efficient and equitable resolutions outside the courtroom. He also continues to serve as a visiting judge by assignment, bringing his deep legal expertise to various cases in Central Texas.
Judge Coley has been a leader in judicial innovation. He worked closely with local officials to develop impactful programs such as the McLennan Crossover Youth Project Model and the McLennan County Veterans Treatment Court, and co-founded the Heart of Texas Human Trafficking Coalition, a model for similar programs worldwide. He has also conducted training for judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement in Poland, Indonesia, and Nepal to combat human trafficking.
Beyond the bench, Judge Coley is a committed civic leader. He serves as an adjunct professor at Baylor Law, teaching Juvenile Justice and mentoring the next generation of legal professionals.
In 2025, Judge Coley transitioned from the 74th District Court to focus on alternative dispute resolution, leveraging his extensive experience in mediation, arbitration, and private judging.
Education
- Baylor University School of Law, J.D., 1993
- Texas A&M University, B.B.A., 1990
Bar & Court Admissions
- Licensed in Texas
- United States Supreme Court
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
- Serjeant of the Inn Award, American Inns of Court, Judge Abner V. McCall Chapter, 2025
- Distinguished Service Recognition, State Bar of Texas, 2023
- Judicial Innovation & Leadership Award, Texas CASA, 2022
- Baylor University, Adjunct Professor / Juvenile Justice
- Heart of Texas Human Trafficking Coalition, Co-founder
- Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth & Families, Vice Chair
- American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Member, Past President – Waco Chapter
- The Judge Abner McCall Inn of Court, Member, Past President
- Rotary Club, Downtown Waco Chapter, Member
- Waco Symphony Association, Board Member
- Co-Presenter: “Expert Witnesses: How to Qualify and Disqualify Experts in the CPS Case,” Supreme Court of Texas Children’s Commission Annual Trial Skills Training, 2017 – Present
- Panelist: TEX-ABOTA Civility Matters Panel, Baylor Law School Practice Court Program, 2016 – Present
- Presenter: “Crafting Your Opening Statement in a CPS Case & Presenting a Strong Closing Argument,” Supreme Court of Texas Children’s Commission Annual Trial Skills Training, 2015 – Present
- Lecturer: “McLennan County Specialty Courts,” Baylor Law School – People’s Law School, 2021 – 2025
- Presenter: “Human Trafficking – Local/National/International Perspectives,” McLennan County Bar Association, 2024
- Presenter: “Victim Centered Justice System & Trauma Informed Approach,” training for judges/law enforcement/prosecutors, Jakarta, Indonesia & Kathmandu, Nepal, 2024
- Presenter: “Judicial Leadership in Combatting Human Trafficking,” training for judges/law enforcement/prosecutors, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2024 & Karpacz, Poland, 2023
- Presenter: “Collaborative Approach to Addressing Human Trafficking,” training for law enforcement/NGOs, Karpacz, Poland, 2023
- Presenter: “Update from the Bench – Local Judicial Panel,” McLennan County Bar Association, 2023
- Facilitator: Heart of Texas Human Trafficking Coalition Meetings, 2017 – 2023
- Presenter: “The Judge’s Role in Prevention & Pre-Petition Legal Representation,” Child Welfare Judges Conference, 2022
- Presenter: “A Holistic Approach to Serving Dual Status Youth,” NCJFCJ Juvenile Justice Conference, 2021
- Presenter: “WHO are Dual Status Youth?,” Child Protection Court Dual Status Training, 2021
- Presenter: “Breaking News – Current Events in Juvenile Law,” TEX-ABOTA, Waco Chapter, TLS, 2019
- Author: “Two Doors to the Courthouse: A Judicial Perspective on Dual Status Youth,” Texas Bar Journal, Oct. 1, 2019
- Commencement Address: McLennan Community College Law Enforcement Academy, June 2016