Judge Maria T. Jackson — Mediation and Arbitration

Judge Maria T. Jackson — Mediation and Arbitration International
Attorneys and litigants across Texas seek out Judge Maria T. Jackson for one simple reason: she gets disputes resolved. With more than fifteen years on the bench and a settlement rate exceeding 75% in mediated cases.  Judge Jackson brings a rare combination of judicial authority, practical wisdom, and genuine compassion to every matter she touches.  Court-appointed by Harris County and Fort Bend County Civil District Court judges, she has earned a reputation as a trusted neutral who knows how to bring parties together — and how to close the deal.

A Mediator Who Never Gives Up
Judge Jackson describes her mediation style as engaged and hands-on.  She shares her candid assessments at the right moment, asks the hard questions that drill down to the real issues driving the conflict, and works tirelessly until every avenue of resolution has been explored. She is challenging when she needs to be and serious about the stakes, yet parties consistently remark on her warmth, humor, and humanity at the table. She listens intently, then helps the parties craft creative resolutions tailored to their needs and solutions that often would never have been available at the courthouse. Her range is exceptional: personal injury, complex commercial disputes, real estate transactions, breach of contract, employment conflicts, insurance matters, intellectual property infringement, and multi-party negotiations requiring skilled facilitation. Whatever the dispute, Judge Jackson brings the same relentless commitment: she never gives up on a resolution.

An Arbitrator Defined by Integrity
Integrity is the hallmark of Judge Jackson's work as an arbitrator. Holding an Advanced Arbitration certification, she studies the facts and the law of every case and calls it as she sees it — without fear or favor. Her sense of fairness was forged over a decade as Presiding Judge of the 339th State District Court in Harris County, where she presided over approximately 8,000 cases and was elected Administrative Judge over the county's 22 felony courts. Parties who appear before her know they will receive a full and fair hearing, a carefully reasoned decision, and the respect every litigant deserves.

Recognized. Respected. Results-Driven                                                                                                                                                Judge Jackson is held in the highest esteem by her colleagues on the bench and at the bar. Named one of Houston's 50 Most Influential Women of 2023, honored as the Best Criminal Court Judge of 2011 by the Houston Press — the first African American woman to receive that honor — and recognized by the Mexican American Bar Association, the Houston Lawyers Association, and Texas Democratic Women, her work ethic and fairness are above reproach. When you need a neutral who combines the gravitas of the bench with the tenacity of a dealmaker, Judge Maria T. Jackson is ready to help you resolve your dispute — efficiently, fairly, and finally.

Judge Jackson was chosen as one of 24 judges from across the country to represent Texas at the National Computer Forensics Institute (NCFI). The NCFI is a partnership between the United States Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security, the Alabama District Attorney’s Association and the National Judicial College. She also served by appointment of the Chief Justice of The Supreme Court as the Presiding Judge in Cameron County, Texas. Judge Jackson was named “Best Criminal Court Judge of 2011” by the Houston Press, making her the first African American in Harris County to be so honored. She has been voted Top Judge and won the People’s Choice Award in 2012 and 2013 by d-mars.com.

Judge Jackson was also honored by the Houston Sun in 2013 as a “Woman of Power and Purpose.” and served as a trainer and instructor for the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center. Judge Jackson has also been recognized in the Mayor’s Spotlight, making her the first judge to be acknowledged in the City of Houston’s employee newspaper.

Maria Jackson’s service to the community has led many organizations to recognize her as an asset to the public as well as businesses in the private sector. Judge Jackson can assist in a wide variety of mediations stemming from civil disputes involving small businesses and complex corporate matters, all the way to real estate and medical malpractice claims.