Hon. Sylvia Matthews

Sylvia Matthews has served as a state court trial judge for 15 years - 10 years as a full-time civil district judge in Harris County and five years as a part-time visiting judge. As a visiting judge, she is assigned to preside over four Multi-District Litigation matters and she sits in courts where the presiding judge is absent.  She has presided over hundreds of civil trials and managed a docket of thousands of cases including those involving injuries at the workplace, industrial job-site accidents, Texas Department of Insurance DWC decision challenges, employment contract disputes, non-compete issues, partnership disputes, and complex business litigation, among other types of cases.  

Since early 2019, Judge Matthews has had an arbitration and mediation practice and is on the American Arbitration Association roster of arbitrators. She has mediated or arbitrated a variety of cases included personal injury claims, oil and gas disputes, breach of contract issues, trade secret issues, and employment disputes.

Before being appointed to the bench in 2008, she had civil trial practice for 20 plus years.    As a young lawyer she cut her teeth trying premises liability cases and insurance defense claims. She also has experience in pharmaceutical litigation, products liability claims, and business torts. 

Sylvia is married to Murray Fogler, a partner in Fogler, Brar, O’Neil & Gray LLP.  She enjoys theater, architecture, long-distance running, and spending time with her family.  She is a longtime member of St. John the Divine Episcopal Church and a proud grandmother.