He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Methodist University in 1972 and a Juris Doctor from the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University in 1975.
He was an assistant district attorney of Collin County, Texas in 1976.
He was a Judge of the 219th Judicial District Court of Texas from 1986 to 1988.
[1] On April 13, 1988, Schell was nominated by President Ronald Reagan to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas vacated by Judge William Steger.
Schell was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 27, 1988, and received his commission on June 6, 1988.