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E165 | Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics: Judicial Accountability and the Future of the Central Docket | Judge Amy Clark Meachum

By D. Todd Smith on

Judge Amy Clark Meachum, the Local Administrative Judge for Travis County, joins hosts Todd Smith and Jody Sanders to unpack recent legislation affecting the Texas judiciary and what it…

Continue Reading E165 | Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics: Judicial Accountability and the Future of the Central Docket | Judge Amy Clark Meachum
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Courts, Flipping the Script Series, Mandamus

Flipping the Script | Lawyers and Litigants Deserve More Than One-Sentence Mandamus Denials

By D. Todd Smith on
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Appeals, Flipping the Script Series

Flipping the Script | The Civil Docketing Statement Needs a Complete Rethink

By D. Todd Smith on
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Texas Appellate Law Podcast

E164 | AI in the Judiciary: Power, Limits, and the Social Contract | Judge Scott Schlegel

By D. Todd Smith on
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Flipping the Script Series, Texas Supreme Court

Flipping the Script | The Case for Bringing Back Two Texas Supreme Court Transparency Tools

By D. Todd Smith on
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My Clients Don’t Know Where I Live

By D. Todd Smith on

About the Author

D. Todd Smith is a seasoned appellate lawyer who helps trial teams position cases for success at every stage of litigation. Focusing on preserving error and handling complex legal issues, Todd works to avoid potential appellate pitfalls before they arise. He provides deep analysis, tackles critical motions, and delivers the edge trial lawyers need to excel in high-stakes litigation.

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Latest from Appeals

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Appeals, Flipping the Script Series

Flipping the Script | The Civil Docketing Statement Needs a Complete Rethink

By D. Todd Smith on

This is the second post in a series I’m calling “Flipping the Script,” inspired by Episode 162 of the Texas Appellate Law Podcast. The series examines what Texas appellate courts…

Continue Reading Flipping the Script | The Civil Docketing Statement Needs a Complete Rethink

Five Years of the Texas Appellate Law Podcast: A Look Back and a Fresh Start

By D. Todd Smith on

SCOTX Signals Major Changes to Merits Briefing and Central-Docketing Systems

By D. Todd Smith on

How to Become an Appellate Lawyer

By D. Todd Smith on

The Latest from Mandamus

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Courts, Flipping the Script Series, Mandamus

Flipping the Script | Lawyers and Litigants Deserve More Than One-Sentence Mandamus Denials

By D. Todd Smith on

This is the third post in a series I’m calling “Flipping the Script,” inspired by Episode 162 of the Texas Appellate Law Podcast. The series examines what Texas appellate courts…

Continue Reading Flipping the Script | Lawyers and Litigants Deserve More Than One-Sentence Mandamus Denials

Reconsideration Strategies When the Trial Judge Has Left Office

By D. Todd Smith on

What’s the Deadline for Filing a Mandamus Petition?

By D. Todd Smith on

Latest from Trial Support

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Business Court, Trial Support

Almost Legal History: The Texas Business Court’s First Jury Trial That Wasn’t

By D. Todd Smith on

I was supposed to be in Fort Worth today for what would’ve been the Texas Business Court’s first-ever jury trial. After a final pretrial conference on Friday afternoon, the case…

Continue Reading Almost Legal History: The Texas Business Court’s First Jury Trial That Wasn’t

My Supersedeas Presentation to Creditors’ Counsel

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Reconsideration Strategies When the Trial Judge Has Left Office

By D. Todd Smith on

Hiring an Appellate Specialist for a Critical Trial-Court Hearing

By D. Todd Smith on

Latest from Courts

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Courts, Flipping the Script Series, Mandamus

Flipping the Script | Lawyers and Litigants Deserve More Than One-Sentence Mandamus Denials

By D. Todd Smith on

This is the third post in a series I’m calling “Flipping the Script,” inspired by Episode 162 of the Texas Appellate Law Podcast. The series examines what Texas appellate courts…

Continue Reading Flipping the Script | Lawyers and Litigants Deserve More Than One-Sentence Mandamus Denials

Flipping the Script | The Case for Bringing Back Two Texas Supreme Court Transparency Tools

By D. Todd Smith on

Almost Legal History: The Texas Business Court’s First Jury Trial That Wasn’t

By D. Todd Smith on

An Opportunity to Help Shape the Next Edition of The Greenbook

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Texas Appellate Law Podcast

The Texas Appellate Law Podcast, hosted by D. Todd Smith and Jody Sanders, explores the key issues shaping Texas appellate practice through candid conversations with judges, court staff, and top trial and appellate attorneys. Tune in for behind-the-scenes insights into the appellate system and practical tips, from managing and presenting cases to embracing the latest legal technology. Sponsored by Court Surety Bond Agency and Counsel Press.

Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics: Judicial Accountability and the Future of the Central Docket | Judge Amy Clark Meachum

April 23, 2026

AI in the Judiciary: Power, Limits, and the Social Contract | Judge Scott Schlegel

March 31, 2026

The New Rule 166a: What Texas Lawyers Need to Know | Michael Duncan

March 12, 2026