Before his recent appointment to the Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas, Justice John Browning had a long career as an appellate practitioner and earned a reputation as a prolific author and speaker on topics relating to social media, technology, and Texas legal history. In this episode, Justice Browning joins Todd Smith and Jody Sanders
Courts often grapple with what the Legislature intended when it used particular words in a statute. Because the Legislature only speaks through its enactments, answering that question requires a number of tools and methods. Attorneys can give their clients the best advice and a distinct advantage in litigation by understanding and mastering statutory interpretation tools.
Appeals before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit can be challenging for lawyers who most often handle matters before state appellate courts. On today’s podcast, Todd Smith and Jody Sanders are joined by their first Fifth Circuit guest, Judge Gregg Costa. Judge Costa shares his career journey—from teaching fourth grade
Law school is tough—just a few short years to decide the trajectory of your legal career. For Marshall Bowen, testing the legal waters through state court clerkships was the way to go. In this episode, Marshall joins Todd Smith and Jody Sanders to discuss his experiences clerking at Texas’s two highest state courts—the Texas
The Thirteenth Court of Appeals covers a vast area stretching from near Houston to the US/Mexico border. It even has chambers and hears cases in two locations—Corpus Christi and Edinburg. Thirteenth Court Justice Gina Benavides knows the territory well because she worked throughout it as a successful trial attorney for nearly 20 years before taking
Bill Chriss is truly a Renaissance man. A lifelong learner with degrees that include a Ph.D., Bill’s interests range across history, politics, law, and ethics. Bill’s recent research interest focuses on the Texas Constitution, both its origin and evolution. Bill sits down with Todd Smith and Jody Sanders and traces his career journey—from working as
Justice Paul Green served as an appellate justice for more than 25 years, both at the San Antonio Court of Appeals and the Texas Supreme Court. On the eve of his retirement, Justice Green joined Todd Smith and Jody Sanders to reflect on his past as a litigator in his family’s law practice, his time
In 2011, Texas adopted the Texas Citizens Participation Act, one of the broadest anti-SLAPP statutes in the nation. Since then, TCPA motions to dismiss and the resulting interlocutory appeals have proliferated, and both trial and appellate courts have struggled to reconcile the statute’s far-reaching language with just and fair results. Joining Todd Smith and Jody
Practicing law means staying on top of the latest trends and developments to keep yourself educated and provide the best possible service to your clients. Mike Whelan Jr., the CEO of Lawyer Forward, joins Todd Smith and Jody Sanders to talk about how lawyers can thrive in a changing legal environment and institute changes
So often, trial lawyers are expected to do it all when trying a case—prepping and examining witnesses, arguing motions, making objections, and preserving the record. This translates to early mornings, late nights, and opportunities for things to get overlooked. Having another set of eyes (and a different skill set) can not only lighten trial counsel’s