The mixing of politics and judicial selection has been a part of Texas history from the beginning. Political parties continue to influence judicial appointments and elections, and money is always a significant factor. In recent years, though, many have sought to reform the system. In this week’s episode, former Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom
The law in general and appellate practice, in particular, suffer from a lack of diversity. The traditional barriers to both law and appellate practice have left many students of color and first-generation law students lacking opportunities and access to the profession. Luckily, organizations like The Appellate Project recognize this problem and seek to change it. Todd Smith and
In recent years, the amount of time lawyers spend in court and talking to judges has shrunk. As a result, an attorney’s credibility with judges has become increasingly important. Likewise, presenting clear, concise briefing and arguments helpful to judges and their staff has become critical. Rachel Stinson of Wright Close & Barger in Houston has
Texas’s Office of the State Prosecuting Attorney (SPA) may be one of the most important state agencies you didn’t know. The SPA is an independent agency that represents the State of Texas before the state’s highest criminal court, the Court of Criminal Appeals. While the Texas Solicitor General appears in both state and federal courts
Trial lawyers and appellate lawyers have different skill sets that compliment each other’s practices. But some trial lawyers feel equally at home in both the trial and appellate courts. In this episode, Todd Smith and Jody Sanders talk to their first trial attorney guest, Carlos Soltero, about his experiences in both courts. Carlos offers