January 2025

Have you wondered how to engage an appellate specialist to help with a critical trial-court hearing without fully bringing them into the case as co-counsel? If you’re in Travis County district court, consider a limited appearance under the Local Rules of Civil Procedure.

Local Rule 20.2 allows an attorney to file a notice of

I get this question periodically. The short answer is that the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure don’t impose a deadline. But that doesn’t mean a relator (the party wishing to challenge a trial court’s order by filing a petition for writ of mandamus) can delay pursuing mandamus relief indefinitely.

Rooted in Equity

Mandamus is an

Collage courtesy of TexasBarCLE

Two new statewide courts, the Business Court and the Fifteenth Court of Appeals, opened their doors on September 1, 2024. I recently served as course director for a brand-new TexasBarCLE program—Handling Your First (or Next) Business Court Case—focused on educating lawyers about these courts. The course was held on

Like every Texas lawyer licensed since 1988, I’d never known a Texas Supreme Court without Chief Justice Nathan Hecht.

That changed on January 1, 2025.

Todd Smith, Chief Justice Hecht, and Jody Sanders in the Chief’s chambers

A Rare Opportunity

As widely reported in Texas legal news, Chief Justice Hecht retired from the Court on

I’m thrilled to announce the launch of Texas Appellate Counsel PLLC, a solo practice dedicated to appellate advocacy, trial support, and consulting for trial lawyers.

This online publication is part of that venture. It reflects both the firm’s name and my work as a lawyer.

A New Start (But Not Uncharted Territory)

I’ve had my