Is the Texas Appellate Law Podcast relocating? Not exactly. But in this crossover episode with The California Appellate Law Podcast, Todd Smith and Jody Sanders chat with their California counterparts, Tim Kowal and Jeff Lewis. Together, they share their experiences launching a podcast in the middle of the pandemic, their favorite (legal) war stories, and
Every two years, the Texas Legislature meets. During that process, legislators file dozens of bills that potentially impact legal practice and the court system. Luckily, Texas lawyers can rely on Jerry Bullard to provide insight and context on the various proposals. In this episode, Jerry joins Todd Smith and Jody Sanders to talk about what’s
Many lawyers go to law school thinking that they want to litigate weighty Constitutional questions. But those cases don’t often arise in regular practice. One area that does implicate the Constitution is First Amendment law, which winds through so many aspects of civil practice. Few people know that better than Tom Leatherbury, the founder and
Justice Debra Lehrmann has served on the Texas Supreme Court longer than any woman before her. But even before that historic tenure, she served as a family law judge for many years. She joins Todd Smith and Jody Sanders in this episode to talk about her judicial experience and how her family law knowledge has impacted
When people think about appeals, they may not realize that some of the most important appellate work happens in the trial court. One of the keys to a successful appeal is making sure that the jury charge includes the right questions and instructions or that error is preserved from the failure to do so. In
Texas has one of the most developed appellate bars in the nation. That comes from years of dedicated attorneys working to implement standards and practices that have benefitted the State’s legal system. David Keltner, a partner at Kelly Hart & Hallman, is one of those attorneys. David is a living appellate legend in Texas and
Very few civil cases end up going to trial. But even fewer have been tried since the pandemic hit. Like everything else, strategies to resolve cases through mediation, arbitration, and other alternative dispute resolution methods have had to change as well. In this episode, Jody Sanders and Todd Smith talk with Senior Judge, mediator, and
Public-interest litigation is not for the faint of heart. So often, attorneys find themselves battling opponents with resources and influence or precedent that makes it difficult to prevail. But fighting to preserve rights and help vulnerable clients provides many different rewards. In this episode, Jody Sanders and Todd Smith interview Hannah Mullen, a staff attorney
Few judges in the Texas court system can claim to have served at every level—trial court, appellate court, and Texas Supreme Court. But this week’s guest, Justice Jane Bland, has done all three! Her career of service to the people of Texas gives her a unique perspective on how the judicial system should work. Justice Bland joins
For many attorneys, the prospect of a U.S. Supreme Court argument serves as the capstone of a legal career. But for a select few, like Kannon Shanmugam, chair of Paul Weiss’s Supreme Court and Appellate Practice Group, arguing before the Supreme Court is a regular occurrence. Kannon joins Jody Sanders and Todd Smith to