Hosts Todd Smith and Jody Sanders welcome Adam Shniderman of Alexander Dubose & Jefferson to discuss his unique journey through academia, clerkships, and private practice. Adam shares how his academic background in criminology and forensic evidence provided a solid foundation for his legal career. He compares clerking at the Texas Supreme Court and the Ninth Circuit, and he suggests that young lawyers should consider clerking as a way to enhance their skills. “It is a bit of drinking from a fire hose and learning a lot that you wouldn't necessarily learn as a first-year associate,” he says ..read more

For Chris Dove, it started when he came upon articles in Above the Law about the saga of then-95-year-old federal Judge Pauline Newman. A giant in IP law, Judge Newman faced allegations of poor health and declining cognitive abilities in 2023. Those allegations led to a council’s recommendation that the judge be suspended and a flurry of litigation. “When I started reading for myself,” Chris recalls to hosts Todd Smith and Jody Sanders, “I realized there is a whole system that goes on for policing and managing federal judges that I was unaware of.” Chris’ investigation into the little-known sy ..read more

Chief Justice Nathan Hecht is retiring after an extraordinary 43 years on the bench. In this special episode, he joins Todd Smith and Jody Sanders to reflect on his remarkable career as Texas's longest-serving Chief Justice. He shares personal stories, pivotal milestones, and the transformative reforms he championed, from modernizing court technology to improving access to justice. Don't miss this candid and inspiring conversation about Chief Justice Hecht's enduring legacy, his vision for the future of Texas courts, and his advice to the next generation of lawyers and judges. Love the show ..read more

In this episode, seasoned appellate practitioner Scott Stolley sits down with Todd Smith and Jody Sanders to confront the issue of bullying in the legal profession. Scott explores the multifaceted nature of bullying, from interactions with opposing counsel and judges to the challenges of managing clients and relationships with lawyers in the same firm. Tune in for a deep dive into how lawyers can counteract bullying behavior through professionalism, resilience, and respectful advocacy. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! A special thanks to our sponsors: Court Surety Bon ..read more

Previous episode discussed: Chris Ritter: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/well-being-strategies-for-the-pandemic-and-the/id1504009131?i=1000501198802 Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here’s How » A special thanks to our sponsors: Court Surety Bond Agency Thomson Reuters Proudly presented by Butler Snow LLP Join the Texas Appellate Law Podcast Community today: texapplawpod.com Twitter YouTube ..read more

The highly publicized Robert Roberson case has raised critical questions about the death penalty and separation of powers. In this episode, Todd Smith and Jody Sanders sit down with criminal defense attorney Doug Gladden to tackle this difficult topic. Known for his insightful legal commentary, Doug shares his career journey from serving as a prosecutor to his new role with the Harris County Public Defender's Office and how his views on justice have evolved along the way. The conversation moves into the challenges of criminal appellate practice, focusing on the high-profile Roberson case. Doug ..read more

Access to justice remains a pervasive problem in the Texas legal system. In this episode, Todd Smith and Jody Sanders welcome Texas Supreme Court Justice Brett Busby and Kennon Wooten from Austin's Scott Douglass & McConnico to discuss the latest developments on this front. The conversation focuses on new Supreme Court rules for licensing paraprofessionals and court access assistants to help close the justice gap. Justice Busby shares insights on national trends and the Supreme Court's efforts to implement innovative legal solutions. Kennon provides a behind-the-scenes look at the process ..read more

In this episode, Jody Sanders and Todd Smith chat with Colin Levy, Director of Legal and Evangelist at Malbec, about his journey from being a traditional in-house lawyer to a leading voice in legal technology. Colin shares his insights on the evolving landscape of the legal industry, emphasizing the importance of bridging the gap between technology and law. He discusses his role at Malbec, where he focuses on contract lifecycle management, and highlights the significance of legal tech in enhancing efficiency and client service. Colin also offers advice for lawyers looking to integrate technol ..read more

In this episode, Jody Sanders and Todd Smith delve into the state of jury charge practice and Casteel error after the Texas Supreme Court’s recent decision on rehearing in Horton v. Kansas City Railway Co. Jody and Todd discuss the history of the Casteel doctrine, its implications on jury submissions, and how Horton alters the law as it developed over the past two decades. Building on insights from Jody’s recent presentation at the Advanced Civil Trial Seminar, our hosts discuss Horton’s adoption of a rebuttable presumption of harm and the challenges and strategies counsel must now consider wh ..read more

The legal world is undergoing a seismic shift. Technological advancements and a changing social landscape force the legal profession to adapt, but are law schools keeping pace? In this episode, Jody Sanders and Todd Smith visit with Dean Robert B. Ahdieh of Texas A&M Law School about the state of modern legal education and more. Dean Ahdieh shares his journey from New York City to Fort Worth, detailing his fascinating experiences in Russia and his unexpected foray into legal academia. The conversation explores Texas A&M Law's impressive rise in national rankings, the school's innovativ ..read more