In this episode of ABOTA Speaks, host Jill Webb talks with the Honorable Clifton B. Newman, ABOTA Honorary Diplomate and one of the Nation’s most respected judicial voices. Known internationally for presiding over the Alex Murdaugh trial, Judge Newman brings decades of experience, insight, and uncommon steadiness to this conversation on civility, judicial independence, and the evolving role of the courtroom in public life.

Judge Newman reflects on how judges can model dignity, fairness, and restraint even under intense scrutiny; why civility is essential not just for lawyers but for the health of the justice system itself; and how livestreaming, media attention, and public pressure intersect with the judge’s duty to maintain order and impartiality.

He also shares stories from his path to the bench, including the unexpected moment in high school that first sparked his interest in the law, and discusses his transition to mediation following decades of service on the South Carolina Circuit Court.

Whether you followed the Murdaugh trial closely or want practical wisdom on professionalism and courtroom leadership, this conversation offers thoughtful guidance from a judge known for his calm, clarity, and commitment to justice.

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#ABOTASpeaks #CliftonNewman #CivilityInTheCourtroom #JudicialLeadership #RuleOfLaw #TrialAdvocacy #LegalProfession #CourtroomCivility

In this episode of ABOTA Speaks, host Jake Courtney talks with John Sweeney, the 2025 CAL-ABOTA Trial Lawyer of the Year, whose landmark civil rights cases in Los Angeles have shaped national conversations about policing, accountability, and justice.

Sweeney has tried some of the most emotionally charged and high-profile cases in California—cases involving police shootings, system failures, and families fighting for answers. He speaks candidly about what it means to step into the courtroom when the stakes could not be higher, and how leadership often looks like courage, preparation, and the willingness to tell a story that others are afraid to tell.

Their conversation explores:

• What real leadership looks like when lives, legacies, and public trust are on the line

• The pressures and responsibilities of trying emotionally charged civil rights cases

• Why courage, professionalism and civility remain indispensable even in the most hard-fought trials

Whether you’re drawn to trial strategy, courtroom leadership, or the deeper calling behind civil rights work, Sweeney delivers a powerful, uncompromising look at what it means to stand up for justice in the toughest cases.

Learn more about John Sweeney: https://thesweeneyfirm.com

and ABOTA: https://www.abota.org

#ABOTASpeaks #TrialAdvocacy #CivilRightsLitigation #JusticeSystem #JohnSweeney

In this episode of ABOTA Speaks, host Jill Webb talks with Kevin Frazier, the AI Innovation and Law Fellow at the University of Texas School of Law and a leading voice on how technology is changing the legal profession. Frazier teaches AI courses, leads Texas Law’s AI Innovation and Law Program, and writes about technology for both academic and popular audiences.

Their conversation looks at how artificial intelligence is beginning to shape every part of trial practice—from research and drafting to case preparation and strategy. Frazier explains what today’s AI tools can and can’t do, why lawyers still play an essential role in guiding and checking these systems, and how to use technology in ways that support strong, ethical advocacy.

Frazier also talks about the ethical obligations we have as lawyers, the importance of understanding how AI tools reach their results, the practical risks lawyers need to keep in mind, and why human judgment must remain at the center of trial work even as technology evolves.

Whether you’re exploring AI for your own practice or simply curious about how these tools will affect the future of the justice system, this conversation offers clear, grounded guidance from one of our country’s emerging leaders in AI and the law.

Connect with Kevin Frazier:

UT Law Faculty Page: https://law.utexas.edu/faculty/kevin-frazier/Scaling

Laws Podcast: https://scalinglaws.ai

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kevintfrazier.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prof_frazier