Episodios

  • The View from the Bench: Improving Appeals, Briefs, and Oral Argument | Justice David Gunn

    The View from the Bench: Improving Appeals, Briefs, and Oral Argument | Justice David Gunn
    Jan 8 2026
    Keep your brief to 10,000 words, and you'll get more investment from Texas appellate justices. Those are just a few words of wisdom from Justice David Gunn in this conversation with hosts Todd Smith and Jody Sanders. After a clerkship, where he observed lawyers making mistakes and judges making decisions, Justice Gunn spent over three decades in private practice before joining the First Court of Appeals in October 2024. Tune in as he reflects on his “accidental” path to law, explains how his court decides when cases get argued, and describes his wish for a “fast track” system for some cases. Make sure to stay for his war story about a lawyer who snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.Connect and Learn More☑️ Justice David Gunn | LinkedIn☑️ Texas Courts of Appeals☑️ Todd Smith | LinkedIn | X | Bluesky☑️ Jody Sanders | LinkedIn | X | Bluesky☑️ Texas Appellate Law Podcast on LinkedIn | X | Instagram | Bluesky☑️ Texas Appellate Counsel PLLC☑️ Kelly Hart & Hallman, LLP | LinkedIn☑️ Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon...
    Más Menos
    53 m
  • Supersedeas Bonds in the Real World: Timing, Collateral, and Cost | Arturo Ayala

    Supersedeas Bonds in the Real World: Timing, Collateral, and Cost | Arturo Ayala
    Dec 24 2025
    When an appellate lawyer puts a client in touch with Court Surety Bond Agency, the client is in a tough spot. “They’re going to be facing a verdict, an adverse verdict, or it’s just entered, and they're coming to us because they need to post a bond” to stay judgment enforcement during appeal, says Arturo Ayala, the company’s vice president. In this conversation with hosts Todd Smith and Jody Sanders, Arturo takes a deep dive into this type of bond, starting with the initial conversation with the client. “With supersedeas bonds, the underwriting – what I tend to explain or compare it to – it's very similar to banking,” he says. “It's strictly a financial guarantee.” Arturo goes on to describe the timing necessary to put a bond in place, the factors that play into a client’s premium rate, and the pros and cons of each type of collateral. Tune in as he explains why his key tip is what not to do: “Don't wait ‘til the judgment is entered.”Connect and Learn More☑️ Arturo Ayala | LinkedIn☑️ Court Surety Bond Agency on LinkedIn | Facebook☑️ Todd Smith | LinkedIn | X | Bluesky☑️ Jody Sanders | LinkedIn | X | Bluesky☑️ Texas Appellate Law Podcast on LinkedIn | X | Instagram | Bluesky☑️ Texas Appellate Counsel PLLC☑️ Kelly Hart & Hallman, LLP |
    Más Menos
    40 m
  • Breaking Down the Texas Supreme Court’s Revamped Petition-for-Review System

    Breaking Down the Texas Supreme Court’s Revamped Petition-for-Review System
    Nov 26 2025
    The Texas Supreme Court is on the verge of eliminating the practice of requesting merits briefs before granting petitions for review—a change that will fundamentally reshape how the high court handles cases. In this deep dive into Misc. Docket No. 25-9092, hosts Todd Smith and Jody Sanders break down the proposed rule changes, which aim to make the process quicker, more efficient, and less costly for the parties. Todd takes listeners back to the era when every case bound for the Supreme Court required a full brief, a practice that ended in 1997 when the Court shifted to the petition-for-review process. Jody brings the conversation to the present by explaining the current procedure in a way that’s accessible to those who don’t regularly handle matters before the Court. Both hosts dissect the proposal to arm listeners with what they need to know before the new rules take effect in early 2026.Connect and Learn More☑️ Todd Smith | LinkedIn | X | Bluesky☑️ Jody Sanders | LinkedIn | X | Bluesky☑️ Texas Appellate Law Podcast on LinkedIn | X | Instagram | Bluesky☑️ Texas Appellate Counsel PLLC☑️ Kelly Hart & Hallman, LLP | LinkedIn☑️ Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon MusicProduced and Powered by LawPodsSponsored by Court Surety Bond Agency and
    Más Menos
    45 m
  • Starting, Statistics, and Second Chances in Appellate Law | Tad Bartlett

    Starting, Statistics, and Second Chances in Appellate Law | Tad Bartlett
    Oct 16 2025
    When he started his solo appellate practice in Louisiana, Tad Bartlett had to educate trial lawyers about the utility of having an appellate attorney on their team. Today, 18 attorneys are certified appellate specialists through the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. “It’s nice to know when I sit in a room with the other 17, these are really well vetted, well qualified, highly experienced appellate lawyers who care about appellate law, care about appellate procedure, in the very nerdy kind of way that I do,” Tad tells hosts Todd Smith and Jody Sanders. Now a partner at Fishman Haygood in New Orleans, Tad shares his journey of building a successful appellate practice and creating his influential Take the Fifth blog, which digests every Fifth Circuit opinion and tracks comprehensive statistics on the court. He reveals some gems from his research – including that the Fifth Circuit is not as antagonistic toward plaintiffs as myth would have one believe. And he opens up about his remarkable recovery from a serious cycling accident and traumatic brain injury that temporarily derailed his practice, demonstrating the power of professional community and resilience.Connect and Learn More☑️ Tad Bartlett | LinkedIn☑️ Fishman Haygood on LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | X☑️ Todd Smith | LinkedIn | X | Bluesky☑️ Jody Sanders | LinkedIn | X | Bluesky☑️ Texas Appellate Law Podcast on LinkedIn | X | Instagram |
    Más Menos
    51 m
  • Breaking Through Obscurity: Building a Law Practice Through Service and Mentorship | KC Ashmore

    Breaking Through Obscurity: Building a Law Practice Through Service and Mentorship | KC Ashmore
    Sep 18 2025
    Building a law practice from scratch requires finding your tribe and embracing the paradigm of giving, says KC Ashmore of Ashmore & Ashmore Law Firm in Rockwall, Texas. The Coast Guard veteran transformed his military service ethic into legal practice success through veteran outreach, Habitat for Humanity builds, and active participation in bar associations such as the Texas Bar College. KC shares his journey from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to insurance defense work and ultimately to running a general practice firm, emphasizing his "10-year apprenticeship" approach inspired by John Grisham novels. With hosts Todd Smith and Jody Sanders, KC discusses mentoring, continuing education beyond minimum requirements, and professional networking through service that creates sustainable success.Connect and Learn More☑️ KC Ashmore | LinkedIn☑️ Ashmore & Ashmore on Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn☑️ Todd Smith | LinkedIn | X | Bluesky☑️ Jody Sanders | LinkedIn | X | Bluesky☑️ Texas Appellate Law Podcast on LinkedIn | X | Instagram | Bluesky☑️ Texas Appellate Counsel PLLC☑️ Kelly Hart & Hallman, LLP | LinkedIn☑️ Subscribe Apple Podcasts |
    Más Menos
    49 m
  • Confronting the Existential Crisis of Appellate Practice | Kevin Dubose

    Confronting the Existential Crisis of Appellate Practice | Kevin Dubose
    Sep 4 2025
    The basic concept – that appellate lawyers face an existential crisis – came to Kevin Dubose in a dream. In this thought-provoking episode, hosts Todd Smith and Jody Sanders welcome Kevin back to the show to explore this concept and potential solutions to the unique challenges appellate lawyers face. Kevin shares insights from his recent paper, including the unique pressures in this practice area and how redefining success can lead to a more fulfilling career. Tune in to discover strategies for managing client expectations, improving advocacy skills, and finding personal satisfaction as an appellate lawyer. For more insights from Kevin about appellate practice, check out his previous appearances on the podcast: “Setting the Appellate Bar in Texas” and “Understanding the Texas Standards for Appellate Conduct.”Connect and Learn More☑️ Kevin Dubose | LinkedIn☑️ Alexander Dubose & Jefferson☑️ Todd Smith | LinkedIn | X | Bluesky☑️ Jody Sanders | LinkedIn | X | Bluesky☑️ Texas Appellate Law Podcast on LinkedIn | X | Instagram | Bluesky☑️ Texas Appellate Counsel PLLC☑️ Kelly Hart & Hallman, LLP | LinkedIn☑️ Subscribe
    Más Menos
    44 m
  • Using AI to Bridge the Justice Gap in Texas | Joe Stephens

    Using AI to Bridge the Justice Gap in Texas | Joe Stephens
    Jul 17 2025
    The world of public defense is traditionally challenged by limited resources. Appellate practice carries weighty time demands. Now comes AI—a disrupting force that can solve those problems and bridge the justice gap, says Joe Stephens. His insights come from several roles, including as chief public defender for the Caprock Regional Public Defender Office, consultant for Steno, a court reporting services firm with an AI-powered “Transcript Genius” tool, and clinical lecturer at Texas Tech University School of Law. “I just think that if you deploy it effectively, the results are just going to be incredible,” he tells hosts Todd Smith and Jody Sanders. Tune in for Joe’s reflections about his recent experience using AI on a pro bono civil rights case and some takeaways about the new Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act.Connect and Learn More☑️ Joe Stephens | LinkedIn☑️ Steno on LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube☑️ Texas Tech University School of Law☑️ Todd Smith | LinkedIn | X | Bluesky☑️ Jody Sanders | LinkedIn | X | Bluesky☑️ Texas Appellate Law Podcast on LinkedIn | X | Instagram | Bluesky☑️ Texas Appellate Counsel...
    Más Menos
    43 m
  • Beyond Printing: How Counsel Press Set the Bar for Appellate Support | Vincent Wiscovitch & Janet Bennett

    Beyond Printing: How Counsel Press Set the Bar for Appellate Support | Vincent Wiscovitch & Janet Bennett
    Jun 26 2025
    The marketplace may know Counsel Press as printers, but “we’re a lot more than that,” says Vincent Wiscovitch, senior appellate counsel. “We like to refer to ourselves as ‘appellate support providers,’ because anybody can be a printer. You could go to Staples and get a brief printed.” Counsel Press goes far beyond Staples, as Vincent and colleague Janet Bennett, appellate counsel, explain. From brief preparation and electronic filing to record compilation and hyperlinked e-briefs, they help lawyers navigate the complex maze of court rules across all 50 states and federal courts, providing everything from bluebooking and citation verification to ghostwriting and brief critiques. Tune in to this conversation with hosts Todd Smith and Jody Sanders for insights about how Counsel Press gives lawyers what Todd describes as “peace of mind.”Connect and Learn More☑️ Vincent Wiscovitch | LinkedIn☑️ Janet Bennett | LinkedIn☑️ Counsel Press on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube☑️ Todd Smith | LinkedIn | X | Bluesky☑️ Jody Sanders | LinkedIn | X | Bluesky☑️ Texas Appellate Law Podcast on LinkedIn | X | Instagram | Bluesky☑️ Texas Appellate Counsel PLLC☑️
    Más Menos
    54 m
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_DT_webcro_1694_expandible_banner_T1