Lawyer 2 Lawyer

In many recent high profile cases, the courtroom conduct of judges has been in the spotlight. In 2020, Reuters journalists Michael Berens and John Shiffman did an investigative series on judicial misconduct titled The Teflon Robe. In this series, Berens and Shiffman reviewed 1,509 cases from 2008 through 2019 in which judges resigned, retired or were publicly disciplined following accusations of misconduct.In Tennessee, juvenile court Judge Donna Scott Davenport has come under fire after a ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio investigation revealed that she allegedly oversaw a juvenile justice system which disproportionately and illegally jailed Black children for the crime of “criminal responsibility,” a crime that doesn't exist. Judge Donna Scott Davenport remains on the bench. On Lawyer 2 Lawyer, host Craig Williams is joined by Dean James J. Alfini, professor of law from South Texas College of Law Houston to discuss the ethical guidelines judges need to abide by, what should happen to these judges if these guidelines are violated, and whether there should be some type of reform to prevent future misconduct. 

Has the topic of vaccines become the new “no talk of politics, sex, or religion at the dinner table?” As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, the topic of who is or is not vaccinated is sure to come up ahead of the big day. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 58.5% of the United States is currently fully vaccinated against Covid-19. So, if you’re faced with a conflict with your family and friends this holiday season, how do you avoid a squabble of epic proportions?On Lawyer 2 Lawyer, host Craig Williams is joined by psychologist and therapist Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge to discuss hosting Thanksgiving and how to peacefully broach the controversial topic of vaccines with your family members. Craig and Dr. Roseann take a look at the reality of COVID during the holidays, public health, conflict resolution, negotiation, and the best approach to ensure safety at your home.

In Glynn County, Georgia, the trial of three white men charged in the death of Ahmaud Arbery has selected a jury, however the makeup of that jury has raised some controversy. With eleven White members and only one Black member, the prosecution has accused the defense of eliminating qualified Black jurors from serving.In response to a motion filed by the State, presiding Judge Timothy Walmsley said, “This court has found that there appears to be intentional discrimination.” However, after hearing arguments by the defense, the judge ultimately denied the state’s motion, and gave the greenlight to move forward, ruling that there were in fact valid reasons that went beyond race for why the jurors were dismissed. On Lawyer 2 Lawyer, host Craig Williams is joined by Christopher Slobogin, director of the Criminal Justice Program at Vanderbilt Law School, as they spotlight the trial in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery. Craig and Chris discuss the racial breakdown of the jury, the "intentional discrimination" in jury selection, the citizen's arrest law, and the potential impact all of this this could have on the case.

In honor of Conrad Saam's recent appearance on this program, we're sharing an episode of his show Lunch Hour Legal Marketing for you to hear. If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe for more Conrad and Gyi Tsakalakis.-----------Conrad and Gyi take on the elephant in the courtroom. Clio’s Legal Trend Report shows us potential clients are interested in both pricing and payment plans, but as lawyers, we’re reluctant to go there. Why? Explore options on how you can better position yourself. Are you less expensive than the competition? More efficient? A better value? Dig into the marketing opportunities that make you special based, in part, on your pricing model. Hey, the other guy is doing it. If it’s something you’ve never considered, it’s probably time you did. And in the news (maybe related, just a bit!) we’re seeing a spike in inflation, even if the Fed wants to call it transitory. Look around, everything seems to be going up … except legal fees? Plus, Facebook (and its global apps) go down. In legal tech, what’s up with Smokeball legal matter management? Changes in Google marketing? Let’s talk. 

Many attorneys have received an offer of an award recognizing them as a distinguished lawyer in your city or state. Perhaps the message, coming as an email or a message on Facebook, offers a custom plaque, an inscribed crystal, and/or an appearance in a publication, and all for the low, low price of the membership fees to the awarding organization. Who would ever pass up such a rare opportunity?So are we looking at a pay-to-play here? A scam? What is the application process? And should lawyers beware?! On Lawyer 2 Lawyer, host Craig Williams is joined by Conrad Saam, founder of Mockingbird Marketing, to talk about the award industry, the constraints for legal marketing, and what lawyers should do if they receive a solicitation promising an award for a price.Watch this channel next week for a special bonus Lunch Hour Legal Marketing episode. But there’s no need to wait! Click here to find all the great content from Lunch Hour Legal Marketing.

A New York arbitrator recently ruled against former President Trump and his campaign in favor of former White House adviser Omarosa Manigault Newman in a matter regarding the enforceability of an NDA and Omarosa’s tell-all book, Unhinged. According to an article in the Daily Beast, the arbitrator found that the NDA went too far when Omarosa was forced “to never say anything remotely critical of Mr. Trump, his family or his or his family members’ businesses for the rest of her life.”On Lawyer 2 Lawyer, host Craig Williams is joined by Mark Fenster, the Stephen C. O’Connell Chair at the Levin College of Law, to talk about non-disclosure agreements. We will take a look at former President Trump's use of NDAs, this recent ruling, the constitutionality of NDAs, and the future of these types of agreements.Mentioned in this Episode:Trump’s Sprawling Use of NDAs Now Threatens to Humiliate HimTrump NDAs can’t silence ex-White House officials: legal expertsTrump Organization Standard Non-Disclosure Agreement

At the beginning of the pandemic, the eruption of COVID cases forced courts across the nation to close their doors. In its place, attorneys, judges and clients opted, where possible, to participate in virtual proceedings through phone calls and video platforms. Over a year later, with a backlog of cases clogging courts, and limited in-person proceedings, attorneys have increasingly turned to the alternate dispute resolution of mediation to resolve their cases.On Lawyer 2 Lawyer, host Craig Williams is joined by David A. Hoffman, the founding member of Boston Law Collaborative, LLC, as they take a look at the explosion of mediation during the pandemic. Craig and David discuss the push for mediation as an alternative to trials, and what the future holds for jury trials.Feel audio isn't enough? Check out a video of the conversation here.

Back in May of this year, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law Texas Senate Bill 8, better known as SB 8, one of the most restrictive abortion bills in the nation. SB 8 went into effect on September 1st, 2021, after the US Supreme Court refused to strike it down. Since then, the constitutionality of SB 8 has come into question, and the potential threat to the constitutional rights of women and other persons has taken center stage. On Lawyer 2 Lawyer, host Craig Williams is joined by Dean Kimberly Mutcherson from Rutgers Law School as they take a look at Texas' abortion law, SB 8. Craig & Dean Mutcherson discuss the impact of the law, the legal, ethical, and bioethical concerns stemming from SB 8, its constitutionality, and what it means for the future of Roe v. Wade.

As students across the country return to classrooms, the controversy surrounding masks has reached a fever pitch. In at least 14 states, lawsuits have been filed either for or against masks in schools. This has led to protests, litigation, and even violence. Just this week, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights launched investigations into five states that have banned mask mandates in schools, alleging that the governors are violating the civil rights of students with disabilities.On Lawyer 2 Lawyer, host Craig Williams is joined by professor Ellen Wright Clayton, JD, MD. Together, they take a look at the mask controversy in schools and communities across the United States. The conversation focuses on mask mandates, public health law, parental freedom, and litigation surrounding these issues.

Sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct has become all too familiar of a story in modern day politics. High profile allegations of sexual misconduct have straddled political lines. Just in recent memory, high profile accusations have been leveled at Al Franken, Brett Kavanaugh, Donald Trump, Roy Moore, Joe Biden, and Matt Gaetz. And, most recently, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced he will step down effective August 24th after multiple women came forward alleging sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior by the governor. He has denied all allegations.So why do these misconduct allegations against high power political figures impact some but not others? And what can we do as a society to eliminate this behavior? On Lawyer 2 Lawyer, host Craig Williams is joined by professor Rebecca Ortiz, PhD, as they take a look at sexual harassment and the resignation of Governor Cuomo. Craig and Rebecca will discuss sexual harassment in politics, holding perpetrators accountable over these claims, and what is being done to combat sexual misconduct.