Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

Throughout the history of our justice system, transgender prisoners’ issues have largely been ignored. Is that intentional indifference still predominant in the current landscape of our prisons? Nikki Marcotte and Trisha Rich talk with Alan Mills of the Uptown People’s Law Center about his career in prisoner rights litigation, including his work in the Monroe case and his opinions on the recent decision made by the 7th Circuit US Court of Appeals in Monroe v. Bowman. They discuss the issues surrounding gender affirming care in Illinois prisons, the impacts of politics and media, and how attorneys can get involved in prisoner rights issues. Alan Mills is Executive Director at Uptown People’s Law Center in Chicago, Illinois. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Statutes are hard.-----Apparently, Clarence Thomas just didn't understand how to read the nearly 50-year-old statute requiring him to report massively expensive gifts. That's the Judicial Conference's official take in a new letter to the Senate panel looking into the ethical cesspool. The letter becomes public just as Chief Justice Roberts releases his annual report asserting that most criticism of the Court should be seen as improper intimidation and even violence. Before the holidays, we discussed Biglaw firms bucking the trend and not paying out special bonuses. Happy to report that they've reversed course. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A federal judge’s new book is giving readers a rare inside glimpse at how a judge determines which prisoners deserve to have their sentences overturned. In his memoir, Disrobed: An Inside Look at the Life and Work of a Federal Trial Judge, Judge Frederic Block introduced readers to his colorful life and career. In Crimes and Punishments: Entering the Mind of a Sentencing Judge, he explained the rationale judges use when deciding sentences, and the human toll it can take. And now, in A Second Chance: A Federal Judge Decides Who Deserves It, he’s shining a light on how judges consider resentencing and compassionate release. Without the passage of a key federal law in 2018, A Second Chance would not have been written. A bipartisan piece of legislation signed by President Donald Trump and supported by the ABA, the First Step Act was one of the biggest criminal justice reforms in the past decade. Among its sentencing reforms, it allows federal judges to reconsider sentences given out during tough-on-crime crackdowns, and for prisoners to petition for compassionate release. Block, who is a senior judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, soon found himself asked to reconsider sentences under the First Step Act. In the book, he outlines the crimes and rehabilitations (or lack thereof) of six federal prisoners. From a former police officer who assaulted an innocent Haitian immigrant to a trio of mobsters, Block selected an array that represents the types of cases he’s being asked to consider. Later in the book, he reveals the fate of each—whether life sentences were overturned or unrepentant prisoners were returned to their cells. In this episode of the Modern Law Library, Block tells ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles how his own views on sentencing have changed since he ascended to the bench in the 1990s. In a case that made the news after A Second Chance went to press, Block overturned a sentence he gave out 27 years ago, during his second year on the bench. Block had imposed a quintuple life sentence on Walter Johnson after the man was convicted of robbery, cocaine possession and witness tampering. At 61, Johnson has now been released from prison, and Block discusses that decision in the episode. Block sees a moral imperative for all strata of the justice system to work together to address mass incarceration. In addition to calling on judges to be open-minded when considering resentencing offenders, he encourages criminal defense attorneys to go through their lists of former clients to see whether any would be eligible for relief under the First Step Act. Most importantly, Block is calling upon citizens to lobby for sentencing reforms like the First Step Act on the state level, since the legislation only applies to federal prisoners. He points out that only about 200,000 of the approximately 2 million incarcerated Americans are federal prisoners; the vast majority are overseen by state courts. Block also discusses the public response to President Joe Biden’s recent clemency decisions, and how collateral consequences have influenced his initial sentencing decisions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our continuing discussion on legal research examines the strengths and weaknesses of AI and the importance of deep and complete human analysis of all research. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nisha Anand, the Chief Executive Officer of Dream.org, joins SideBar to discuss how she builds bridges across political divides to find real solutions. Nisha employs the “radical act of finding common ground” with unlikely allies while still staying true to her progressive values. She provides a hopeful message that collaboration can achieve change and overcome polarization and political divides. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether you’re a legal history buff, a bookwork, or someone who just loves a great courtroom story, you’ll want to listen to this special episode, originally recorded for ABA Journal’s Modern Law Library with Lee Rawles. In this episode, What Went Wrong–and Right–with 10 Famous Trials, Lee sat down with Craig to discuss his book, How Would You Decide? 10 Famous Trials That Changed History, Book One. In this discussion, Craig talks about his research, what went into the selection of historic cases and trials for the book, and looks ahead to Book Two. Craig will be back soon with all new episodes of Lawyer 2 Lawyer. As we await his return, you can also get caught up on  In Dispute. Enjoy! ABA Journal’s Modern Law Library invites top legal authors to discuss legal theories and historic events twice a month here on Legal Talk Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover how voice training can make you a more effective and persuasive attorney.  Rena Cook, voice and speech trainer, shares invaluable tips on using breath, tone, and inflection to command attention in the courtroom and beyond.  Learn how to speak with confidence, connect with your audience, and elevate your presence in any legal setting.  From proper breathing techniques to authentic pitch variety, this episode reveals the power of vocal mastery in law.  Don't miss out on this game-changing advice that could take your legal career to new heights! Links from the episode:  Find your authentic voice with Rena Cook at My Vocal Authority   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For our first episode of 2025, we chose to dig deeper than resolutions and explore what lights us up and brings out our best. Build on that for the new year and you’ve got a resolution you’ll actually keep. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Round Table Group is a Premier Sponsor of the ABA Litigation Section. On this Litigation Radio episode, we will hear from Deena Pack, Senior Manager of Expert Witness Services at Round Table Group. The selection of the Round Table Group as the subject of this interview should not be construed as an endorsement by the American Bar Association of the Round Table Group and its services.Finding an expert witness goes beyond fancy credentials and an impressive CV. Guest Deena Pack is a senior manager of expert witnesses for Round Table Group, which wrangles experts for attorneys in cases nationwide. She’s joined by Dan Elms, a shareholder and veteran litigator with the law firm Greenberg Traurig. Let’s dig in. It starts with the CV, but there’s more to it. Don’t be afraid to start with a video interview. Experts may look good on paper, but it’s important to know if they can convey their expertise to a jury in a clear, relatable manner. Presentation and communication can be as important as expertise and authority. Your client’s case may hinge on the experts you select. Don’t be shy about challenging them (because opposing counsel sure will). The jury must trust your witness, but that can be a delicate dance. Too aloof, you lose your audience. Too casual, the jury may wonder if your witness is really an expert. And don’t forget the practicalities. You need an available witness, not someone with a planned lengthy vacation on their calendar. Is the expert a team player who could suggest angles you haven’t considered? What about references from other lawyers? Plus, it’s important to understand what kind of expert you need for your case. Industry knowledge can differ from academic expertise. Can your experts explain where their academic qualifications extend into the specifics of your case? Get the inside scoop on the art of selecting expert witnesses from two guests who live this. Resources:American Bar AssociationAmerican Bar Association Litigation Section Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s tradition, y’all! Dennis, Tom, and Debbie Foster are together again for their year-end Pardon the Interruption podcast episode. Beginning with “Toss-Up”, they take on opposing views on legal tech issues (GenAI, collaboration, adoption, etc.). For their “What’s the Word?” segment, they choose the best descriptors for 2024’s trending tech, and then finish up with “Hot or Not?” to rank current tech offerings. Tom is rumored to be the favorite in this year’s matchup—can he retain his crown?As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends.Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions.Debbie Foster is the managing partner for Affinity Consulting, and is a nationally recognized thought leader on efficiency and innovation in professional legal organizations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices