The right to criminal defense counsel is a cornerstone of our justice system. This is particularly true in federal courts, where the stakes in criminal trials are very high. One of the ways we meet this constitutional guarantee is through the federal public defender system, which provides trial, appellate, and post-conviction services to criminal defendants in federal courts. In this episode, Todd Smith and Jody Sanders talk with Matthew Wright, an Assistant Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of Texas. Matthew shares his experiences and insights as counsel in criminal appeals and discusses how his office provides services to defendants at all stages of the federal criminal justice system.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »A special thanks to our sponsors:Court Surety Bond AgencyThomson ReutersProudly presented by Butler Snow LLPJoin the Texas Appellate Law Podcast Community today:texapplawpod.comTwitterYouTube

Texas attorneys know the Pattern Jury Charges as valuable guide to properly instructing a jury at trial. But most don’t know all the work that goes into creating and updating the various volumes. In this episode, Todd Smith and Jody Sanders visit with Judge Dan Hinde, Chair of the State Bar’s Pattern Jury Charge Oversight Committee, about the process by which new editions are developed and published every two years. A board-certified civil trial lawyer who spent more than 10 years as judge of Harris County’s 269th District Court before becoming a partner at Schiffer Hicks Johnson, PLLC in Houston, Judge Hinde discusses his experience on the bench and the PJCs’ importance and utility in jury cases. He also provides insight on the work that goes into each volume and its subsequent updates and how attorneys throughout Texas work to provide practitioners with the best possible resource to use when preparing jury charges.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »A special thanks to our sponsors:Court Surety Bond AgencyThomson ReutersProudly presented by Butler Snow LLPJoin the Texas Appellate Law Podcast Community today:texapplawpod.comTwitterYouTube

The Texas Bar is a self-regulating entity—it handles attorney discipline through a unique procedural process. Although most attorneys steer clear of professional discipline, it’s important for practitioners to know about the disciplinary system and how it works. This week, Todd Smith and Jody Sanders sit down with an expert on this topic, Seana Willing, Chief Disciplinary Counsel for the State Bar of Texas. Seana provides a helpful primer on the attorney disciplinary system and the number and types of complaints the State Bar sees. Join us for a conversation important to all Texas lawyers.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »A special thanks to our sponsors:Court Surety Bond AgencyThomson ReutersProudly presented by Butler Snow LLPJoin the Texas Appellate Law Podcast Community today:texapplawpod.comTwitterYouTube

As 2021 comes to a close, co-hosts Todd Smith and Jody Sanders pause to thank listeners and followers of the Texas Appellate Law Podcast. During the holiday break, we recommend revisiting our 2020 interview with Chris Ritter on Well-Being Strategies for the Pandemic and the Holidays. See you in 2022!  Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »A special thanks to our sponsors:Court Surety Bond AgencyThomson ReutersJoin the Texas Appellate Law Podcast Community today:texapplawpod.comTwitterYouTube

Although Texas has more than 100,000 licensed attorneys, many of its residents’ legal needs remain unmet. This is particularly true in appellate courts, where fewer attorneys practice. Luckily, Texas lawyers, judges, and bar leaders have worked to connect unrepresented litigants with counsel willing to handle their appeals pro bono. In this episode, Todd Smith and Jody Sanders visit with appellate specialist Michael Truesdale about pro bono appellate services and programs in Texas, Mike’s involvement in launching some of those projects, and his continued efforts to raise awareness and expand their reach. Mike also talks about how attorneys can get involved and how pro bono appellate work can serve those needing access to legal representation while providing pro bono counsel with valuable learning opportunities and experience.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »A special thanks to our sponsors:Court Surety Bond AgencyThomson ReutersJoin the Texas Appellate Law Podcast Community today:texapplawpod.comTwitterYouTube

As technology becomes more sophisticated, so too do the security issues its users encounter. These challenges impact attorneys and law firms particularly, as they regularly deal with confidential data and privileged information. Often, however, attorneys and law firms remain unaware or unprepared for potential traps. But there are resources to address these threats. That's what Dennis Van Metre, this week’s guest, aims to do as Chief Information Officer at Vinson & Elkins in Houston. Dennis chats with hosts Todd Smith and Jody Sanders about how attorneys can prepare for security threats, identify areas of concern, and work to protect both themselves and their clients. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »A special thanks to our sponsors:Court Surety Bond AgencyThomson ReutersJoin the Texas Appellate Law Podcast Community today:texapplawpod.comTwitterYouTube

People take many paths into the practice of law. These varied experiences provide important perspectives that enrich and improve the legal industry. This week, Todd Smith and Jody Sanders talk with Texas Supreme Court Justice Rebeca Huddle about her path to legal practice and, ultimately, a place on Texas’s highest civil court. Justice Huddle discusses her experience as a teacher, in private practice with a large firm, as a Justice on Houston’s First Court of Appeals, and at the Texas Supreme Court. She also discusses the importance of mentoring young attorneys.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »A special thanks to our sponsors:Court Surety Bond AgencyThomson ReutersJoin the Texas Appellate Law Podcast Community today:texapplawpod.comTwitterYouTube

Balancing professional obligations with self-care is a major challenge for lawyers. It’s easy for attorneys to overload themselves with work, activities, and commitments, often stretching themselves too thin and straining their personal relationships. This week, Karen Vladeck a partner at Wittliff | Cutter PLLC and co-host of the In Loco Parent(i)s, podcast, joins Todd Smith and Jody Sanders to discuss how attorneys can find the right balance for themselves in the law. Karen talks about ways to meet professional and client needs while also making time to parent and pursue other interests. She also discusses how law is not a one-size-fits-all profession, how attorneys can adapt to find fulfilling careers, and the need for authenticity in both law practice and relationships. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »A special thanks to our sponsors:Court Surety Bond AgencyThomson ReutersJoin the Texas Appellate Law Podcast Community today:texapplawpod.comTwitterYouTube

There are many different ways to practice law and many types of law to practice. Law students and young attorneys often don’t know where to turn for advice about their options. Luckily, in addition to his teaching and scholarship, Jonah Perlin, a Legal Practice Professor at Georgetown University Law Center, provides a unique resource for the public through his How I Lawyer Podcast. In this week’s episode, Jonah trades his role as a podcast host for that of a podcast guest. Sitting down with Todd Smith and Jody Sanders, Jonah shares his background and experiences as a law clerk, practicing attorney, and law professor. He also discusses his work with the podcast, which he is using to create a library of law practice advice for students and lawyers looking to learn.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »A special thanks to our sponsors:Court Surety Bond AgencyThomson ReutersJoin the Texas Appellate Law Podcast Community today:texapplawpod.comTwitterYouTube

In Texas, district attorneys’ offices appear as counsel in the courts of appeals more than almost any other litigant. Beyond simply appealing or defending appeals, district attorneys have unique responsibilities as prosecutors that impact the positions they take and the arguments they make. In this week’s episode, Todd Smith and Jody Sanders sit down with Andrew Warthen, an attorney with the Appellate Division of the Bexar County District Attorney’s office. Andrew discusses his background and path to appellate prosecution, as well as the unique challenges of working as an appellate attorney within a prosecutor’s office. He also explains how appeals work within a large DA’s office and the special considerations that apply to the appeals and writs they handle.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »A special thanks to our sponsors:Court Surety Bond AgencyThomson ReutersJoin the Texas Appellate Law Podcast Community today:texapplawpod.comTwitterYouTube