Texas Appellate Law Podcast

Todd Smith & Jody Sanders
  • 5.0 (48)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to the Texas Appellate Law Podcast—your backstage pass to the Texas and federal appellate systems. Join your hosts, Texas appellate lawyers Todd Smith and Jody Sanders, as they explore the nuances of appellate advocacy with judges, court staff, leading trial and appellate practitioners, academics, and legal innovators. Whether you're immersed in an appeal or building your trial strategy, each episode delivers practical insights to help you enhance your advocacy skills, strengthen your arguments, and stay current with evolving legal trends. Connect with us at texapplawpod.com or on LinkedIn and X (@texapplawpod). Brought to you by Texas Appellate Counsel PLLC, a solo practice dedicated to appellate advocacy, trial support, and consulting for trial lawyers. For more information visit texappcounsel.com. Sponsored by Court Surety Bond Agency and Proceed (formerly Counsel Press.) Produced and powered by LawPods, podcast marketing that converts prospects and drives revenue. The views expressed by the participants on this podcast are their own and not those of their law firms, courts, or employers. Nothing you hear on this show establishes an attorney-client relationship or is legal advice.

  1. FEB 12

    Permissive Appeals, SCAC, and the Reality of Texas Rulemaking | Rich Phillips

    In this episode, we examine Texas’s permissive appeals statute and the rulemaking process that shapes how it operates in practice. To guide the discussion, hosts Todd Smith and Jody Sanders welcome Rich Phillips of Holland & Knight, who serves on the Texas Supreme Court Advisory Committee and recently presented a paper on permissive appeals. Rich pulls back the curtain on how procedural rules are developed and revised, then walks through the statute’s requirements and explains why permissive appeals are so often denied. The conversation also explores how courts interpret key statutory terms, how courts of appeals exercise their discretion, and what practitioners can learn from recent decisions in permissive appeals. Connect and Learn More ☑️ Rich Phillips | LinkedIn ☑️ Holland & Knight on LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | X | YouTube ☑️ Todd Smith | LinkedIn | X ☑️ Jody Sanders | LinkedIn | X ☑️ Texas Appellate Law Podcast on LinkedIn | X | Instagram ☑️ Texas Appellate Counsel PLLC ☑️ Kelly Hart & Hallman, LLP | LinkedIn ☑️ Subscribe a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/texas-appellate-law-podcast/id1504009131"...

    55 min

  2. JAN 22

    A Complete Rewrite: What the New Summary Judgment Rule Means for Trial Lawyers and Judges

    The Texas Supreme Court is taking comments on its rewritten summary judgment Rule 166a before the rule goes into effect on March 1. To help practitioners understand its implications, hosts Jody Sanders and Todd Smith provide context for the rewrite and take a deep dive into the rule’s requirements. Tune in as they break down, among other details, how the rule defines traditional and no-evidence summary judgments, what it requires when those motions are combined, and how it changes the timing of the non-movant’s response to within 21 days after the motion is filed. As Jody explains, the Court concluded that summary judgment motions “were either sitting around too long without being heard or without being ruled upon” and set out to address that problem. Todd adds, “This is a huge change from the old rule” that will “require non-movants to be far more proactive in getting their responses done and ready than they were before.” Email your comments about Rule 166a to rulescomments@txcourts.gov by February 28. 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 | a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7f34552f-b2ca-4871-8fad-c24d7aa3f7cf/texas-appellate-law-podcast"...

    56 min

  3. JAN 8

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

    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...

    53 min

  4. 12/24/2025

    Supersedeas Bonds in the Real World: Timing, Collateral, and Cost | Arturo Ayala

    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 | a href="https://linkedin.com/company/kelly-hart-&-hallman-llp" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    40 min

  5. 11/26/2025

    Breaking Down the Texas Supreme Court’s Revamped Petition-for-Review System

    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 Music Produced and Powered by LawPods Sponsored by Court Surety Bond Agency and a href="https://www.counselpress.com/"...

    45 min

  6. 10/16/2025

    Starting, Statistics, and Second Chances in Appellate Law | Tad Bartlett

    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 | a...

    51 min

  7. 09/18/2025

    Breaking Through Obscurity: Building a Law Practice Through Service and Mentorship | KC Ashmore

    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 | a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2BchCJTvUFcxG1iZjP5YOn"...

    49 min

  8. 09/04/2025

    Confronting the Existential Crisis of Appellate Practice | Kevin Dubose

    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 a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/texas-appellate-law-podcast/id1504009131" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    44 min
See All (169)

5
out of 5
48 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Texas Appellate Law Podcast—your backstage pass to the Texas and federal appellate systems. Join your hosts, Texas appellate lawyers Todd Smith and Jody Sanders, as they explore the nuances of appellate advocacy with judges, court staff, leading trial and appellate practitioners, academics, and legal innovators. Whether you're immersed in an appeal or building your trial strategy, each episode delivers practical insights to help you enhance your advocacy skills, strengthen your arguments, and stay current with evolving legal trends. Connect with us at texapplawpod.com or on LinkedIn and X (@texapplawpod). Brought to you by Texas Appellate Counsel PLLC, a solo practice dedicated to appellate advocacy, trial support, and consulting for trial lawyers. For more information visit texappcounsel.com. Sponsored by Court Surety Bond Agency and Proceed (formerly Counsel Press.) Produced and powered by LawPods, podcast marketing that converts prospects and drives revenue. The views expressed by the participants on this podcast are their own and not those of their law firms, courts, or employers. Nothing you hear on this show establishes an attorney-client relationship or is legal advice.

Information

  • Creator
    Todd Smith & Jody Sanders
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    169
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Todd Smith & Jody Sanders
  • Show Website
    Texas Appellate Law Podcast

You Might Also Like