ABOTA Speaks

As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, what does this historic milestone mean for our system of justice and the work of ABOTA? Host Jill Webb is joined by 2026 ABOTA National President William D. Shapiro and Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter President Nancy K. Raynor to reflect on our Nation's founding and the enduring importance of ABOTA's mission. Shapiro discusses the principles embodied in th...

How are today’s jurors changing, and what does that mean for trial lawyers? Host Jill Webb talks with veteran trial consultants Jason Barnes and Chris Dominic about what they are seeing in their work with jurors and how trial lawyers can adapt their communication and courtroom presentations to better connect with a changing audience. Barnes and Dominic discuss shorter attention spans, the expectat...

What happens when a trial lawyer sees technology not as a novelty, but as another way to help jurors understand the evidence? Host Jake Courtney talks with Florida trial attorney Kenneth Padowitz about a career spent pushing the boundaries of visual evidence in the courtroom. Padowitz traces that interest back to one of his earliest jury trials, when a simple hand-drawn diagram taught him a lastin...

Pulitzer Prize finalist and acclaimed historian H.W. Brands joins host Jill Webb for a fascinating conversation about political parties, democracy, and the American jury system. Drawing from his book Founding Partisans: Hamilton, Madison, Jefferson, Adams and the Brawling Birth of American Politics and his own recent experience serving on a civil jury, Brands explores the parallels between jury tr...

Today's workplace includes more generations working side by side than ever before. How can leaders create an environment where every generation feels valued, engaged, and motivated to succeed? Host Jake Courtney is joined by generational expert Amelie Karam to discuss how law firms and organizations can build stronger multigenerational workplaces through intentional leadership, better communicatio...

The ABOTA National Trial College is more than a trial advocacy course—it's an immersive experience designed to help lawyers become more confident, capable, and effective advocates. Host Jake Courtney is joined by our 2026 Co-Chairs, Hon. Patricia Alvarez, Craig Peters, and Rich Schoenberger, to discuss what makes the ABOTA National Trial College one of the Nation’s premier educational programs for...

For 20 years, the Journalist Law School has brought lawyers and journalists together in the shared pursuit of truth, justice, and accurate reporting. In this special anniversary episode, host Jill Webb is joined by Donna Melby, Beth Warren, and Dalila-Johari Paul to reflect on the program's remarkable legacy and its continued importance today. Donna Melby, ABOTA's first female National President a...

Host Jake Courtney speaks with FLABOTA President Alex Reboso about his career, his path to ABOTA leadership, and the upcoming FLABOTA Annual Convention in Orlando, Florida. Alex reflects on the mentors who encouraged him to become more involved in ABOTA and shares how state and regional organizations help develop leaders while strengthening professionalism, civility, and lasting friendships throug...

Host Jill Webb speaks with 2026 ABOTA National President Bill Shapiro and 2026 Michigan Chapter President Cameron Getto about the upcoming ABOTA Summer Conference and National Board Meeting in Detroit, Michigan. Bill and Cameron share why Detroit was selected as the host city and discuss the remarkable transformation the city has undergone over the past two decades. From revitalized historic build...

Host Jake Courtney speaks with Javier Espinoza, President of TEX-ABOTA, about his journey from immigrant to trial lawyer, law firm owner, and ABOTA leader. Javier reflects on the teachers, mentors, and role models who helped shape his career and discusses the opportunities and relationships that helped him see possibilities he had not previously considered. Jake and Javier also discuss the upcomin...

In this episode of ABOTA Speaks, host Jill Webb speaks with Chief Judge Jennifer W. Elrod of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit about civility in the legal profession, the importance of jury trials, and protecting public confidence in the judiciary. Drawing from her experience as both a trial judge and appellate judge, Chief Judge Elrod shares practical wisdom on professional...

In this episode of ABOTA Speaks, host Jake Courtney speaks with Professor Elizabeth Fraley of Baylor University School of Law about the growing role of artificial intelligence in legal practice and why lawyers should be learning how to use it now. A full-time trial lawyer, law professor, and ABOTA board member, Professor Fraley brings a practical and balanced perspective to the conversation. Rathe...

In this episode of ABOTA Speaks, we feature an extended conversation with Chief Judges Dori Contreras, Mark Green and Mark Pfeiffer of the Council of Chief Judges of the State Courts of Appeals (CCJSCA) – a strong partner of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Together, they explore the role of appellate courts, the importance of judicial independence, and the shared responsibility of j...

In this episode of ABOTA Speaks, host Jake Courtney converses with SEABOTA President, Christy Crow, about the upcoming SEABOTA Annual Conference, taking place in Charleston, South Carolina, April 23–26, 2026. SEABOTA brings together trial lawyers from across the southeastern United States for a weekend focused on connection, mentorship, and professional growth. This year’s conference—Trial Advocac...

In this episode of ABOTA Speaks, host Jill Webb converses with Stacy Garcia and Christa Ramey about the upcoming National Women’s Leadership Summit, taking place in Savannah, Georgia, April 9-12, 2026. Now in its second year, the Summit brings together women trial lawyers from across the country for a weekend focused on connection, mentorship, and professional growth. Building on the success of la...

In this episode of ABOTA Speaks, host Jake Courtney sits down with Scott Costantino, a trial lawyer from Jacksonville, Florida, ABOTA leader, and current President of the International Society of Barristers, for a conversation about leadership, service, and involvement in the trial bar. Scott reflects on his early career and how membership in ABOTA began as an aspiration—something to work toward a...

In this episode of ABOTA Speaks, host Jill Webb sits down with John Cuttino and Sean Domnick, co-facilitators of the American Civil Trial Bar Roundtable, to discuss the unique role this organization plays in protecting the civil justice system. The American Civil Trial Bar Roundtable brings together leaders from major plaintiff and defense organizations—including DRI, AAJ, the American Bar Associa...

In this episode of ABOTA Speaks, host Jake Courtney sits down with trial attorney Camille Vasquez, widely known for her cross-examination of Amber Heard in the jury trial where she represented Johnny Depp, for a conversation about preparation, credibility, and the realities of practicing law in high-profile cases. Camille reflects on her early participation in the ABOTA Fellowship program during l...

In this episode of ABOTA Speaks, host Jill Webb is joined by U.S. Judge Robert L. Pitman of the Western District of Texas, U.S. Chief Judge Amos L. Mazzant III, of the Eastern District of Texas, and Justice Chari L. Kelly for the Texas Third Court of Appeals for a candid conversation about jury trials—from the perspective of the bench. Drawing on their collective experience, these judges discuss o...

Season 2 of ABOTA Speaks continues with a thoughtful conversation that reflects on leadership, discipline, and the value of historical perspective. Host Jake Courtney is joined by Talmage Boston, a trial lawyer, historian, and author, for a discussion about how studying the past can inform the way we think, lead, and practice law today. Drawing on his experience both in the courtroom and as a writ...

Season 2 of ABOTA Speaks begins with a conversation that sets the tone for the year ahead and introduces a new rhythm for the podcast. Host Jake Courtney sits down with Bill Shapiro, who will be sworn in as ABOTA’s National President for 2026, to talk about leadership, connection, and the future of the organization. Bill brings a sense of enthusiasm, warmth, and optimism to a wide-ranging discussi...

In this episode of ABOTA Speaks, host Jill Webb talks with the Honorable Clifton B. Newman, ABOTA Honorary Diplomate and one of the Nation’s most respected judicial voices. Known internationally for presiding over the Alex Murdaugh trial, Judge Newman brings decades of experience, insight, and uncommon steadiness to this conversation on civility, judicial independence, and the evolving role of the...

In this episode of ABOTA Speaks, host Jake Courtney talks with John Sweeney, the 2025 CAL-ABOTA Trial Lawyer of the Year, whose landmark civil rights cases in Los Angeles have shaped national conversations about policing, accountability, and justice. Sweeney has tried some of the most emotionally charged and high-profile cases in California—cases involving police shootings, system failures, and fa...

In this episode of ABOTA Speaks , host Jill Webb talks with Kevin Frazier, the AI Innovation and Law Fellow at the University of Texas School of Law and a leading voice on how technology is changing the legal profession. Frazier teaches AI courses, leads Texas Law’s AI Innovation and Law Program, and writes about technology for both academic and popular audiences. Their conversation looks at how a...

In this special Thanksgiving episode of ABOTA Speaks, ABOTA National President Jennifer Doan sits down with Judge Barbara A. Kronlund, the 2025 ABOTA Champion of Justice Award winner. After serving for more than 30 years as a commissioner and judge on the Superior Court of California in Sacramento County, Kronlund shares her journey from prosecutor to jurist to founder of the Judicial Fairness Coa...