ABOTA Speaks

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...

In this episode of ABOTA Speaks, host Jake Courtney talks with Jonathan Shapiro, a former federal prosecutor turned Emmy and Peabody Award-winning television writer and producer. Known for his work on shows like The Practice, Boston Legal, and Goliath , Shapiro shares how his decade as a trial lawyer prepared him for a career writing for television — and why the two professions require the same fu...

In this episode of ABOTA Speaks, host Jill Webb sits down with the Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison, former U.S. Senator and U.S. Ambassador to NATO, for a conversation about democracy, judicial independence, and the Rule of Law. Drawing on her extensive experience helping former Soviet republics transition to democracy, Ambassador Hutchison shares why the concept of an independent judiciary — one t...

In this episode of ABOTA Speaks, host Jake Courtney sits down with Stephen Vladeck, CNN Supreme Court analyst, Georgetown law professor, and New York Times bestselling author of The Shadow Docket . They explore one of the most consequential yet underreported developments in American law: the Supreme Court's increasing reliance on emergency rulings made without oral argument or full opinions. Vlade...

In this episode of ABOTA Speaks host Jill Webb explores how livestreaming is transforming the American courtroom. She's joined by David Siegel, National Editor at Courtroom View Network, and attorneys Kyle Farrar and Mark Bankston, who represented the Sandy Hook families in the highly publicized, livestreamed defamation trial against Alex Jones and InfoWars. Together, they discuss the practical re...

In this episode of ABOTA Speaks, recorded at the 2025 National ABOTA Summer Conference in Banff, Canada, host Jake Courtney sits down with former MLB All-Star pitcher Dave Dravecky for an unforgettable conversation about resilience, identity, and finding purpose after loss. After pitching in the World Series for the San Diego Padres, Dravecky was at the peak of his career with the San Francisco Gi...

In this special episode of ABOTA Speaks , two of America’s most influential political minds come together for a candid and compelling conversation. Paul Begala, a renowned political consultant and commentator who helped shape the presidency of Bill Clinton, joins Karl Rove, former Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush, to share what they’ve learned from decades spent...

In this episode of ABOTA Speaks , host Jennifer Doan, National President of the American Board of Trial Advocates, sits down with Matt Green, Luis Cardenas, and Judge Edward C. Prado, former U.S. Ambassador to Argentina, to explore "ABOTA in Argentina: The Buenos Aires Experience." Together, they discuss how this groundbreaking international program is building bridges between American and Argenti...