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 writer, Talmage shares insights into the habits of effective leaders, the discipline required for meaningful work, and why long-form thinking still matters.

In this episode, the conversation explores:

• · How Talmage balances trial practice with writing and historical research
• · What studying leadership across time reveals about preparation, character, and judgment
• · Why curiosity, discipline, and reflection are essential traits for lawyers and leaders alike

ABOTA Speaks releases new episodes every two weeks. The next episode will be available on February 4, 2026.

Support the podcast: Subscribe on YouTube, follow us, share this episode and leave a review. We want others to discover these great conversations.

Learn more about ABOTA: www.abota.org

Learn more about Talmage Boston:

Cross-Examining History Podcast: https://pod.link/1460591295

https://talmageboston.com/

#ABOTASpeaks #ABOTA #Leadership #LegalProfession #TrialLaw #Civility

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 discussion about what it means to lead ABOTA at this moment.

In this episode, Bill reflects on:

• What first drew him to ABOTA and the relationships that shaped his long-term involvement
• Why civility, professionalism, and human connection matter—both inside and outside the courtroom
• His vision for a welcoming, inclusive year ahead, including opportunities for members to engage, connect, and feel at home in ABOTA

Listeners also get a glimpse of Bill beyond the courtroom, including how his personality, interests, and love of community shape his approach to leadership.

ABOTA Speaks is now releasing new episodes every two weeks. The next episode will be available on January 21, 2026.

Enjoying ABOTA Speaks? Following the podcast, subscribing on YouTube, or leaving a review is a simple way to support the show and help more members discover these conversations.

#ABOTASpeaks #ABOTA #Civility

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 courtroom in public life.

Judge Newman reflects on how judges can model dignity, fairness, and restraint even under intense scrutiny; why civility is essential not just for lawyers but for the health of the justice system itself; and how livestreaming, media attention, and public pressure intersect with the judge’s duty to maintain order and impartiality.

He also shares stories from his path to the bench, including the unexpected moment in high school that first sparked his interest in the law, and discusses his transition to mediation following decades of service on the South Carolina Circuit Court.

Whether you followed the Murdaugh trial closely or want practical wisdom on professionalism and courtroom leadership, this conversation offers thoughtful guidance from a judge known for his calm, clarity, and commitment to justice.

Enjoying ABOTA Speaks? Follow the podcast on your favorite platform, subscribe to our YouTube channel, and consider leaving a review to help others find the show.

#ABOTASpeaks #CliftonNewman #CivilityInTheCourtroom #JudicialLeadership #RuleOfLaw #TrialAdvocacy #LegalProfession #CourtroomCivility

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 families fighting for answers. He speaks candidly about what it means to step into the courtroom when the stakes could not be higher, and how leadership often looks like courage, preparation, and the willingness to tell a story that others are afraid to tell.

Their conversation explores:

• What real leadership looks like when lives, legacies, and public trust are on the line

• The pressures and responsibilities of trying emotionally charged civil rights cases

• Why courage, professionalism and civility remain indispensable even in the most hard-fought trials

Whether you’re drawn to trial strategy, courtroom leadership, or the deeper calling behind civil rights work, Sweeney delivers a powerful, uncompromising look at what it means to stand up for justice in the toughest cases.

Learn more about John Sweeney: https://thesweeneyfirm.com

and ABOTA: https://www.abota.org

#ABOTASpeaks #TrialAdvocacy #CivilRightsLitigation #JusticeSystem #JohnSweeney

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 artificial intelligence is beginning to shape every part of trial practice—from research and drafting to case preparation and strategy. Frazier explains what today’s AI tools can and can’t do, why lawyers still play an essential role in guiding and checking these systems, and how to use technology in ways that support strong, ethical advocacy.

Frazier also talks about the ethical obligations we have as lawyers, the importance of understanding how AI tools reach their results, the practical risks lawyers need to keep in mind, and why human judgment must remain at the center of trial work even as technology evolves.

Whether you’re exploring AI for your own practice or simply curious about how these tools will affect the future of the justice system, this conversation offers clear, grounded guidance from one of our country’s emerging leaders in AI and the law.

Connect with Kevin Frazier:

UT Law Faculty Page: https://law.utexas.edu/faculty/kevin-frazier/Scaling

Laws Podcast: https://scalinglaws.ai

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kevintfrazier.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prof_frazier

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 Coalition — an organization dedicated to defending judicial independence and educating the public about the essential role of an impartial judiciary.

Kronlund discusses her work on California's Judicial Ethics Committee, her award-winning cultural competency training programs, and her tireless efforts to mentor the next generation of lawyers and judges. She also reflects on what drives her commitment to service, the importance of gratitude in daily life, and why judicial independence remains fragile without constant vigilance and public education.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, this conversation reminds us why integrity, civility, and service to others form the foundation of our justice system — and how each of us can contribute to preserving these values for future generations.

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 fundamental skill set: storytelling.

Shapiro discusses his creative process, his collaborations with legendary producer David E. Kelley, and his current projects including adapting Robert Harris's books about Cicero and his play about Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sandra Day O'Connor. He also talks about his book How to Be Abe Lincoln: Seven Steps to a Legendary Life and why Lincoln remains his model for leadership and advocacy.

Whether you're a trial lawyer looking to sharpen your storytelling skills or simply curious about the creative process behind courtroom dramas, this conversation offers practical wisdom and entertaining stories from someone who has succeeded in both worlds.

Connect with Jonathan Shapiro:

Book/Podcast: https://www.howtobeabelincoln.com/

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1236705/?ref_=nmbio_ov_bk

#ABOTASpeaks #JonathanShapiro #Storytelling #TrialAdvocacy

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 that can rule against the government — is often the most difficult principle for emerging democracies to embrace.

Ambassador Hutchison explains how the Rule of Law underpins everything from free markets to human rights, and why civility and respect remain essential for productive political discourse. She also discusses her books, American Heroines and Leading Ladies, which chronicle the trailblazing women who helped build America — from World War II correspondents and spies to Supreme Court justices and astronauts.

Whether you're interested in global democracy, judicial independence, or the role of women in American history, this conversation offers wisdom from a lifetime of public service and leadership on the world stage.