False Claims Act Insights - The Mathematics of Nuclear FCA Verdicts
Podcast - “I Lied Like a Dog!”
Podcast - Part II: The Do’s and Don’ts of Demonstratives
Podcast - Persistence and Determination
Podcast - Part I - The Do’s and Don’ts of Demonstratives
Podcast - Walking Tall
Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 317: Spotlight on Torts (Part 2 – Intentional Torts)
Podcast - The Seeds of Corruption
Podcast - How Do You Define Success?
Podcast - Seek Out Feedback
Podcast - Part II: Being an Expert Is a Lonely Business
Podcast - Part I: Being an Expert Is a Lonely Business
Podcast - Finding Common Ground
Podcast - "Ready for Trial?"
The Future of Litigation: Adapting to the Era of Nuclear Verdicts
Podcast - Every Case Is a New World
Podcast - The 3 Core Themes of Trial Law: Do the Right Thing
The 3 Core Themes of Trial Law: Tell Your Story
The JustPod: Lawyer, Gentleman, and Counsel to the Stars: A Discussion with Brian McMonagle
Podcast - The 3 Core Themes of Trial Law: Know Your Court
On July 22, 2025, the Virginia Court of Appeals issued a published order in Sisco v. Holtzman, Rec. No. 024025, clarifying the rules for assignments of error in appellate proceedings. Assignments matter. The Court of Appeals...more
Tomorrow, I’m delivering a talk to the Texas Second Court of Appeals (Fort Worth), joined by my friend, Lynne Liberato of Houston. We will address LLM use in chambers and in support of appellate practice, where Lynne is a...more
My new favorite judge is The Honorable R. David Proctor, chief U.S. district judge for the Northern District of Alabama. I love his Nov. 26, 2024 order granting an Opposed Motion Extension of Time to respond to a complaint....more
As recently highlighted by this blog, on September 12, 2024, the Justices of the Commercial Division gathered in the offices of Kelley & Drye to discuss new updates and happenings in the world of the Commercial Division...more
When a case proceeds to trial, a legal team may face a critical decision about whether to have it adjudicated by a jury of peers or a single judge. Both options can offer benefits depending on the merits and subject matter...more
On episode 20, hosts Tina and Cherie welcome Maynard Nexsen attorneys and former Judges Markley Dennis and Billy Wilkins, both of whom had long careers as public servants. Judge Dennis and Judge Wilkins share their best...more
On December 1, 2023, the Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE) 702 will undergo several changes designed to reinforce federal judges’ role as gatekeepers for admitting expert testimony. The changes reinforce the preponderance of...more
In this episode of his "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small focuses on the five most common faults of trial lawyers. Mr. Small acknowledges that every trial is different, but steering...more
Key Takeaways from the Santa Clara County Civil Judges - Santa Clara County Civil Judges Preferred Methods of Practice - On March 22, members of the Santa Clara County Bar Association (SCCBA) gathered at McManis...more
As any practitioner litigating a case before the Commercial Division knows, and as we have mentioned time and again on this blog, it is critical to know the Part Rules of the particular judge assigned to your case. But...more
Among the 94 U.S. district courts, the “Rocket Docket” is quite special. Officially known as the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA), this federal judicial enclave is nationally famous for its long and deeply engrained...more
As courts across the country begin resuming jury trials, litigators returning to in-person proceedings must be prepared for the myriad logistical considerations brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic — from mask-wearing and...more
Jury selection in California is undergoing significant change. In August 2020, the California legislature passed AB 3070, which was signed by Governor Gavin Newsome on September 30. Beginning in 2022, objections to peremptory...more
It is worth remembering: The reasons that we have enforceable rules for a courtroom is to avoid the spectacle that Americans witnessed in the first Presidential debate this year. Commentators across the political spectrum...more
In mid-June, Chief Judge Janet DiFiore appointed the Commission to Reimagine the Future of New York’s Courts, and charged it with examining technological, regulatory, and other long-term innovations for New York Courts. ...more
We tend to think of “bias” as it applies to juries, but courts can have their own deep-seated practices. For example, judges will often prefer voir dire questions that focus on the juror’s own assessment of the influence of a...more
Practicing law at a socially appropriate distance has forced many litigators to broadly consider the value of face-to-face interaction—and what may be lost in its absence. A recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court opinion...more
Some of the most frequent questions I’ve received since finishing my federal district court clerkship involve how certain judges feel about specific parties or issues. In a political climate that often portrays the federal...more
What makes an expert witness persuasive to a jury? Is it their background and training? The work that they did on the case? Their communication skills in teaching the jury? The research suggests that expert influence depends...more
You’re heading to trial and there is one last hurdle: the mandatory settlement conference that your judge is gunning for. He has signaled at every opportunity that he thinks this is a case the parties should resolve prior to...more
Everyone likes to have the last word. Indeed, often dubbed the “recency effect” there is scientific support that going last may increase persuasion. But in ordinary motions practice in the EDVA, the movant both goes first...more
In one of the many classic scenes from “My Cousin Vinny,” the hapless defense attorney played by Joe Pesci, delivers his brief but to-the-point opening statement (“Yeah, everything that guy just said is bullshit… Thank...more
The judge looks up at the parties before her, exasperated. Frankly sharing her view that this case really needs to settle, she also implicitly wields the undecided pretrial motions as a weapon. “Let’s resolve this case” is...more
The Appellate Court: An exciting forum of oral advocacy; a check on the process and the decisions of our trial courts; a second chance for parties to make their case; and a place where novel and important legal principles...more
Remember Carl Sagan and the original show Cosmos? It was a beloved series in the late 70’s, not just for its accessible explanations of something as complex as the history of the universe, but also for its ability to evoke a...more