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.

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.

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.

Vladeck breaks down the staggering statistics—emergency applications have gone from once every other year to once a week—and explains what this means for judicial transparency, institutional legitimacy, and the Rule of Law. From his unique perspective as both a legal scholar and journalist who translates complex constitutional issues for mainstream audiences, Vladeck offers insights into how the Court's procedures are evolving and why even trial lawyers who follow the Court closely may be missing the bigger institutional story.

Whether you're concerned about preserving judicial independence or simply want to understand how the Supreme Court really works in 2025, this conversation provides essential context for one of the most important shifts in modern American jurisprudence.

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 realities of cameras in the courtroom: how lawyers prepare differently (or don't), when livestreaming serves the public interest, and what cases require more discretion. From the mechanics of media access to the future challenges posed by AI-generated evidence and deep fakes, this conversation addresses the evolving intersection of technology, transparency, and trial practice.

Whether you're considering livestreaming your next trial or simply want to understand how this shift is changing the profession, this episode offers candid insights from lawyers who've experienced both sides of the camera — and why exposure to real courtroom practice remains essential for the next generation of trial lawyers.

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 Giants when he was diagnosed with cancer in his pitching arm, ultimately leading to amputation and the end of his baseball career.

But Dave's story doesn't end with loss: it's about what comes after. Through raw honesty and hard-won wisdom, Dave shares his journey through an identity crisis, the healing power of vulnerability, and how he and his wife Jan now serve over 1,300 cancer patients annually through their nonprofit, Endurance with Jan and Dave Dravecky. His unforgettable encounter with his childhood hero Sandy Koufax taught him that simple encouragement can change lives.

Whether you're facing your own challenges or seeking to mentor the next generation, this episode offers a powerful reminder that connecting veterans with rookies — in baseball or in law — preserves not just our skills, but our values, our passion, and what matters most.