Judge Darrell Dullnig has presided over ten separate municipal courts in Texas during his career, offering a unique and seasoned perspective on one of the most vital areas of our justice system. In this episode, he sheds light on the critical role municipal courts play, the common misconceptions even attorneys have, and why a little kindness and respect go a long way in the courtroom. Municipal courts handle more cases than county and district courts combined, and all lawyers should have an accurate understanding of their purpose and processes. From deferred disposition to dealing with pro se litigants, Judge Dullnig shares insights, stories, and a touch of humor from the bench.

Order in the court!

Introducing a new series of TYLA’s Young Gunners podcast, spotlighting all nine justices of the Supreme Court of Texas! In these special episodes, TYLA President Hisham Masri, TYLA Immediate Past President Laura Pratt, and TYLA President-Elect Alyson Martinez speak with the SCOTX bench about their respective path to the high court, judicial philosophy, and advice for young attorneys navigating the legal profession.

We kick off this series with an interview with Justice Jimmy Blacklock, who was elevated to chief justice on January 6, 2025. In this episode, Chief Justice Blacklock shares how the principles of fatherhood and his deep-rooted faith have influenced not only his path to the judiciary but also the way he approaches leadership, decision-making, and the responsibilities of public office. Tune in for a thoughtful exploration of character, calling, and the intersection of personal conviction with professional duty.

You can access this episode and our other episodes here: https://tyla.org/resource/young-gunners-podcast/

And tune in soon for our second episode where we speak with Senior Justice Debra Lehrmann, the longest-serving member on the court! 

#tyla #younggunners #scotx #legalpodcast

As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, new Texas laws are establishing a foundational framework for its governance, with a focus on the prevention of harm and ethical use. Rocky Dhir sits down with Shawn Tuma to discuss a range of recently enacted technology laws, helping attorneys understand their purpose, implications for legal practice, and considerations related to technology competence. 

They explore key legislation including the Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act, Texas Cyber Command, and Cybersecurity Safe Harbor, offering insights into emerging best practices for technology in legal practice. 

For a deeper dive, see Shawn Tuma’s article co-authored with Christine Chase in the September 2025 issue of the Texas Bar Journal. 

Shawn Tuma is a partner at Spencer Fane LLP in Cyber Risk Management, Cyber Incident Response, and Cyber Security, Hacking and Data Breach Litigation.

How do Texas mineral rights and the laws governing oil, gas, and other natural resources truly function? The recent TV series "Landman" offers a dramatic portrayal of the politics and power dynamics of the West Texas oilfields, but what is the actual reality? Rocky Dhir discusses the oil industry's portrayal on the show with attorney J. Byron (Trace) Burton, III. They examine the laws governing Texas' natural resources and their impacts on both oil companies and landowners.

Byron (Trace) Burton, III is a Partner at Uhl Fitzsimons and Immediate Past Chair of the State Bar of Texas’ Oil, Gas, and Energy Resources Section.

Lawyers often face relentless exposure to stress and trauma, whether navigating emotionally charged areas of the law, handling high-stakes matters, or confronting a host of other pressures inherent to the profession. On top of this, they must also address the emotional toll legal issues may take on their clients. Few attorneys are equipped with the tools to manage this alone, but there are counselors, support programs, and resources available to help. Rocky Dhir talks with Alicia Freeman of the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program (TLAP) about navigating emotional distress (both for attorneys and clients) and accessing needed support. They discuss how to appropriately engage with clients’ emotional needs, set healthy boundaries, and provide necessary resources.

Contact TLAP:

1-800-343-8527

tlaphelps.org 

Alicia Freeman is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and a bachelor’s in political science. She is a TLAP Clinical Professional for Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program at the State Bar of Texas, the owner of Freeman Counseling and Consulting LLC, and co-host for the “My Therapist Needs a Therapist” podcast.

What exactly does your state bar president do, anyway? A very presidential trio joins Rocky Dhir for today’s conversation examining this leadership role and its many responsibilities. Rocky welcomes Past-President Cindy Tisdale, current President Steve Benesh, and President-Elect Santos Vargas to learn more about their efforts for fellow lawyers and their desire to address unmet needs in the profession throughout the state.

Later, they dig into the history of the State Bar of Texas, explain the current structure and operation of the organization as a whole, and share how Texas legal professionals can get more involved in Bar programs.  

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we're revisiting this powerful conversation about how Texas courts are addressing mental health challenges through reform and rehabilitation. 

Should our criminal courts exist to punish or reform those who have broken the law? Rocky Dhir talks with Judge Brent Carr about his years of service in the Tarrant County Mental Health Court and the broader efforts across Texas to support people with mental illness in the justice system. They explore programs tackling issues from sex trafficking to drug offenses, veterans’ cases, and more.

The skies above us have a legal framework all their own, but many attorneys have limited knowledge of this expansive area of the law. Can your neighbor fly his drone into your yard? What’s the difference in legal responsibilities between private aviators and commercial airlines? How is AI impacting flight and flight training? Rocky Dhir welcomes Kent Krause to discuss the basics of aviation law and dig into its evolving issues and changes.

Later, 2025 began with a succession of tragic and unsettling airline incidents. Should we be concerned about this disproportionately large number of accidents in air travel? Rocky and Kent discuss the details of these events and examine the laws, safety frameworks, and failures that came into play.

Kent Krause is a partner at Craddock Davis & Krause, LLP, in Dallas, TX. 

We can probably all think of a moment (or many) when we struggled with natural, constructive communication with those around us. But, how do we learn from those difficult and/or awkward moments and successfully convey our views? Rocky Dhir talks with Jefferson Fisher about his tips for becoming a more effective verbal communicator. Jefferson shares advice for legal professionals to help them foster authentic relationships with both peers and clients. Later, they discuss communication techniques for handling yourself well in the midst of arguments or other stressful situations.

Jefferson Fisher is a Texas board certified trial lawyer, author, keynote speaker, and argument expert.

You may pre-order Jefferson’s new book: The Next Conversation here.

Familiarize yourself with the most common errors that can jeopardize an appeal. In this special rebroadcast, Rocky Dhir sits down with Elana Einhorn and Melissa Lorber, authors of the article Help Us Help You: Top 10 Appellate Mistakes in the Trial Courts. Elana and Melissa offer a breakdown of the article and provide insight on their top tips for success in trial court.

Elana Einhorn practices appellate law at Butler Snow. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Texas School of Law and a former Supreme Court of Texas staff attorney.

Melissa Lorber practices appellate law at Butler Snow. She is board certified in civil appellate law and represents businesses in both trial and appellate litigation across state and federal courts.