The Portia Project

Lee H. Rosenthal is the Chief Judge of The Southern District of Texas. She discusses her  distinguished career, special relationship with her law clerks, and role leading the Federal Rules Committee. She also provides tips for newer lawyers to grow and excel in their careers. 

Join your host M.C. Sungaila as she talks to Justice Judith Ashmann-Gerst of the California Court of Appeal about her journey to the bench, from night law school to the trial court and then the court of appeal. She also shares some insights for advocates appearing before the court of appeal.

In this episode, MC Sungaila talks shop with Christine Mayle, Judge, Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals. Judge Mayle discusses what drew her towards appellate law, and what drove her towards a position as a judge on the Court Of Appeals. Tune in to learn more of Judge Mayle’s journey and why appellate law is so important. 

Margaret M. Grignon, retired Justice of the California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, discusses the joys and challenges of a distinguished career on the bench and in practice. Justice Grignon spent 14 years on the Court of Appeal and authored in excess of 2,230 opinions, more than 160 of which have been published. Her work as an appellate practitioner upon retirement from the bench has produced multiple precedential opinions in state and federal courts. Listen in as Justice Grignon shares why she decided to go into law, and what she views as being the most effective approaches to appellate briefwriting and oral argument.

 Joining M.C. Sungaila is Elizabeth D. Walker, Justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court and Co-Host of the podcast Lady Justice: Women of the Court. She shares the ups and downs in her life as a judge, her path to the bench by running for elected office, changes in her state's court system, and weathering an impeachment trial to come out on top as Chief Justice. She also provides practical tips on becoming an effective lawyer who can leave a lasting impact.

Today's guest Karen Scott was appointed as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Central District of California in 2015. Prior to her appointment, Judge Scott was a partner at Rutan & Tucker, LLP in Costa Mesa, where she handled civil litigation matters within the firm's Business Litigation and Government and Regulatory Law practice groups. In this episode, she shares how she became a lawyer, and how her time in practice informs her work on the bench.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michelle Williams Court took a non-traditional path to the bench. Judge Court discusses her civil rights career and continued commitment to serving the community as a judge. Tune in to hear her insights on service through the law.

In this episode, we chronicle a woman's journey to the bench and beyond. Christine Durham retired from the Utah Supreme Court in 2017 after serving as a Justice for 35 years, including 10 years as Chief Justice and Chair of the Utah Judicial Council. As one of the first women judges in her state, she led the way for others to join the bench. She describes what it was like to be at the forefront of women's changing roles in the law, and what led her to choose a life of public service. Listen in as Justice Durham shares anecdotes that will continue to inspire the next generation of women, lawyers and judges.

Welcome to the Portia Project™️ Podcast, a podcast designed to celebrate and share the careers, personal stories, and hard earned wisdom of accomplished women judges and lawyers, in order to educate and encourage the next generation of women lawyers. 

The Portia Project™️ Podcast, hosted by noted appellate lawyer M.C. Sungaila, features current and retired female appellate judges, prominent trial judges, general counsel, and other successful lawyers, including those in nontraditional careers involving a law degree, such as leading a nonprofit organization, founding a legal tech company, or writing legal thrillers. 

The variety of the guests’ accomplishments is designed to educate newer lawyers and law students about the many professional opportunities available to them. But the guests’ personal histories also chronicle women’s progress in the legal profession from the 1970s to today, and provide broader insights into the minds and experiences of judges and in-house counsel helpful to all who appear in front of them or work with them. 

Listen in, subscribe, and learn from accomplished women lawyers and judges.