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Can I Hire an Appellate Specialist for a Critical Trial-Court Hearing?

By D. Todd Smith on December 18, 2019
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Can I Hire an Appellate Specialist for a Critical Trial-Court Hearing - Smith law group

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” overlay_strength=”0.3″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]Have you wondered how to engage an appellate specialist to help with a critical trial-court hearing without fully bringing them into the case? If you’re in Travis County district court, consider a limited appearance under Local Rule 20.2.

Local Rule 20.2 allows an attorney to file a notice of limited appearance identifying the hearing to which the notice pertains without assuming responsibility for any matter outside the notice’s scope. The attorney filing the notice may appear and argue the designated matter on the client’s behalf without becoming permanent counsel of record.

 

How might this benefit trial counsel?

 A busy trial lawyer needing help with a dispositive motion or a critical legal issue need not choose between relying on an associate lacking the necessary experience or squeezing the legal heavy lifting into their own schedule. Instead, trial counsel can engage an appellate specialist to zero in on the issue at hand, keeping trial counsel’s own attention focused on discovery or other equally important matters.

A limited appearance is well suited to certain types of motions frequently leading to appellate review, such as:

  • special appearances;
  • Rule 91a motions;
  • motions for temporary injunction;
  • pleas to the jurisdiction;
  • motions for summary judgment; and
  • motions to dismiss under the Texas Citizens Participation Act.

An adverse ruling in any of these situations can make or break a lawsuit. As with any other type of expert, investing in appellate counsel early can pay huge dividends down the line.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” column_margin=”default” bg_image=”95″ bg_position=”center center” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_color=”#d6daea” scene_position=”center” text_color=”custom” custom_text_color=”#1f3a82″ text_align=”left” top_padding=”5%” bottom_padding=”1%” enable_gradient=”true” color_overlay=”rgba(214,218,234,0.08)” color_overlay_2=”#d6daea” gradient_direction=”top_to_bottom” overlay_strength=”1″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”zoom-out” parallax_bg=”true” parallax_bg_speed=”slow” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” overlay_strength=”0.3″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” top_padding=”3%” bottom_padding=”2%” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”padding-4-percent” column_padding_position=”all” centered_text=”true” background_color=”#eff1f4″ background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”small_depth” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” overlay_strength=”0.3″ column_border_width=”3px” column_border_color=”#455ed1″ column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none” enable_animation=”true” animation=”fade-in-from-bottom” delay=”200″][vc_custom_heading text=”Contact Smith Law Group” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center|color:%230a1c60″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn”][vc_custom_heading text=”Texas Appellate Lawyers” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:center|color:%23455ed1″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn”][divider line_type=”Small Line” line_alignment=”center” line_thickness=”3″ divider_color=”extra-color-gradient-2″ custom_height=”30″ custom_line_width=”420″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1567008760137{padding-right: 10% !important;padding-left: 10% !important;}”]

If you would like to learn more about Smith Law Group and its practice, connect with us online and schedule an appointment.

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Photo of D. Todd Smith D. Todd Smith

D. Todd Smith practices in the Appellate and Written Advocacy Group at Butler Snow LLP, where he represents clients in all phases of civil appeals and original proceedings and works with trial teams from the earliest stages of litigation. In trial courts, Todd…

D. Todd Smith practices in the Appellate and Written Advocacy Group at Butler Snow LLP, where he represents clients in all phases of civil appeals and original proceedings and works with trial teams from the earliest stages of litigation. In trial courts, Todd takes the lead on strategic analysis and briefing, jury charges, and potentially dispositive motions, all with a focus on preserving error and positioning cases for appellate review.

Todd earned degrees from Texas Christian University (B.S. 1989), Texas Tech University (M.P.A. 1992), and St. Mary’s University School of Law (J.D. 1995). While in law school, he was editor in chief of the St. Mary’s Law Journal and interned with Fifth Circuit Judge Emilio M. Garza (ret.).

Before joining Butler Snow, Todd served as a briefing attorney to Texas Supreme Court Justice Raul A. Gonzalez (ret.) (1995-1997), practiced with Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. (now Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP) (1997-2006), and ran his own civil appellate boutique (2006-2021). He is certified as a specialist in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and regularly appears on Thomson Reuters’ Texas Super Lawyers list.

Todd frequently writes and speaks on appellate-related topics. In addition to publishing Texas Appellate Strategy, he is the creator, producer, and co-host of the Texas Appellate Law Podcast, a weekly show that demystifies appellate law and pulls back the curtain on the appellate system through conversations with judges, court staff, and practitioners.

Todd sits on the State Bar Board of Directors, is immediate past chair of the Austin Bar Foundation, and is a past-president of the Austin Bar Association. As Austin Bar president (2019-2020), Todd spearheaded creation of the Lawyer Well-Being Committee, which aims to educate, support and connect the Austin legal community to achieve more balanced, mindful, and joyful lives and practices. He also serves on the Judicial Committee on Information Technology, is a trustee of the Texas Supreme Court Historical Society, and is a member of the Robert W. Calvert American Inn of Court.

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  • Posted in:
    Appellate
  • Blog:
    Texas Appellate Strategy
  • Organization:
    Butler Snow LLP

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