In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast, host Rocky Dhir welcomes U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit Chief Judge Jeffrey S. Sutton to explore the often-overlooked role of state constitutions in American law. After passing the bar, attorneys take an oath to uphold not only the U.S. Constitution, but also their state constitution as well. But how well do lawyers understand the rights and protections found in their own state constitution, and how often do they put them to work in their legal practice. Sutton shares practical examples of how state constitutional provisions can shape legal arguments and outcomes and explains why attorneys should look beyond federal law when advocating for clients.
JEFFREY S. SUTTON is the chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. He has served as chair of the Federal Judicial Conference Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure, chair of the Advisory Committee on Appellate Rules, and chair of the Supreme Court Fellows Commission. Sutton currently serves as chair of the Executive Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States. Since 1993, he has been an adjunct professor at the Ohio State University College of Law. Sutton also teaches a class on state constitutional law at Harvard Law School.
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The State Bar of Texas Podcast is produced in association with the Legal Talk Network.