Arizona trial court Judge Danielle Viola joins M.C. Sungaila to discuss how her policy work with the Arizona state government and law practice at the venerable Phoenix-based firm Snell & Wilmer collectively inform her approach to problem solving and decision making on the bench. She also provides some solid advice for litigators in the trial court.

Therese M. Stewart, Associate Justice of the California First District Court of Appeal, Division Two, chats with MC Sungaila about moving from a high-profile advocacy career to the bench, efforts to diversify the courts, and collaborating with her judicial colleagues. She provides an in-depth exploration of her work prior to the bench in the area of LGBT rights, both in private practice and at the City Attorney's Office. Tune in for and enlightening and inspiring with valuable insights you can use in your practice.

Vice-Chief Justice of Arizona's Supreme Court, Ann Scott Timmer, shares her tips on brief writing and oral argument, and discusses her path to the bench and role on her state's supreme court.

Justice Adrienne Grover of the California Court of Appeal, Sixth District, discusses her path to the bench and her views on the justice system and gives sound advice for both advocates and lawyers aspiring to become judges.

Leah Ward Sears was the first African-American female chief justice of a state supreme court in the United States. When she was first appointed as a justice in 1992, she became the first woman and youngest person to sit on Georgia's Supreme Court. She is now in private practice at a major law firm. Justice Sears shares her path to the bench, and the importance of mentors in her career journey, as well as tips for newer lawyers and advocates.

Judge Joanne Motoike serves as the Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Court in Orange County, California. She discusses her time on the bench and her remarkable career prior to the bench serving as a senior deputy public defender at the Orange County Public Defender’s Office, and as a trial attorney in the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia at the Hague.

Justice Eileen C. Moore of the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Three, joins us today to provide a historical perspective on the challenges women faced in becoming lawyers in the 1970s, and how far both she and other women lawyers have come in their legal careers. She also discusses the long-lasting impact of her service in the Vietnam War, and her commitment to military veterans.

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.