I think I have heard the phrase "judicial temperament" more in the last couple of months than I have throughout my entire life. For me, a way to describe and define judicial temperament is to simply say the name of Judge Dennis O'Dell. He is a long-standing Circuit Court Judge in Madison County Alabama. He is, of course, knowledgeable, wise and well-respected. Beyond those qualities, he also takes great pains to treat all litigants and lawyers who appear before him fairly and respectfully, with a dose of good humor and a ready smile. We have really been blessed here in North Alabama to have a judge like Dennis O'Dell. That will be evident when you listen to this podcast. Judge O'Dell is retiring from the bench soon and, as I implore him on this podcast, the citizens of Alabama would be very well served if he would consider a run at the Alabama Supreme Court!

Those of us who practice law know that certain exceptionally bright lawyer who always has a relevant holding and a case name to go along with it, no matter what the topic may be. Mike McCormick is one of those lawyers. I know this not only from practicing on the other side of him but, more to the point, from practicing with him. Bond and Botes was fortunate enough to have Mike as a Managing Partner in our Biloxi office way back when before he left for the big city of Atlanta. Mike is now a Senior Partner with the firm of McCalla Raymer where he handles all aspects of a mortgage lending bankruptcy law practice. We sure do miss him being on the consumer side! By the way, I don't think I have ever met someone admitted to practice law in more states than Mike. I think you'll enjoy hearing his story. 

Here is a podcast with another well respected attorney from the highly regarded Bradley law firm. Kevin Gray practices in the areas of banking and real-estate transactional work along with complicated bankruptcy matters. I have known him by his stellar reputation for several years but I got to know him personally during what we'll call a poor man's trip (if there is such a thing!) to Italy a number of years ago with his middle son, Riley, and my youngest son, Sam. We went on a high school trip for about nine days throughout Italy. The trip replicated what was known centuries ago as the Grand Tour of Italy for the youth of nobility to learn about the world. Of course, since it was a public school trip, we didn't stay in the finest accommodations! Nonetheless, it was one of the most fun and relaxing weeks of my life. I think Kevin feels the same way. One of the things I learned about Kevin was his keen taste for the finest limoncello produced in Italy! It was really great to get to know this talented and accomplished lawyer on a personal level and I was happy to catch up with him again on this podcast.

If you are searching for a real estate expert (or real estate wizard!), then Mike Brodowski is it! In fact, I have so much confidence in him that he has handled all of the real estate matters for me and my family since the 1990's. Real estate law can have a lot of twists and turns. Mike and his law firm are prepared to deal with what can seem to be catastrophic situations and pretty seamlessly work them out for the satisfaction of all parties involved. In fact, when I have complicated real estate matters that arise for my own clients, Mike is the first call that I make. Mike also practices in the area of estate planning and adoption. Off the subject of law, Mike has a great office complex off of Church Street in Huntsville called the Depot Professional Village. It is right across from the 1860's Huntsville train depot / Early Works Museum. Mike's even got a red caboose in his parking lot! I know his office very well because I was one of his tenants for approximately 10 years. I am fond of telling Mike that I still believe I was his best tenant and, while I am glad I'm not paying him rent anymore, I miss seeing him around the "shop." Mike is a very well-respected and highly regarded attorney throughout the state of Alabama and it was great spending some time catching up with him. 

In the world of intellectual property law (patents, trademarks, copyrights, infringement cases, etc.), it is not an overstatement to say that Frank Caprio is the gold standard. For as long as I have been in Alabama, anytime a question, concern or an issue regarding intellectual property comes up, there is an immediate, universal statement to "call Frank Caprio." Frank, of course, has the pedigree that is expected for this area of law with both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in engineering. He flew anti-submarine missions in the Navy on active duty for six years after college, then stayed in an ASW flying squadron in the active reserves until he retired. As you will hear, he loved his flying career in the Navy. After active Navy, Frank then worked for a period of time in the high tech world of Huntsville, Alabama as an engineer before taking time off to attend law school. He is the managing partner of the Huntsville branch of the highly regarded Bradley law firm of where he also chairs the firm's Intellectual Property Practice Group. Frank is engaging and personable and he is one of those people that others want to be around. I think you will enjoy hearing this story of how a New Jersey boy made his way to and in the deep South.

The last thing that anyone wants to deal with is being charged with a crime. Although we are innocent until proven guilty in our country, simply being accused of wrong doing comes with a great deal of dread and trepidation. Your first call should thus be to an attorney like Andy Segal. Andy and his wife Sandy of the law firm of Segal and Segal are very skilled and accomplished criminal defense lawyers. They are personable, empathetic, compassionate and smart. Any prospective client who has a criminal matter or concern is in great hands with these lawyers. In fact, Andy and Sandy look at all aspects and potential ramifications of a criminal charge for their clients and make sure that all avenues are covered and thought through as thoroughly as possible. For instance, I have worked with them with clients they have had in the past regarding security clearance issues as they relate to criminal charges. Also, they are both former prosecutors so they are aware of all of the nuanced angles and issues on both sides of criminal law. I had a great time catching up with Andy in this podcast and he reminded me that Sandy once worked with our law firm years ago when we were young and overly ambitious and working on Saturdays. This worked out wellfor us since their children were small and Sandy preferred to work Saturday mornings so she could be at home with her kids during the week. Also, Sandy's brother, Mark Rogers and his wife Donna, were our next door neighbors when my wife and I first moved to Huntsville and the four of us and our boys have remained good friends ever since. Small world, as they say! 

I was in Phoenix, Arizona recently for a security clearance hearing. While there, I thought I would re-connect with an old fraternity brother, attorney Joel Robbins who practices throughout Arizona with the law firm of Robbins and Curtin. Joel was a year or two ahead of me at the University of Arizona. He was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity where I was fortunate enough to pledge. Sigma Chi at the University of Arizona had a lasting, life-long effect on me. The older guys that I met at Sigma Chi, of which Joel figured prominently, were so accomplished and driven that I found it hard to believe that I was among this group. If imitation truly is the sincerest form of flattery, then I found myself simply following along with what these guys were doing. This also goes for members of my pledge class. As a group, not only were these guys accomplished but they also drove themselves to do well academically and in everything else they did. On top of this, a good amount of time was spent in the "party yard" at the old house. Though I am sure that I never relayed this to them (what 18 year old male would?!), I hope that any members of Sigma Chi, Beta Phi, who were there when I was and read this, please know that I am sincerely grateful and appreciative for their friendship and guidance, whether they knew they were giving it or not! In any event, enough about Sigma Chi! I recall Joel as a whirlwind on campus, doing everything and doing it well. He was president of the college Republicans for a good period of time and I, not knowing anything about politics but thinking that this guy was someone to follow, fell into that group. As you'll hear, both Joel and I have veered away for various reasons. Joel practices in the area of personal injury with a concentration on civil rights litigation. These are just some of the news items that have mentioned Joel and his work in Arizona here, here and here. The one distinct thing that I remember about Joel, and it came back to me right away when I saw him, was his sunny and warm disposition. That is really all the more remarkable when I learned very recently that Joel's dad was an American hero and Joel did not have the benefit of having his dad around while he grew up. It was great to catch up with Joel and it was even more poignant since my middle son, Tom, was with me serving as my 2^nd chair and assistant due to my recent rotator cuff surgery. Tom will start law school this fall and I was quite happy that he was able to meet such an accomplished attorney such as Joel. By the way, to any of my Sigma Chi brothers from Arizona who make their way to Alabama, please look me up for a place to stay! In hoc! 

In the world of industrial security and security clearances, Stan is the man! No offense to Stan Musial, but I am referring to Stan Miller. Stan is honorably retired from the U.S. Navy where he spent a year tour in Vietnam and he also served for seven months in Iraq as a civilian contractor. Stan has spent most of his working professional life in the security arena and has had a security clearance supporting collateral, sensitive and special programs that entire time. 

Stan has also done a lot of philanthropic work in addition to his security work. For example, Stan was the past chairman of Tennessee Valley Chapter of the National Military Intelligence Association and the past chairman of the Mid-South Chapter, Society of Industrial Security Professional (NCMS). In fact, Stan has done so much in this area as it relates to industrial security that the NCMS - Mid -South chapter awards an annual scholarship in his name. Stan still works a good bit in the security field and, in addition, and not just because he looks the part, he also spends the Christmas holidays as Stanta Claus! I think you will enjoy hearing about this patriot's life.