John G. Browning

May 01, 2017 | Texas Lawyer

The Big Lebowski has impacted our legal system, joining the pantheon of pop culture references to pop up in judicial opinions.

By John G. Browning

7 minute read

March 20, 2017 | Texas Lawyer

I've seen some strange things in the courtroom, and I've occasionally listened to an adversary's closing argument and thought how appropriate it would be for him to be struck by lightning or for his pants to catch on fire. But I never thought it would actually happen. Too bad I wasn't in a courtroom in Miami in March watching 28-year-old lawyer Stephen Gutierrez make his closing argument when his pants suddenly caught fire.

By John G. Browning

8 minute read

March 01, 2017 | Texas Lawyer

As lawyers, one of the most frustrating parts of the job can be when you take on a client and are stuck dealing with that client's bad facts, poor choices, or the difficult-to-defend positions that he's taken. As a result, sometimes our job becomes one of damage control instead of cavalry riding to the rescue.

By John G. Browning

10 minute read

January 01, 2017 | Texas Lawyer

With over 1.7 billion people worldwide using Facebook, roughly a billion tweets processed every 48 hours, and folks Snapchatting, Instagramming, and YouTubing away, it's hardly surprising that law enforcement has found social media to be a rich treasure trove of people incriminating themselves.

By John G. Browning

9 minute read

December 01, 2016 | Texas Lawyer

Let's face it—lawyers don't get enough credit for their creativity. Sure, we're supposed to be zealous advocates, but when it comes to mounting a defense against a seemingly insurmountable mountain of evidence incriminating our clients, attorneys who come up with the most ridiculous (or ridiculous-sounding) defenses are all too often overlooked or ridiculed.

By John G. Browning

9 minute read

November 01, 2016 | Texas Lawyer

Fortunately for lawyers, the boredom of our professional lives is broken up by the myriad odd, and often amusing, "did that just happen" moments in the legal system.

By John G. Browning

8 minute read

October 01, 2016 | Texas Lawyer

My curiosity was piqued by the fact that one question was conspicuously unanswered: Who was the first African-American lawyer in Texas?

By John G. Browning

16 minute read

August 01, 2016 | Texas Lawyer

Forget about death and taxes being the only certainties in life. It's summertime, and you can count on two more sure things: stifling Texas heat, and enough oddities in the legal system to keep us entertained until the fall. If you don't believe me, just meander through the following examples.

By John G. Browning

8 minute read

April 04, 2016 | Texas Lawyer

We do things a little differently in the Lone Star State, and our judges are no exception. Sure, any jurist can grant or deny relief or direct parties how a case is going to be conducted, but Texas judges—particularly our federal judiciary—do it with a no-nonsense style, a bit of Texas swagger, and yes, even a healthy dose of humor.

By John G. Browning

11 minute read

March 28, 2016 | Texas Lawyer

Have you ever wondered why so many lawyer dramas on TV seem to borrow plots and characters that are "ripped from the headlines," as the "Law and Order" narrator might solemnly intone? That's because there are so many bizarre happenings in our actual legal system, that you practically don't need to make anything up anymore. Check out some instances that actually occurred recently in real life.

By John G. Browning

10 minute read