What Judges Want: A Former Judge's Guide to Success in Court

Advocates in
the courtroom.

Stanton LLP exists to solve litigation problems. When I began my service on the state district court bench, I was the youngest sitting district court judge in Texas. I had a lot to learn, and I knew it. After leaving the bench, I began employing the strategies and tactics my judicial colleagues and I found persuasive.

Back in private practice, I quickly realized that my judicial service had changed my entire approach to lawyering, for the better. At the request of lawyers and former judicial colleagues, I started writing down my observations. My book, What Judges Want: A Former Judge’s Guide to Success in Court, is the result.

Today, the lawyers at Stanton LLP use the principles from the book to translate complex facts into clear trial strategies, persuasive arguments, and captivating stories. Our agility, creativity, and velocity have earned our firm a reputation for rescuing difficult cases and delivering results. When we speak on your behalf, judges listen because we know how to give them what they want.

- James M. Stanton

Credibility is a lawyer’s greatest asset in the courtroom. Judge Stanton’s book, What Judges Want, is loaded with examples to make lawyers more credible and, in turn, more persuasive with judges. You will be better in court if you learn the lessons in his book.

Hon. T. John Ward

Former United States District Judge
Ward and Smith Law Firm
Longview, Texas

Throw away your old trial practice books. This book explains how to succeed in civil trial practice today.

Hon. Scott A. Brister

Former Justice, Texas Supreme Court
Andrews Kurth LLP
Austin, Texas

Persuading judges is hard work. To do it well, read Judge Stanton’s book What Judges Want. It will keep you on the true and narrow path, and it will make sure that you don’t stumble into forbidden minefields.

Hon. W. Royal Furgeson, Jr.

Former United States District Judge
Dean, UNT-Dallas College of Law
Dallas, Texas

I’ve spent over 30 years as a lawyer and judge learning the lessons in this book, and now Judge Stanton has made it accessible to everyone. Buy this book if you want to know how to win with judges.

Hon. Joe Kendall

Former United States District Judge
Kendall Law Group LLP
Dallas, Texas

Buy it today.

Our lawyers and our law firm have no special relationship with the current and former judges who believe the book, What Judges Want, contains principles that make lawyers more effective. The expressed praise is for the principles in the book; not for any lawyer or our law firm. Our lawyers regularly speak and write with judges and lawyers to enhance the law, the legal system, and the administration of justice. Because our lawyers are in court all the time, our firm has won and lost before nearly every judge in town.

The Code of Judicial Conduct expressly permits judges to speak, write, lecture, teach and participate in activities concerning the law, the legal system, and the administration of justice. All proceeds from the book, now in its third edition, fund scholarships at Baylor Law School, the preeminent trial advocacy law school in the United States, where I first began learning the lessons described in this book.

Advocates in the courtroom.

Advocates in
the courtroom.