What Judges Really Think: With Guest Judge David Lyles | Lawyers Without Billboards - Ep 22

What happens when a former prosecutor becomes a judge - and decides to launch a mental health accountability court? Or when someone shows up to court in shorts and flip-flops?In this candid and often hilarious episode of Lawyers Without Billboards, the Shewmaker & Lewis team welcomes their first-ever guest judge: the Honorable David Lyles of Paulding County. Judge Lyles opens up about the real challenges facing Georgia courts, from mental health evaluations to courtroom fashion violations.👨‍⚖️ It’s part practical advice, part courtroom confessional—with a few dogs, binders, and seersucker suits thrown in for good measure.🎙️ Hosts: Steve Shewmaker, Patty Shewmaker, Jimmy Lewis, Alexa Lewis 🦸 Guest: Judge David Lyles, Superior Court Judge, Paulding County👨‍⚖️ Hosted by Shewmaker & Lewis — Atlanta attorneys helping families navigate divorce, custody, and criminal defense. No billboards. No BS.🔍 You’ll Learn:What accountability courts actually do—and why they matterWhy most mentally ill inmates are stuck in limboThe strange logic behind Paulding County’s black pants closetWhat happens if you show up to court in shorts or flip-flopsHow judges really feel about fake crying on the standThe rules of evidence too many civil lawyers ignoreWhy Judge Lyles loves binders (and his clerk hates them)How he really feels about Zoom court and courtroom microphonesWhy he prefers “Your Honor”—but won’t hold it against you📌 Chapters: 00:00 – Welcome & Intro 01:22 – Meet Judge David Lyles 03:31 – What Are Accountability Courts? 05:11 – Mental Illness & Georgia’s Jail Crisis 06:57 – Resistance from Law Enforcement and Defendants 08:13 – The Long Game: Breaking the Jail Cycle 08:47 – Yes, There’s a Pants Closet 10:05 – Shorts in Court? Not a Good Look 12:21 – Women’s Court Attire: A Delicate Topic 13:13 – How Judge Lyles Handles Attorney Dress Code 14:45 – Form vs Function in the Courtroom 16:04 – “Your Honor” vs “Judge” – What’s in a Name? 17:35 – Why Zoom Court Can Be a Problem 19:45 – Courtroom Layout Challenges 21:04 – When Zoom Makes Sense (and When It Doesn’t) 22:24 – Pet Peeves: Evidence Handling & Binder Battles 26:52 – The Dog in the Parking Lot Custody Test 30:02 – Summarizing Financials the Right Way 32:16 – Don’t Lie—Especially Not to Judge Lyles 34:31 – Emotions, Attitude & Behavior in Court 36:13 – Going From Prosecutor to Family Court Judge 38:46 – The Joy of Creative Solutions🔗 Podcast Library: https://shewmakerandlewis.com/lawyers-without-billboards 🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more 📺 Video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GbIMJ2G_mM0📩 Contact: [email protected] 🎼 Music by Ben Hernandez at Dragonsong Productions 🎥 Produced by Rob Burgner at Bleeding Edge –  in Atlanta, GA