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In this episode of The Dirty Verdict, Peter Taaffe, Kyle Herbert, and Bill Ogden sit down with former Judge Mike Engelhart for a lively conversation that mixes courtroom insight, legal war stories, and a look at life on and off the bench. Judge Engelhart shares how he approached judging with patience, preparation, and practicality, while also reflecting on some of the memorable moments that defined his time in Harris County.

The conversation touches on his path from New Jersey to Michigan to Houston, his legal beginnings working for John O’Quinn, and the decision to leave private practice for the bench. Judge Engelhart also opens up about losing his judicial primary, returning to private practice at Kherkher Garcia, and why he does not see another run for office in his future.

Along the way, the episode delivers one of the most entertaining stories of the show: the famous case of Wilbur the Vietnamese pot-bellied pig, a homeowner’s association dispute that turned into a viral courtroom moment. Add in practical advice for trial lawyers, thoughts on litigation funding, and reflections on how lawyers should carry themselves in court, and this episode delivers both substance and personality.

Timestamps & Highlights
00:00 – Judge Mike Engelhart joins the show
The hosts welcome former Judge Mike Engelhart and kick things off with humor and stories from lawyers who appeared in his courtroom.

00:01:42 – Favorite Judge Engelhart courtroom moments
Peter, Kyle, and Bill share memorable examples of Judge Engelhart’s patience, wit, and style from the bench.

00:04:06 – The Wilbur the pig story
Judge Engelhart tells the now-legendary story of ruling that Wilbur, a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig, qualified as a pet and could stay in a neighborhood despite HOA objections.

00:11:07 – His background: Jersey, Michigan, and Houston
Judge Engelhart talks about growing up in New Jersey, attending the University of Michigan, and eventually making Houston his long-term home.

00:15:27 – Spanish studies and studying abroad in Seville
He shares how Spanish became a major part of his academic journey and led to a semester abroad in Spain.

00:19:48 – Why he chose the University of Houston Law Center
Judge Engelhart explains why Houston was the right place to build a legal career and personal life.

00:20:38 – Family, marriage, and life in Houston
He reflects on meeting his wife in law school, raising a family, and building a life in the city.

00:25:35 – Litigation funding and legal industry trends
The group dives into a substantive discussion about disclosure of litigation funding and broader changes in the business of law.

00:29:04 – Early legal career and working for John O’Quinn
Judge Engelhart discusses his first years in practice, learning procedure and evidence, and doing legal research the old-school way.

00:34:26 – Why he ran for judge
He explains what drew him to the bench and how he navigated Harris County’s political and legal landscape.

00:40:10 – Best and worst things lawyers can do in trial
Judge Engelhart offers practical advice for lawyers on preparation, credibility, courtroom demeanor, and what turns judges off.

00:47:58 – Do judges really read the briefing?
He gives a candid answer about how he prepared for hearings and what made written advocacy more effective.

00:48:40 – Leaving the bench and joining Kherkher Garcia
Judge Engelhart talks about losing his 2024 primary, transitioning back into private practice, and what he enjoys about his current role.

00:50:07 – Will he ever run for office again?
He shares why he believes that chapter is closed and what comes next professionally.

00:51:34 – The cases he’s handling now
From catastrophic injury matters to national litigation, Judge Engelhart describes the serious cases he is working on today.

Hosts Peter Taaffe, Kyle Herbert, and Bill Ogden sit down with Houston trial lawyer Cordt Akers, who lives at the intersection of criminal defense, white collar, and a bit of PI—all while carrying one of the more unusual origin stories you’ll hear on the show.

Cordt walks through growing up in Houston, heading to Tulane (where Hurricane Katrina hit on his first day), and spending his early years as a working musician—until a brutal moment of “natural talent vs. hard work” forced a career pivot. That pivot led to South Texas College of Law, mock trial, and a fast, intense run through the Harris County DA’s Office, where a terrifying in-flight emergency and an unexpected moment of humanity reshaped how he viewed prosecution—and ultimately why he left.

From there, Cordt breaks down his path into the Dan Cogdell orbit, building a reputation in federal white collar, and what it’s like to carry the emotional weight of trial work—especially when the outcome is literally life-changing. He also shares two major acquittals from the year, including a high-emotion murder trial in San Jacinto County and a public corruption case that went sideways for the prosecution in the best way possible.

Funny, serious, and very “Dirty Verdict”—this one moves from My Little Pony headgear to murder trials to the reality of justice, ego, and what makes a great trial lawyer.

Episode Highlights (with timestamps)

00:00:41 – 00:01:36 — Christmas edition energy, jokes flying, and Bill’s back in the studio

00:01:36 – 00:03:14 — Meet Cordt Akers: criminal defense + some PI, and the “multiple practice areas” intro

00:03:14 – 00:06:16 — The legend of Brock Akers (Cordt’s dad): verdict history, reputation, and the TLA membership banter

00:06:16 – 00:11:08 — Houston → Saint Michael’s/Jesuit → Tulane… and the jazz musician era (plus Katrina on day one)

00:11:08 – 00:12:46 — South Texas Law: dreams of entertainment law die in Contracts I

00:12:46 – 00:15:29 — Mock trial war stories: Golden Gate tandem bike terror + “they changed the rules after us”

00:15:29 – 00:18:02 — The mock trial culture: training under pressure (and sometimes with a hangover)

00:18:02 – 00:20:06 — DA’s Office stint (about 20 months) + the brutal elevator moment with Rusty Hardin

00:20:06 – 00:22:23 — Working for Dan Cogdell: mentorship, white collar exposure, and leveling up fast

00:22:23 – 00:27:14 — The turning point: in-flight engine fire, a stranger’s prayer, and Cordt’s realization about prosecutorial impact

00:27:14 – 00:29:22 — “How do you teach young prosecutors emotional intelligence?” + the ego vs. justice conflict

00:29:22 – 00:33:51 — Leaving Dan’s shop: taking the “take over the muffler repair center” option and building his own lane

00:36:01 – 00:37:08 — Two major acquittals this year: murder case + public corruption case

00:37:08 – 00:41:53 — San Jacinto County murder trial breakdown: alleged facts, accident defense, and the emotional verdict moment

00:42:10 – 00:44:12 — The “weird” public corruption case: daring the State to call the defendant first… and it backfiring on them

00:44:12 – 00:45:24 — Why he usually doesn’t talk to juries afterward (and a wild “we thought you were fake” jury comment)

00:47:44 – 00:50:34 — Where the DA’s office and federal prosecution are headed + why white collar cases feel like they’re dwindling

00:52:16 – 00:55:30 — Wrap-up: possible Father’s Day episode with Brock, where to find Cordt (acresfirm.com), and final laughs