Lawyers Without Billboards
Real lawyers, real talk—without the billboards. Lawyers Without Billboards is an unfiltered look at family law, hosted by the partners of Shewmaker & Lewis: Steve and Patty Shewmaker, and Jimmy and Alexa Lewis.
With decades of experience in divorce, custody battles, child support, alimony, and criminal law, they break down legal myths, share expert insights, and dive into real cases (sometimes with a side of humor).
Expect candid conversations, legal deep dives, and the occasional sidebar on pop culture, legal movies, and life as family law attorneys. Whether you're navigating a family law issue, practicing law yourself, or just enjoy courtroom drama, this podcast offers valuable insights with a dose of levity.
New episodes every two weeks
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Lawyers Without Billboards
A Conversation with Judge Tangela Barrie: Custody, Chaos & Courtroom Decorum
In this episode of Lawyers Without Billboards, Steve, Patty, and Alexa sit down with Judge Tangela Barrie of the DeKalb County Superior Court - the youngest judge ever elected in DeKalb and a former Prosecuting Attorney of the Year.
Judge Barrie pulls back the curtain on what really happens behind the bench:
• How judges navigate high-conflict custody cases
• Why courtroom decorum matters more than you think
• The rise of sovereign citizens in family and criminal cases
• Pro se chaos: the wildest things she’s seen litigants do
• Attorney professionalism and the quickest ways to get on a judge’s bad side
• How judges decide what makes your case different from every other case
• Why “respect” is the currency of the courtroom
• When she chooses to rule from the bench vs. taking a matter under advisement
Judge Barrie also shares personal stories from her path through private practice, criminal prosecution, and ultimately to the Superior Court bench - and what she wishes every party and every lawyer understood before they walk into her courtroom.
This is one of our most insightful judge interviews yet, offering rare, candid advice for attorneys, litigants, and anyone trying to understand how family court really works.
🕒 Chapters
00:00 – Intro
00:43 – Welcoming Judge Tangela Barrie
02:00 – From Prosecutor to Judge
05:00 – What Makes a Case “Different”
07:10 – Handling High-Conflict Custody Cases
12:00 – Guardian ad Litem or Not?
13:50 – Wildest Pro Se Moments
15:10 – The Rise of Sovereign Citizens
17:00 – Attorney Behavior: The Good, The Bad & The Unprofessional
22:50 – Respect, Decorum & Courtroom Culture
27:00 – How Judges Want Lawyers to Present Cases
32:00 – Writing Orders & Behind-the-Scenes Work
34:00 – Chief Judge Duties & E-Filing Evolution
35:00 – Judge Barrie’s Favorite Movies
37:00 – Final Insights: Mediation, Resolution & Perspective
40:00 – Closing Thoughts
🎧 Listen or Watch
Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GruHuWgyWA or listen on your favorite podcast platform - Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more.
📩 Contact: alewis@shewmakerandlewis.com
🌐 Website: https://www.shewmakerandlewis.com
🎧 Podcast Library: https://shewmakerandlewis.com/lawyers-without-billboards
📺 Subscribe for new episodes and candid conversations about family law, custody, and criminal defense.
🎼 Music by Ben Hernandez at Dragonsong Productions
🎥 Produced by: Bleeding Edge, Inc.
🎬 Audio & Video Production: Rob Burgner
📍 Recorded at: Shewmaker & Lewis, Atlanta, GA