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
From the Bench: Judge Alex Manning on TPOs, Credibility, and Courtroom Reality
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What really happens inside Temporary Protective Order (TPO) court, and how do judges separate real danger from strategic filings?
In this episode of Lawyers Without Billboards, Steve and Patty Shewmaker and Jimmy and Alexa Lewis sit down with Fulton County Magistrate Judge Alex Manning for an unfiltered conversation about life on the bench, domestic violence hearings, and the realities judges face every day in TPO court.
Judge Manning pulls back the curtain on how credibility is evaluated, why volume does not equal truth, and how TPOs can be misused during divorce and custody disputes. She also shares unforgettable courtroom moments, lessons learned during COVID-era virtual hearings, and the emotional weight judges carry long after the courtroom clears.
This episode blends humor, hard truth, and professional insight into one of the most misunderstood areas of family law.
Topics include:
• What really happens in TPO court
• How judges assess credibility and firsthand knowledge
• Common mistakes attorneys make in protective order hearings
• Strategic misuse of TPOs in divorce cases
• Why judges talk and patterns matter
• COVID courtroom chaos and virtual hearing disasters
• The emotional toll of domestic violence cases
• Why in-person hearings matter for credibility
• Lessons lawyers and litigants should take into every courtroom
If you practice family law, handle protective orders, or want an honest look at how decisions are made from the bench, this episode delivers rare perspective straight from the judge’s chair.
⏱️ Chapter Markers
00:00 – Podcast introduction and show overview
00:00:40 – Welcome to Lawyers Without Billboards
00:01:15 – Introducing Judge Alex Manning
00:02:45 – What magistrate judges really do
00:04:30 – Inside TPO court and why it’s misunderstood
00:06:10 – Spotting weak and strategic TPO filings
00:08:05 – Credibility, firsthand knowledge, and facts vs. noise
00:10:12 – “I cannot unsee that”: courtroom rules and phone evidence
00:12:10 – COVID-era hearings and virtual courtroom chaos
00:14:40 – Why in-person hearings matter
00:16:20 – Judges talk: strategy, patterns, and consequences
00:18:15 – When TPOs intersect with divorce and custody cases
00:20:30 – The emotional toll of domestic violence cases
00:22:45 – Managing stress, perspective, and burnout on the bench
00:24:40 – Judge Manning’s background and path to the bench
00:27:30 – Final thoughts and closing remarks
🔔 Subscribe for honest conversations about family law and the legal system without the billboards.
🎙️ Hosts: Steve & Patty Shewmaker, Jimmy & Alexa Lewis
🎧 Listen or Watch
Watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/qLVEoh0xuaw or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more.
📩 Contact: sshewmaker@shewmakerandlewis.com
or call (770) 939-1939
🌐 Website: https://www.shewmakerandlewis.com
🎧 Podcast Library: https://shewmakerandlewis.com/lawyers-without-billboards
📺 Subscribe for candid conversations about family law, custody, mediation, and courtroom reality.
🎼 Music by Ben Hernandez at Dragonsong Productions
🎥 Produced by: Bleeding Edge, Inc.
🎬 Audio & Video Production: Rob Burgner
📍 Recorded at: Shewmaker & Lewis, Atlanta, GA