Congrats to Cate on a hard won victory in the Evangel Classical Christian School Grammar School Spelling Bee today! She and her friend Charlie went over twenty rounds after they became the two remaining contestants. They both did an amazing job, as did the other contestants.

Good start to the morning. ⬛⬛🟩⬛🟨 🟨⬛⬛⬛⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Have I mentioned lately that Dale Murphy should be in the Hall of Fame? If not, let’s correct that. If so, too bad because I’m gonna keep saying it until the right people hear me.

Enjoyed giving a presentation on legal writing for the bar at the Bibb County Courthouse this afternoon. Thanks to Judge Craig Cargile for the invitation!

Enjoyed visiting with the Winston County Farmers Federation tonight in Double Springs. Thanks to President Darrell Lee for giving me a couple minutes to share my appreciation for the Federation's continued support and for what our farmers mean to Alabama.

On this day of days 78 years ago men fought by sea, air, and land to rid the world of tyranny.....never forget #DDay

Enjoyed giving a talk on the just-completed 2021 October Term of the U.S. Supreme Court to the DeKalb County Republican Party monthly breakfast this morning. Probably the most consequential term in a generation.

After starting the day with a talk on recent Supreme Court decisions, I moved on to judging the annual BBQ competition as part of Helena Market Days. Several teams, great pork and chicken, and a lot of fun with my fellow judges!

Congratulations to my friend Megan Rhodebeck on her appointment to serve as Clerk of the Supreme Court of Alabama! She will do an excellent job leading that office, and the appellate courts are lucky to have her in this new role. al.com/news/2022/07/a…

So great to see my brother and fellow UM grad Judge Matt Fridy at the Cumberland Law Birmingham alumni event tonight!

Enjoyed participating in a panel discussion today at the Jones Law School Chapter of the Federalist Society with Judges Chris McCool and Richard Minor. Thanks to Professor Andy Olree for moderating the panel, and to our friend Janey Whitney for the invitation.

Thanks for the invitation, MARC! Enjoyed being with everyone this morning.

Excited to join my alma mater, the University of University of Montevallo, as a member of the Board of Trustees! Thank you, Governor Kay Ivey, for such an amazing honor and opportunity.

Bidding farewell today to my clerk Drew Baldwin, who is becoming a staff attorney for Justice Greg Shaw, and my intern Taylor Neill, who is beginning her third year at Cumberland, after which she will begin a federal clerkship. Excited for what the future holds for these ladies!

Wise words from one of my favorite podcaster lawyers, Sarah Isgur, for anyone testifying before a House committee: "'It depends on the context,' is a really bad answer when the question had the word 'genocide' in it."

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 Merry Christmas!

Enjoyed participating in an engaging panel discussion on persuasion and professionalism in appellate litigation with colleagues at the Alabama State Bar Annual Meeting today.

Enjoyed meeting Coach Joe Kennedy, who won his free exercise/free speech case in the U.S. Supreme Court in the landmark decision of Kennedy v. Bremerton School District in 2022.

Amazing evening attending the Antonin Scalia Memorial Dinner at the Federalist Society National Lawyers Convention! It was great to watch keynote speakers Justice Neal Gorsuch and former Justice Stephen Breyer engage as friends on big issues.

The fact that the Word dwelt among us gives us hope -- a hope that lights our path and assures us that, although we may not understand every aspect of the journey, we joyfully know the destination. May the Word bring you hope during this and every season. Merry Christmas!