By: Donald V. Watkins
Copyrighted and Published on June 10, 2023
An Editorial Opinion
The man who taught me exceptional trial skills as a young attorney was J. L. Chestnut, Jr., a Selma, Alabama civil and criminal attorney. Chestnut litigated cases across the country.
No one in America could beat J. L. Chestnut in the courtroom. He was the "best of the best" trial lawyers.
J. L. Chestnut, Jr., died on September 30, 2008.
Chestnut’s mentorship and litigation training helped me to establish a three-decades-long winning streak of 155 straight trial victories.
My winning streak ended in October of 2017 in a St. Petersburg, Florida courtroom, when David S. Shankman, a Tampa-based attorney with the law firm of Shankman Leone, beat me at the conclusion of a three-week trial.
My October 21, 2017, email to Shankman explains why I have so much admiration and respect for his litigation skills.
By far, David S. Shankman is the best trial lawyer in America today. He can capture and keep the attention of any jury in America in any kind of case. Jurors love him.
Again, Shankman’s exceptional preparation, commanding courtroom skills, tenacity, and outstanding jury presentation skills place him in a league by himself.
I do not think there is a lawyer or prosecutor in America who can beat David S. Shankman in the "gladiator pit" of a courtroom.