About 1910 & Beyond
A Substack exploring the evolving landscape of appellate law in Houston and beyond
Welcome, and thank you for joining me at 1910 & Beyond. This space is dedicated to tracking and reflecting on some of the most interesting, instructive, and important developments from the appellate courts—starting right here in Houston, Texas.
What is 1910 & Beyond?
The name 1910 & Beyond comes from the historic 1910 Courthouse in downtown Houston, home to the First and Fourteenth Courts of Appeals. These two intermediate appellate courts shape Texas law in ways that ripple far beyond the boundaries of Space City and its surrounding counties. Through the 1910 portion of this Substack, I’ll highlight notable opinions, oral arguments, and other judicial developments from these courts.
But the First and Fourteenth Courts are just two stars in the large constellation of appellate law. So in addition to covering these courts, you can expect similar coverage of other federal and state appellate courts—the Supreme Courts of the United States and Texas, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and more. These developments will be discussed in the & Beyond portion of this Substack.
On top of this coverage of the appellate landscape, I’ll occasionally provide practical tips on written and oral advocacy—for lawyers, tips that hopefully assist in your own practice; and for non-lawyers, a lens into how appellate lawyers approach the craft of advocacy.
TL;dr
Here’s what to expect in 1910 & Beyond:
Breakdowns of notable appellate decisions and orders
Coverage of en banc and rehearing motions and petitions
Dives into oral arguments
Commentary on trends in the appellate courts
Tips on advocacy
Have a suggestion for me to cover? Don’t hesitate to comment on a post or email me. The more interactive this Substack can be, the better!
About Me
My name is Andrew Gould. I’m a partner and leader of the appellate practice at Hicks Johnson PLLC, a premier trial and appellate boutique with offices in Houston and Chicago, known for delivering successful outcomes in high-stakes, complex litigation.
I am a career appellate litigator who loves the craft of appellate advocacy. I’ve served as lead counsel in over 270 appeals in federal and state courts across the country, including presenting over 40 appellate oral arguments—with multiple in the Texas Supreme Court and over 25 in the Fifth Circuit. I’m honored to be recognized as a top appellate attorney in Texas by Chambers & Partners, The Best Lawyers in America, and Super Lawyers, among others.
I was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky—or, put a different way, “I wasn’t born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could.” After leaving Louisville for the University of Michigan and Vanderbilt University Law School, I first clerked for two federal judges: Judge Raymond Kethledge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and Judge Lee Rosenthal of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. I then moved to Washington, D.C., where I briefly worked as an associate in the appellate group of a large commercial law firm. My wife and I then moved back to Houston, where I joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas. For nearly seven years, I served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the USAO’s Appellate Division, primarily prosecuting criminal appeals in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Immediately before my current position, I founded and led the appellate practice for a nationally renowned plaintiffs’ firm. Now, as the leader of Hicks Johnson’s appellate practice, I represent plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety of complex civil matters in trial and appellate courts nationwide.
I have a wonderful family. My wife, Becca, is the founding principal of Amicus Coaching & Consulting, an HR-consulting group. We have three young boys who keep us very busy (and two twin Boston Terriers, who also pine for attention). When I’m not reading or writing a legal brief or with my family, you can usually find me watching college football or basketball—especially the University of Louisville (Go Cards) and the University of Michigan (Go Blue)—or attending a concert at the world-class Houston Symphony, where I serve on the Board of Trustees.
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Thank you to my law firm, Hicks Johnson PLLC, for their support of 1910 & Beyond. Hicks Johnson is a premier trial and appellate boutique with offices in Houston and Chicago, known for delivering successful outcomes in high-stakes, complex litigation. We provide superior results for clients by combining elite legal talent and real courtroom experience with cutting-edge technology and strategic client collaboration.
