Episode 14 – The Golden Gavels: These Are a Few of Our Favorite Things

In this special year-end episode of the Direct Examination Podcast, co-hosts Dane Phillips and Joseph Bias celebrate the triumphant return of co-host Amber Fulmer from maternity leave. Joined in-studio by producer Brandy, the team holds their official “office Christmas party” episode. Together, they reflect on major personal and professional milestones from the past year, review the podcast’s top 10 most downloaded episodes of all time, and host the inaugural “Golden Gavel Awards”—recognizing excellence across South Carolina legal developments, political achievements, social media presence, bar service, war stories, and guest appearances.

Key Topics Covered

  • Amber’s Return & Year in Review: Amber shares updates on her newborn daughter, Evelyn “Evie” Ross Fulmer, and her husband Austin’s ambitious parenting goals. The team recaps their major 2019 milestones, including Joseph’s move to General Counsel at Midlands Technical College and coaching the Richland Northeast High School mock trial team to state.

  • Top 10 All-Time Downloaded Episodes: 10. Rhodes Bailey 9. Judge Daniel “Boogie” Coble 8. Criminal Law Round Table (Tyler Bailey, A.J. Gillreath, Joe Levinis) 7. Jack Swerling 6. Brett Bane 5. Mayor Bob Coble 4. Todd Ellis 3. Dakota James (Second Appearance) 2. Civil Law Primer

    1. Dakota James (Original Appearance)

  • The Golden Gavel Award Winners:

    • Christmas Movie of the Year: Die Hard (presented via live phone call by USC Law Professor Brett Bane).

    • Legal Development of the Year: The SC Supreme Court’s abolition of common law marriage (Barnett v. Barnette).

    • Lawyer-Politician of the Year: West Columbia City Councilman Joseph Dickey (with a special “Lawyer-Musician of the Year” nod to Rhodes Bailey).

    • Social Media Account of the Year: Judge Daniel Coble (@SC_Evidence).

    • Bar Employee of the Year: Nikki Davis (SC Bar Wellness & EAP Coordinator).

    • War Story of the Year: Kenny Gardner’s awkward “I love you” client phone call.

    • Podcast Guest of the Year: Co-winners Mayor Bob Coble and Robert Goings.

  • Season 4 Teaser: Previews of upcoming guests, including Adair Boroughs, Judge Hood, Bar Convention leadership, and former Chief Justice Costa Plecones.

Transcript

Amber Fulmer: Welcome y’all to the Direct Examination Podcast! I’m back! My name is Amber Fulmer.

Dane Phillips: And I’m Dane Phillips.

Joseph Bias: And I’m Joseph Bias! The queen is back, and the team is whole again!

Amber Fulmer: Thank you, guys! It feels so good to be talking to adults and drinking wine instead of changing diapers!

Dane Phillips: We were completely lost without our pod-mom!

Joseph Bias: Amber, update the listeners on how baby Evie is doing.

Amber Fulmer: She is doing great! Her name is Evelyn “Evie” Ross Fulmer. She’s healthy, keeping us up at night, and Austin is already trying to teach her three languages! I told him, “Honey, let’s just make sure she doesn’t lick the windows first”! (laughs)

Dane Phillips: We’ve had an incredible year. Over 50 episodes recorded, nearly 15,000 listens worldwide, and our community keeps growing.

Joseph Bias: Absolutely. Dane had a huge year in criminal defense, Brandy survived a tree falling through her house, I transitioned to General Counsel at Midlands Tech, and Amber brought a human into the world!

Dane Phillips: To celebrate, today we are hosting the inaugural “Golden Gavel Awards” and reviewing our top 10 most downloaded episodes of all time.

Joseph Bias: Let’s run through the top 10 list:

  • #10: Rhodes Bailey

  • #9: Judge Daniel “Boogie” Coble

  • #8: Criminal Law Round Table

  • #7: Jack Swerling

  • #6: Brett Bane

  • #5: Mayor Bob Coble

  • #4: Todd Ellis

  • #3: Dakota James (Episode 2)

  • #2: Civil Law Primer

  • #1: Dakota James (Original Episode)

Dane Phillips: A stacked lineup! Now let’s get to the Golden Gavels.

(Phone rings in studio)

Joseph Bias: Speaking of number six, we have USC Law Professor Brett Bane calling in live to present our first award: Christmas Movie of the Year! Brett, welcome!

Brett Bane: (via phone) Thanks, guys! After a rigorous, highly scientific review by the committee, Die Hard remains the undisputed number one Christmas movie of all time!

Amber Fulmer: As it should be! “Now I have a machine gun. Ho-ho-ho”! (laughs)

Brett Bane: (via phone) Exactly! Merry Christmas to y’all!

Joseph Bias: Thanks, Brett! Next up: Legal Development of the Year. Our nominees are the SC Supreme Court abolishing common law marriage, and the Richland County Public Defender’s Office securing major pay raises.

Dane Phillips: I’ve got to vote for the Public Defenders getting paid what they deserve.

Amber Fulmer: I’m going with common law marriage! It completely reshaped domestic practice in South Carolina.

Joseph Bias: I’ll second Amber! The Golden Gavel goes to the abolition of common law marriage!

Dane Phillips: Next category: Lawyer-Politician of the Year. Nominees include Micah Caskey, Steve Benjamin, Rhodes Bailey, Tamika Isaac Devine, and Joseph Dickey.

Joseph Bias: Joseph Dickey won his election for West Columbia City Council after appearing on our show, keeping our election record undefeated!

Brandy (Producer): Joseph Dickey gets my vote!

Joseph Bias: The Golden Gavel goes to Councilman Joseph Dickey! And a special “Lawyer-Musician of the Year” award goes to Rhodes Bailey!

Amber Fulmer: Category four: Social Media Account of the Year. Nominees are Virginia Riley, Jamie Rutkoski, Justice John Few, and Judge Daniel Coble (@SC_Evidence).

Dane Phillips: Daniel Coble’s evidence tweets are an absolute public service for young lawyers.

Joseph Bias: Unanimous vote for Judge Daniel Coble!

Amber Fulmer: Category five: SC Bar Employee of the Year. Nominees include Cynthia Cothran, Mary Frances Craft, David Ross, Kimberly Snipes, Nikki Davis, Callie Turner, and Alicia A.

Dane Phillips: Nikki Davis from the Wellness/EAP program gets my vote. She does incredible work helping attorneys across the state access mental health resources.

Amber Fulmer: Agreed. Nikki Davis wins the Golden Gavel!

Joseph Bias: Finally: War Story of the Year. We’ve had incredible stories this season, from Mike Paniah’s Mariachi ringtone going off in immigration court, to Robert Goings’ “Egg in the Bucket” demonstration, to LaRone Washington’s defense attorney arguing the state’s case was “too good to be true”.

Amber Fulmer: My vote goes to Kenny Gardner telling his client “I love you too” on the phone! (laughs)

Joseph Bias: That one takes the Golden Gavel! And for Guest of the Year, we have a tie between Mayor Bob Coble and Robert Goings!

Dane Phillips: A well-deserved honor for both!

Joseph Bias: Thank you to all of our listeners, our guests, and our producer Brandy for an amazing year! Season 4 is going to be our biggest yet.

Dane Phillips: Follow us on Twitter and Facebook @SCLawPod, follow Joseph @JosephPBias, Dane @SCCrimLawyer, and Amber @RedJudicata. Leave us a five-star review and we’ll see y’all next year!