One of the best cross-examinations I have ever heard was done by Ralph Hornsby, Jr. He and Bud Watson were trying a highly publicized nursing home case. The courtroom was full of spectators every day. Law firms were sending summer interns and associates to watch because of the high level of trial skills on both sides and because of the expected verdict. Ralph, Jr. was cross-examining the manager of the nursing home. He knew she had six points of vulnerability. He hit them. He was gentlemanly, but he was forceful. It was really a professional job. When the case was over, a verdict of over five million dollars came and Bud Watson left a copy of that cross-examination transcript in Ralph, Jr.s’ office chair with a note that he should save it for his grand kids. That was early in Ralph, Jr.’s career with the firm. He is not much older than I am and had graduated with a great record from the University of Alabama, School of Law, only a few years before I did but he was handling high level litigation and doing it with real skill.

Things seem to come easy to Ralph, Jr. He has a great personality and nearly always gets more in negotiations than others might because he has such a great way of interacting with people. Ralph, Jr. and I have tried a number of cases together and that personality is always an asset with the Court and with jurors. Ralph has achieved seven figure results in numerous negotiations but more importantly he has had that happen many times in court.

It’s not just personality though. Ralph, Jr. is a great student of the law and, as that cross-examination demonstrated, a highly competent trial lawyer. He is a graduate of the National College of Trial Advocacy, he’s been inducted into the American Board of Trial Advocates, and has been selected into Super Lawyers. But even more significant in this business, Ralph, Jr. really cares about his clients and wants to help them. That’s the part about him I most want to emulate.

Ralph graduated high in his class at the University of Alabama, School of Law in 1992. Ralph, Jr. is a member of the Alabama State Bar and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is a member of the Huntsville-Madison County Bar Association and the Alabama Association for Justice. He also serves as a Barrister in the Madison County American Inns of Court. Ralph is married to Betty. They have twin girls and a son.