S4 Eps 5: Cordt Akers Interview
The Dirty Verdict · 2026-02-26 · 55 min
Episode notes
Hosts Peter Taaffe, Kyle Herbert, and Bill Ogden sit down with Houston trial lawyer Cordt Akers, who lives at the intersection of criminal defense, white collar, and a bit of PI - all while carrying one of the more unusual origin stories you'll hear on the show. Cordt walks through growing up in Houston, heading to Tulane (where Hurricane Katrina hit on his first day), and spending his early years as a working musician - until a brutal moment of "natural talent vs. hard work" forced a career pivot. That pivot led to South Texas College of Law, mock trial, and a fast, intense run through the Harris County DA's Office, where a terrifying in-flight emergency and an unexpected moment of humanity reshaped how he viewed prosecution - and ultimately why he left. From there, Cordt breaks down his path into the Dan Cogdell orbit, building a reputation in federal white collar, and what it's like to carry the emotional weight of trial work - especially when the outcome is literally life-changing.