eLEX Authors
Meet Joe Bodiford: The Publisher Behind eLEX’s Practical Trial Guides
Walk into any legal conference, trial advocacy workshop, or law school in the country, and chances are someone is using a practical guide from eLEX Publishers. At the heart of this nationally recognized legal publishing company is its owner and publisher, Joe Bodiford—a passionate courtroom advocate-turned-educator, and an unwavering champion for hands-on legal learning.
Rooted in Real Trials
There’s a rare authenticity in trial materials born from hard-won courtroom wisdom. That’s exactly what distinguishes Joe Bodiford and the resources he develops at eLEX Publishers.
Bodiford’s trial experience is deep and varied: he began his career as a felony prosecutor, spending years in the thick of jury trials, then pivoted to criminal defense—eventually focusing his private practice exclusively on trials and appeals for over two decades. By the time he "retired" from full-time criminal law and transitions to full-time civil practice in 2024, Joe had stood before a jury more than a hundred times, trying cases from both sides of the aisle. That real-world experience pulses through every eLEX guide and tool.
Impressive Credentials & Board Certifications
If you want to understand why top lawyers turn to eLEX guides, look at the prowess of the person creating them. Joe holds both a J.D. and an LL.M. in Advocacy (with distinction) from Stetson University College of Law. His expertise is certified twice over: Florida Bar Board Certification in Criminal Trial Law and National Board Certification in Criminal Trial Advocacy (2013-2024).
Peer reviews echo these achievements: Joe is AV* rated by Martindale-Hubbell—the gold standard in legal peer reviews. He’s frequently recognized among Florida’s “Legal Elite,” selected multiple times as a “SuperLawyer,” and even named one of 850 Magazine’s Top Lawyers in Criminal Law.
Bringing Advocacy to the Classroom
Law school students and young lawyers know Joe Bodiford as much for his classroom chops as for publishing. Across several universities, Joe has shared his insights on trial advocacy, evidence, and cross examination. He is a frequent lecturer at CLEs for practicing attorney, speaking on the topics of trial advocacy, cross examination, and jury selection.
As an Adjunct Professor at Stetson University College of Law, he’s shaped countless aspiring advocates, teaching in both the J.D. and Advocacy LL.M programs. At Florida State University College of Law, he co-directed and coached the FSU Law Trial Team. Under his leadership, the team clinched three national tournaments in just two years—a streak that’s still talked about in advocacy circles.
His teaching style? Practical, direct, and anchored in real cases. Students and lawyers leave his classes and seminars with techniques they can use the next day in court. It’s not theory for theory’s sake; it’s actionable, tested, and real.
A Publisher Who Writes What He Knows
In a world flooded with legal theory, Joe Bodiford stands out for delivering clear, step-by-step guidance. The cornerstone of that approach is the eLEX line of trial guides: concise, practical, and crafted for the time-pressed advocate.
Among Joe’s best-known titles is Bodiford's Cross Examination in a Nutshell (West Academic Publishing), which West Academic began publishing in 2018. He has recently written Bodiford's A Short & Happy Guide to Trial Advocacy (West Academic Publishing), published in 2023, which is becoming a hit in law schools across the country. This little book cuts through jargon to give law students and new litigators a working knowledge of jury trials, preparation strategies, voir dire techniques, persuasive storytelling, and more.
The eLEX catalogue showcases the same spirit: guides for federal, state, and military practitioners, plus downloadable checklists, worksheets, and hands-on “how-to” resources, all available in the eLEX Bookstore.
He’s also penned Cross Examination in a Nutshell, contributed chapters to leading practice manuals, and serves as the update editor for LEXIS/Matthew Bender’s Florida Traffic and DUI Practice Manual.
Beyond the Books: CLE Leader & Legal Commentator
Bodiford’s impact doesn’t end in print. He’s a familiar face at legal seminars and CLE events where he helps attorneys sharpen their advocacy, jury selection, and cross-examination skills. He enjoys breaking down dense topics into digestible, doable steps that busy lawyers can actually use.
He’s also a go-to legal analyst for television, lending insights about trials and legal developments to networks like CNN, MSNBC, FOX, and WCTV. You’ll spot his commentary guiding public understanding of high-stakes cases and criminal justice issues. His practical perspective, seasoned by trial experience, makes him a respected voice in both legal and media circles.
Inspiration for eLEX Publishers
What inspired Bodiford to acquire eLEX Publishers? Years of seeing trial lawyers scrambling for straightforward, usable materials. Joe recognized an ongoing need for resources that distill complex procedures into easily referenced, courtroom-ready guides.
eLEX was founded in 1982 by Joe's law professor and mentor, Col. William Eleazer (originally called Elex Publishers). The Colonel sold the company to Joe in 2018. Under Joe's direction, eLEX has built a team of dedicated authors and contributors—working attorneys, judges, educators—who bring their own trial-tested wisdom to the collection.
Joe’s vision was always clear: help lawyers focus on what matters most—winning for their clients—by removing the guesswork from case prep and trial advocacy.
A Publisher with a Performer’s Edge
It’s tempting to think of legal publishing as all arguments and citations, but Bodiford brings a whole other dimension—his background as a musician. Before law, Joe earned a Master’s Degree in Trumpet Performance and won the National Trumpet Competition in Washington, D.C. He toured nationally and internationally as a classical trumpeter, playing with orchestras and jazz groups around the U.S. and Europe.
That performer’s discipline and knack for steady nerves under pressure pay dividends in both the courtroom and the world of publishing. Joe knows how to capture and hold attention—whether he’s delivering opening statements, guiding a trial team, or creating training videos for litigators.
Where You’ll Find Him Now
In 2024, Joe stepped away from criminal law practice but stayed fully in the game: today, he works as a trial attorney at Fasig | Brooks Law Offices, focusing in premises liability and auto negligence cases. He continues to teach, write, and develop new advocacy tools, keeping eLEX Publishers at the forefront of practical legal education.
His books, guides, and digital resources are available through the official eLEX Publishers website, serving thousands of trial lawyers, judges, and students across the country. Whether you’re prepping for your very first cross, fine-tuning your voir dire, or searching for in-court “cheat sheets,” odds are Joe Bodiford’s work is quietly shaping your next move.
Bodiford’s journey—from performing arts stages to the judicial spotlight, to publishing practical tools for legal pros—gives eLEX Publishers its pragmatic approach and national reach. The next time you pick up an eLEX trial guide, you’re holding more than a book: you’re getting decades of real trial wisdom, from a publisher who’s truly been there.PREVIOUS AUTHORS AND CONTRIBUTORS
William Eleazer (founder of Elex Publishers in 1982)
- Distinguished Professor of Law Emeritus, Stetson University College of Law
- A., Vanderbilt University
- D., George Washington University
- M., Emory University
Professor Eleazer is a legendary evidence professor and trial team coach, known to generations of Stetson Law students as "The Colonel". He is a member of the Florida, Georgia and District of Columbia Bars. Before joining the Stetson University School of Law faculty, Colonel Eleazer served in the United States Marine Corps as Senior Military Judge, Sierra Circuit (California and Arizona); he also served as an assistant state attorney and felony prosecutor of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of Florida. He served on the Executive Council of the Criminal Law Section of The Florida Bar for nine years, serving two of these years as Chairman of the Trial Practice Manual Committee.
For six years he served as a member of the Code and Rules of Evidence Committee of The Florida Bar. Professor Eleazer is the co-author of Florida Criminal Trial Practice, (1982), was Legal Editor of Florida Pretrial Practice in Criminal Cases, a 1987 Florida Bar Publication, and is the original author of the Florida Evidence Courtroom Manual. His subject areas are Evidence, Trial Advocacy, Advanced Trial Evidence, and the Prosecution Clinic. For 18 years he served as a faculty advisor for Stetson's national award-winning trial competition teams, and was the 1996 recipient of the "Richard S. Jacobson Award for Excellence In Teaching Trial Advocacy" from the Roscoe Pound Foundation.
Joe met Professor Eleazer at Stetson Law when Joe attended in the early 1990s. Joe took two classes with The Colonel, was a trial team member, and served as his research assistant for Eleazer's book Courtroom Evidence. Joe counts Professor Eleazer as a life-long mentor and friend.
Craig Iscoe
- Judge, Superior Court of the District of Columbia since 2003
- A.,University of Texas, 1974
- D. , Stanford Law School, 1978
- M., Georgetown, 1979
In his present assignment on the Court, Judge Iscoe presides over felony criminal trials. In addition, Judge Iscoe is the Chair of the Court’s Judicial Education and Training Committee.
Mr. Iscoe joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 1986 and prosecuted a wide variety of cases in D.C. Superior Court, such as armed robbery, violent assault, homicide, and drug distribution, and then prosecuted other offenses in U.S. District Court. From 1991-1992, he was an Assistant Professor at Vanderbilt Law School, where he directed the Juvenile Law Clinic and Trial Practice program. He has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown teaching Trial Practice and Professional Responsibility.
From 1992 – 2003, he was an Assistant United States Attorney in the Fraud and Public Corruption Section of the U. S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, where he prosecuted cases involving telemarketing, securities, contract, and other financial fraud, public corruption at District and federal agencies, police corruption, and other matters.
From 1997 until 2001, Judge Iscoe served as Associate Deputy Attorney General (ADAG). As ADAG, Mr. Iscoe focused on national security and white collar criminal issues.
Howard P. Fink (1933-2021)
- Professor of Law Emeritus, The Ohio State University College of Law
- S., Cornell University
- B., Yale Law School
Howard Fink was a legal scholar, teacher and authority on civil practice and procedure, who spent his career of more than a half a century at the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law as the Isadore and Ida Topper Professor (Emeritus) of Law. He held a B.S. degree from Cornell University and an LL.B. degree from Yale Law School. Professor Fink's primary teaching areas was Civil Procedure and Federal Courts.
Professor Fink served from 1961 to 1963 as Special Assistant to the Judicial Conference of the United States Advisory Committee on Rules of Evidence for the Federal Courts. He joined the Ohio State faculty in 1965. He is Of Counsel to the law firm of Porter, Wright, Morris, and Arthur in Columbus, Ohio. He was a visiting professor at the University of Illinois, the University of San Diego, George Washington University, Wake Forest Univesityand Santa Clara University, and a distinguished visiting scholar at Stetson College of Law.
He was also co-chair of the Editorial Board of the Lexis Law Publishing Company. Professor Fink was a co-author of Moore's Federal Practice (1958-1978), Federal Jurisdiction: Policy and Practice (2d ed.1987), Civil Procedure (2d ed.1989), Guide to the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure (2d ed.1999), Federal Courts Law Outlines, (1997) and Federal Practice in the 21st Century (1996, Supp., 1999).