Strengthening the Judicial System

I came across a recent article / interview of Ted Olson and David Boies concerning the work that they are doing with the ABA to combat the crisis in the judicial system resulting from underfunding.  I thought many in our NYCLA community would be interested:  http://ipwatchdog.com/2011/05/30/exclusive-interview-ted-olson-david-boies/id=17498/

Elena Kagan Chosen for Supreme Court

This morning President Obama said he will nominate Elena Kagan to the United States Supreme Court. Kagan is the first woman solicitor general of the United States. Once she is confirmed, there will be three women sitting on the Supreme Court, another first; we are approaching gender parity ...

So the guessing game is over; surprisingly none of our voters chose Kagan on our last poll, but President Obama did, and he is really the only one that counts ...

The Legacy of John Adams

One hundred percent of our voters believe that pro bono representation of the popular and unpopular is a nobel tradition in the law and should not be a bar to working for the government.

John Adams would agree. He didn't just work for the government, he worked toward creating our government, even after he represented the wildly unpopular British soldiers accused of the Boston Massacre. (Although I don't know if he took on the representation pro bono).

When justice is served

Speaking against the recent attack ads questioning the loyalty of attorneys that represented detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Justice Ginsburg said “The truth is that justice is served when there is quality representation by lawyers for everyone.”

See the whole article from the BLT at http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2010/03/ginsburg-ge-counsel-speak-up-for-justice-department-lawyers.html

Grab bag of a post

I won't go as far as to say that I lost all control and discipline (blame summer), but I can't deny a noticeable lag in posts. I hope to rectify that short-lived lapse with this mixed bag of a post and more regular follow-ups.

First, Congratulations Justice (as of tomorrow's swearing in) SOTOMAYOR.

Second, unsurprisingly, the overwhelming majority of voters in our Red Flags survey did not welcome the government regulation of their firms. For a fuller discussion of the issue follow this link: http://www.nycla.org/siteFiles/Publications/Publications1269_0.pdf

Third, (trend watch) as more and more firms trim or eliminate their summer classes, I am wondering if this represents a seismic change in law firm practice to a more intimate, a pre-1980s, type of firm, or is this a short-lived, belt-tightening regimen just waiting to revert back to the gut-busting excess of 2000 (oh, those lunches of summer '00).

Before you go, vote on the new survey; it's a premonition of sorts.

Congratulations Barack Obama!

Now the election is out of the way and the fun begins to see how the brilliant campaigner assembles brilliant minds to work through, slog through the problems facing our nation. I am glad Obama (like me--see my earlier post) is thinking of Lincoln at this time in our nation's history: “We are not enemies, but friends — though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection.”

Good Luck Mr. President-elect!


p.s. nice concession speech from McCain too; alluding that we can all work together. (A very smart seven-year old even asked me whether there might be a place for McCain in an Obama cabinet; I explained why it was not likely).

p.s.s. and thanks to new readers for participating in the polls. This is the end of the political side of this blogger, next post -- back to PROFESSIONALISM

Election Day

I am looking forward to voting. I hope you are too.

I recently read Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address for the first time. I was so impressed at how poignant a 143-year old speech can still sound:

"With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan--to do all which may acheive and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations."

That was the final paragraph of the Address. The entire speech was only 4 paragraphs long. I love when someone says so much in so few words. A true American genius and a mentor to make all lawyers proud of their profession.