Attorneys and Barristers of the Lounge

[Ephraim Tutt]

Oh, that! lol

Miss Bella....you're exciting the members. Let me buy you a drink and you can tell me all about why you like the Court of Appeals.

 

[Miss_Bella_Hell]

Today I wrote a slip opinion for an excessive sentence hearing....I felt like I contributed to society.

 

[Ephraim Tutt]

Today I wrote a slip opinion for an excessive sentence hearing....I felt like I contributed to society.

That's the spirit Miss Bella! Lawyers should always feel that way about what they do. Anthony Kronman of Yale wrote a book called "The Lost Lawyer" (you may have come across it in Legal Theory at Law School) in which he argues that lawyers have lost sight of their purpose in society. Part of my job is to reinvigorate that sense of purpose. We are the front line of justice and the rule of law, after all.

So...contribute you did. Kudos.

 

[Atticus Finch]

Today I wrote a slip opinion for an excessive sentence hearing....I felt like I contributed to society.

And what was the Court's holding, pray tell? I can't say that I've seen too many excessive sentences in my career.

AF

 

[Ephraim Tutt]

And what was the Court's holding, pray tell? I can't say that I've seen too many excessive sentences in my career.

AF

Spoken like a true prosecutor there Atticus. Preach it brother!

 

[tortswon]

A nearly forgotten hero

My hero is Joseph Welch. During the darkest days of American Democracy, Senator Joseph McCarthy conducted a witch hunt for Communists in the United States Army. Joseph Welch was the attorney for the United States Army. At the time, having one's name mentioned by McCarthy meant that one's reputation was permanently ruined.

On June 9, 1954, the 30th day of the hearings, McCarthy accused Fred Fisher, one of the junior attorneys at Welch's firm, of association (while in law school) with the National Lawyers Guild (NLG), a group which J. Edgar Hoover sought to have the U.S. Attorney General designate as a Communist front organization (see Army-McCarthy hearings). Welch wrote off Fisher's association with the NLG as a youthful indiscretion and went after McCarthy for dragging the young man's name before a nationwide television audience with no prior warning or previous agreement to do so. It was the beginning of the end for McCarthy. He was exposed on television (a new medium at the time) for the bully and the coward he was.

Welch had much to lose standing up against the powerful Senator. The dressing down he gave McCarthy was a true moment of unselfish courage. This is the difference that only we, as lawyers, can make. Here, in all of it's black and white glory is the exchange:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-460953942838272185#

Best, Sam

 

[Ephraim Tutt]

My hero is Joseph Welch. During the darkest days of American Democracy, Senator Joseph McCarthy conducted a witch hunt for Communists in the United States Army. Joseph Welch was the attorney for the United States Army. At the time, having one's name mentioned by McCarthy meant that one's reputation was permanently ruined.

On June 9, 1954, the 30th day of the hearings, McCarthy accused Fred Fisher, one of the junior attorneys at Welch's firm, of association (while in law school) with the National Lawyers Guild (NLG), a group which J. Edgar Hoover sought to have the U.S. Attorney General designate as a Communist front organization (see Army-McCarthy hearings). Welch wrote off Fisher's association with the NLG as a youthful indiscretion and went after McCarthy for dragging the young man's name before a nationwide television audience with no prior warning or previous agreement to do so. It was the beginning of the end for McCarthy. He was exposed on television (a new medium at the time) for the bully and the coward he was.

Welch had much to lose standing up against the powerful Senator. The dressing down he gave McCarthy was a true moment of unselfish courage. This is the difference that only we, as lawyers, can make. Here, in all of it's black and white glory is the exchange:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-460953942838272185#

Best, Sam

That, Brother Torts, is a truly heroic moment. They were dark days indeed. The Australian Government at the time, led by Sir Robert Menzies, tried to have the Communist Party of Australia banned and introduced legislation to do so. The leader of the Opposition, Australian Labor Party, was led by former High Court Justice Dr Herb Evatt who promptly took up the Communist Party's case and challenged the legisation in the High Court.
Evatt won and the legislation was deemed unconstitutional. It was a brave thing for Evatt to do in an age when any support for the Communists spelt the end of one's reputation. For Doc Evatt, the issue was freedom of speech and association in a country that holds itself out as a democracy. All Australians owe him a debt for that, regardless of their view of his politics.
Evatt never won an election against Menzies but did become Secretary General of the United Nations.

 

[Ephraim Tutt]

Here you go, my new to me 1930s Mossant picked up off Ebay from Marc Chevalier. I love this hat! Fits perfectly. Wearing it with my Eastman A-2 and one of my favorite books-totally staged of course! I do like to wear the hat in the house, however, even though my wife makes fun of me for doing so.

jabos, I think I may have neglected to mention how fantastic that jacket and lid look. As my kids would say..."Just awesome!"
And many thanks for the pic. Drop on by the OBA some time soon.

 

[Ephraim Tutt]

Obserfation Bar Association Admissions Board

It strikes me that every Bar Association needs an Admissions Board and I believe that the best ones to form such a Board here are the Foundation Members.

So....my fellow Foundation Members, we have applications for associate membership from several worthy and seemingly fit and proper persons, namely...

Anon
Dreispitz
Miss Bella
Ms Stabby

I move their admission as Associate Members of the Association.

What say you?

 

[tortswon]

Each is a fine candidate. Aye. Best, Sam

 

[Ephraim Tutt]

Brother Tortswon... Many thanks.

I confess that I downed a couple of bottles of fine Australian vino today. Among them a Domain Day 2006 Reisling, cited by leading Australian wine judge James Halliday as among the finest Reislings ever produced in this country. I managed to pick up a case of 6 a little while ago for special occasions like today. So...gather round folks....my shout.

 

[Harp]

Would you believe that the 1st case I ever had to read was Pennoyer v. Neff? It was a terrible way to start law school!

I had to stand for Marbury the first week of Constitutional Law;
upset the prof by answering his Socratic inquiry, then was dragged
over the first three Articles for punishment. :whip:

 

[Miss_Bella_Hell]

Well, it hasn't been released so I'm not at liberty, but suffice to say, if you're moving for an excessive sentencing hearing, you probably don't have much else to appeal, and this is a last gasp. As such...

 

[Harp]

Here's a chuckle for ya. Would it be absolutely silly for a 41 yr old with two little ones (five and three), to consider the unfathomable idea of blasting the LSAT out of the water and committing an absolute career about face and going to law school?

I didn't hit law school until my thirties; however, I was-and still am-what
my mom called "an Irish Bachelor."

Apparently, Irishmen make the worst bachelors...lol

 

[Ephraim Tutt]

Greetngs Mr Harp and welcome to the Obs Bar Association. Won't you stick around and share a tale, and an ale, or two?
We're always looking for new members.

 

[tortswon]

Brother Tutt, I first encountered the Australian Rieslings while writing an article on Rieslings for the Robb Report with a friend of mine. I have to confess a partiality for the Rieslings from Alsace which have a bit more of the diesel fuel element in the nose. The Clos St. Hune epitomizes my concept of what a riesling is all about.

The Australian Rieslings do not have as much of diesel fuel element in the nose. Because of this, I find them more food friendly. I was fortunate enough to enjoy some of the Domain Day 2006 less than two weeks ago. I think it is an excellent wine with top notch structure. It was paired with roast pork with baked apple. It was a wonderful combination. The Domain Day had a kind of lime drop quality, like a piece of lime hard candy. It was tangy and easy to drink.

No plonk here! Here's my green stem. Pour, my friend. Best, Sam

 

[Ephraim Tutt]

Brother Tutt, I first encountered the Australian Rieslings while writing an article on Rieslings for the Robb Report with a friend of mine. I have to confess a partiality for the Rieslings from Alsace which have a bit more of the diesel fuel element in the nose. The Clos St. Hune epitomizes my concept of what a riesling is all about.

The Australian Rieslings do not have as much of diesel fuel element in the nose. Because of this, I find them more food friendly. I was fortunate enough to enjoy some of the Domain Day 2006 less than two weeks ago. I think it is an excellent wine with top notch structure. It was paired with roast pork with baked apple. It was a wonderful combination. The Domain Day had a kind of lime drop quality, like a piece of lime hard candy. It was tangy and easy to drink.

No plonk here! Here's my green stem. Pour, my friend. Best, Sam

Happy to pour, Brother Tortswon. Well now, there's a coincidence. I'm glad to see Robin Day's fine Riesling has found a market in Philly. I'll take your tip and match it with pork sometime soon. I still have 4 bottles of the 2006 in the wine rack.

 

[Spats McGee]

. . . . So....my fellow Foundation Members, we have applications for associate membership from several worthy and seemingly fit and proper persons, namely...

Anon
Dreispitz
Miss Bella
Ms Stabby

I move their admission as Associate Members of the Association.

What say you?

I agree that all are fit and proper for membership. I say "Aye" to all.

 

[Spats McGee]

I had to stand for Marbury the first week of Constitutional Law;
upset the prof by answering his Socratic inquiry, then was dragged
over the first three Articles for punishment. :whip:

Ouch. I feel your pain, Harp!

"Socratic Method; n. (1) a method of education commonly found in law schools, revered by professors and reviled by students; (2) frequently evokes the following response in law students, once they are out of earshot of professors known to use the Socratic Method: 'Why the hell doesn't he just answer the question?!?' "

 

[Harp]

Greetngs Mr Harp and welcome to the Obs Bar Association. Won't you stick around and share a tale, and an ale, or two?
We're always looking for new members.

Thank you, sir. I gladly accept and offer a toast to the profession:

The world has its fling at lawyers sometimes, but its very denial
is an admission. It feels, what I believe to be the truth,
that of all secular professions this has the highest standards.

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr :cheers1: