By Kirsten E. Small
Because I am an appellate lawyer, error preservation is the bane of my existence. I don't care if the trial judge excluded your evidence, kicked a puppy, or made the jury deliberate through the Clemson-Carolina game. If you don't preserve the error, I can't help you.
As of Monday, I no longer care if the judge awarded the plaintiff damages for breach of contract. We'll be appealing the unjust enrichment claim, too.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
The Appellate Code: The Many Meanings of "Per Curiam"
By Kirsten E. Small
We all know that “per curiam” means “by the court.” But, to echo a 1960s hippie-type, what does “per curiam” really mean, man? What message, if any, is an appellate court conveying by issuing an opinion “per curiam”?
Fear not—I’ve got the super-secret decoder ring. Here, in a nutshell, are the various meanings of “per curiam.”
We all know that “per curiam” means “by the court.” But, to echo a 1960s hippie-type, what does “per curiam” really mean, man? What message, if any, is an appellate court conveying by issuing an opinion “per curiam”?
Fear not—I’ve got the super-secret decoder ring. Here, in a nutshell, are the various meanings of “per curiam.”
Monday, September 12, 2011
New Fourth Circuit Nominee Stephanie Thacker
By Kirsten E. Small
Just in time for "On the Docket" to return from its summer hiatus ("hiatus" sounds so much more deliberate than "holy cow, I've been busy lately," doesn't it?), President Obama has officially announced a new pick for the Fourth Circuit: Charleston, West Virginia attorney Stephanie Thacker.
On paper, Ms.Thacker looks to be a very good choice for the Fourth Circuit. She has a solid background in civil practice and has handled some very tough cases during her time with the United States Attorney's office and the Department of Justice. As I've said before, I think it's critically important that judges have "real world" experience with the practice of law. There seems to be something of a pattern for nominations out of West Virginia--like Ms. Thacker, Judge Robert King and the late Judge Blane Michael (for whose seat Ms. Thacker is nominated) spent time in private practice and in the U.S. Attorney's office before ascending to the bench.
I spoke with Charleston attorney Tom Hurney, who confirms that reality matches the résumé. "She's a great pick," he said, because of her experience in criminal law and complex civil litigation. He predicted that she will be a "lawyer's judge"--one who has a deep sense of the interplay between legal principle and practical reality.
Now, of course, begins the long slog toward confirmation.
Just in time for "On the Docket" to return from its summer hiatus ("hiatus" sounds so much more deliberate than "holy cow, I've been busy lately," doesn't it?), President Obama has officially announced a new pick for the Fourth Circuit: Charleston, West Virginia attorney Stephanie Thacker.
On paper, Ms.Thacker looks to be a very good choice for the Fourth Circuit. She has a solid background in civil practice and has handled some very tough cases during her time with the United States Attorney's office and the Department of Justice. As I've said before, I think it's critically important that judges have "real world" experience with the practice of law. There seems to be something of a pattern for nominations out of West Virginia--like Ms. Thacker, Judge Robert King and the late Judge Blane Michael (for whose seat Ms. Thacker is nominated) spent time in private practice and in the U.S. Attorney's office before ascending to the bench.
I spoke with Charleston attorney Tom Hurney, who confirms that reality matches the résumé. "She's a great pick," he said, because of her experience in criminal law and complex civil litigation. He predicted that she will be a "lawyer's judge"--one who has a deep sense of the interplay between legal principle and practical reality.
Now, of course, begins the long slog toward confirmation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
