Sometimes you can't help notice life's little ironies.
NASA astronaut turned likely Jerry Springer Show guest Lisa Nowak, will soon be released from jail after a Florida judge set her bail at only $25,000 on charges of attempted murder and attempted kidnapping.
It seems the judge found that the NASA astronaut was not a flight risk.
Anyone else see the irony here?
If certain "big firm" lawyers have their way, solo & small firm lawyers will not be arguing criminal cases before the United State Supreme Court.
In an article as amazing for its arrogance as for its suggestion, big firm lawyers are arguing that the "lone wolf" criminal defense lawyers are not capable of preparing quality briefs and making quality arguments before the United States Supreme Court. Consequently, those lawyers should be turning their cases over to big firm appellate lawyers. The article, "Will Defense Lawyers Accept Help on High Court Criminal Cases?", was originally published in Legal Times, and republished on the Internet on law.com.
Whether the result of hubris or simple greed, the perception of "big firm" lawyers that solo & small firm lawyers are somehow less than competent, is simply outrageous. But then, are any of us really surprised?
Washington D.C. solo Carolyn Elefant has written a wonderful retort to this article titled "Hey Biglaw - Where Were You When It Mattered?". It appears on her My Shingle blog, and is worth reading.
May 1 is Law Day, celebrating the place and rule of law. It also marks my 26th anniversary practicing law.
On May 1, 1980, I walked into the offices of Ice Miller Donadio and Ryan in what was then the AFNB Building on the Circle, and began my first day as a practicing lawyer. Though I had been admitted in January, I continued to clerk at the Court of Appeals for a few months, catching my breath from working full time and going to law school.
I was nervous in my recently purchased suit. Sarah Beswick (sister of Joe Russell, who is now a partner at Bose McKinney), showed me around and gave me all the forms to fill out. There was a planter on my desk -- some poor fern which I managed to kill off in a few weeks. Somebody took me to lunch -- I think a lawyer who has since been disbarred. Harry Ice and Jim Donadio, both of whom I came to respect enormously (and still do) stopped by to welcome me. By mid-afternoon, someone came by with my first file to work on. I can't remember anything about it, though.
26 years later, I've just opened my own office. I've tried cases before juries and judges, argued before the Indiana appellate courts and the 7th Circuit, and briefed cases to the United States Supreme Court. I've started a conference for the Indiana State Bar Association, and through my bar activities I've made friends across the country.
And after 26 years, I've no sage advice to offer. Just a Grateful Dead reflection:
Sometimes the light's all shinin' on me;
Other times I can barely see.
Lately it occurs to me
What a long strange trip its been.
Spring get-away bar meetings are usually a time for pure fun. It's off to Las Vegas, or Cancun, or maybe a cruise. The CLE courses, which keep the event tax deductible, are lightly attended and generally over by late morning. After that, its fun, sun, and maybe a casino.
But this year's Spring Meeting of the Indiana State Bar Association was different. For me, and I think many of the other 40+ Hoosier lawyers, this was a far more meaningful experience than a CLE class and a couple of drinks at the bar. For photos of the trip, CLICK HERE.
The opening reception was attended by the presidents and executive directors of the Louisiana and New Orleans Bar Associations. They shared their sincere appreciation to the Indiana bar for not cancelling the event, then told their own stories of coping with the effects of Katrina.
Friday morning we attended serious CLE sessions dealing with the lessons learned about disaster planning and recovery. We heard a young woman lawyer tell of setting up a legal hotline for the displaced residents of New Orleans -- and doing so after losing her home and moving back to live with 13 other members of her family at her parents home. A court administrator from Pensacola talked about getting a court system up and running after a direct hit from Category 4 Hurricane Ivan. The we heard a law firm administrator talk of keeping a mid-sized firm afloat while his home was under 18 feet of water in St. Bernard Parish.
After lunch, we put on our jeans and old tee-shirts, grabbed our paint brushes, and headed to the Orleans Parish Juvenile Court. It really was a remarkable scene. This wasn't a group of second year associates. Included in those swinging paint brushes were Indiana Supreme Court Justice Frank Sullivan, current State Bar President Jim Riley, President Elect Rich Eynon, and former State Bar Presidents Clyde Compton, Jim Bourne, and Chris Fruehwald. And these folks were not there just for show. They were all carrying paint buckets, climbing ladders and doing real work. At the end of the afternoon, we were all sweaty and tired, but not one of us complained.
This wasn't a photo op. There was no one from the media there. The only cameras were by those of us in the group. And the only pay was the sincere appreciation of those who are living everyday with the reality and hope of New Orleans.
Saturday, we toured the devestation of New Orleans residential areas. It was sobering and stunning. No matter how many photos you see, or descriptions you hear, you cannot understand and feel the extent of the devestation until you see it yourself. Just over a decade ago, Hurricane Andrew blasted south Florida, destroying 20,000 homes. Katrina and its aftermath destroyed 280,000 homes. It is nearly beyond comprehension.
At the end of the tour, we all felt a renewed commitment to this place, and to the people of New Orleans.
There is so much more to tell. Even more remarkable than the things which we saw were the stories from all the people we met -- people who have lost everything, but are still carrying on one step at a time. I hope to cover a few of those in future posts.
It's time for March Madness. Its a term we Hoosiers came up with years ago, which has now been co-opted by the NCAA. But those of us who grew up in Indiana long before the "class" tournament know what Hoosier Histeria was all about.
So as we sit back an watch the NCAA, and check our office pools, I though I'd offer my choice as the best basketball players ever to come out of Indiana. It's obviously a subject for debate, but here are my choices:
First team:
C - Greg Oden. Lawrence North, 2006. This big man is the most-complete center ever to come out of Indiana. He will likely lead his team to its third straight state championship -- and this year they will be undefeated. He's Ohio bound, but he will always be a Hoosier.
F - George McGinnis, Indianapolis Washington, 1969. Big George was the most dominant high school player I ever saw. He led the undefeated Continentals to a state championship against maybe the best Final 4 ever. When a Kentucky player said he wasn't that tough, Big George lit him up the next game for 56 points and 31 rebounds.
F - Larry Bird, Springs Valley 1974. The "Hick from French Lick" grew to be "Larry Legend." He played basketball like no one else. His court vision, competitiveness and knowledge of the game were unsurpassed. As an All-American at Indiana State, he took his team to the NCAA championship game. As a pro, he nearly single-handedly turned around the Boston Celtics, restoring the team to its former glory, and a couple of NBA championships.
G - Oscar Robertson, Crispus Attucks, 1955. The Big O was simply the best. After winning a state championship, he led Cincinnati to the NCAA championship. As a pro, he averaged a triple double for an entire season -- probably the most remarkable extended performance in basketball history.
G - John Wooden, Martinsville, 1928. Long before he reinvented basketball as the greatest college coach ever, John Wooden was a remarkable basketball player. He led Martinsville to the 1928 state championship game, where they lost to Muncie Central on a last-second half court shot at the buzzer. He went on to be an All-American at Purdue University, but there was no NBA then. So he went into coaching -- and into sports history.
Second team:
C - Clyde Lovellette, Terre Haute Garfield, 1949
F - Terry Dischinger, Terre Haute Garfield, 1958
F - Damon Bailey - Bedford-North Lawrence, 1994
G - Rick Mount, Lebanon, 1966
G - Steve Alford, New Castle, 1983
Honerable Mention:
"Fuzzy" Vandivier, Franklin, 1922; Bill Garrett, Shelbyville 1947; "Jumping" Johnny Wilson, Anderson 1946; Jimmy Rayl, Kokomo, 1959; Billy Keller, Indianapolis Washington, 1965; Jack Moore, Muncie Central, 1978; Tom Van Arsdale & Dick Van Arsdale, Indianapolis Manual, 1961; Scott Skiles, Plymouth, 1982; Mike Conley, Lawrence North, 2006.
We've all read the stories about Congressmen running for cover in light of lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleading guilty to bribing Congressmen. But just how far the "People's House" has become the "Lobbyists' House" wasn't clear to me until I read a post by Dallas attorney Bob Kraft. in his blog, Bob Kraft's P.I.S.S.D., which pointed out the furry truth as reported in the Washington Post.
Lobbying is so out of control that now there is even a pet-medicine lobby! The Animal Health Institute, which is nothing but a trade group for manufacturers of pet medicines, has hired lobbyists to sway Congress to protect "us" against regulations and lawsuits against the pet medicine industry.
My Gawd! If we don't take action soon, there will be a veterinarian malpractice insurance crisis!
Checkers lives ! ! !
Merry Christmas. May you and your family enjoy the most joyous and blessed Christmas.
And for my Jewish friends and readers, Happy Hanuka.
When you're opening your presents Christmas morning, or lighting your menorah in celebration of Hanuka, take just a moment to remember all of our 
men and women who are serving our nation in dangerous places around the world, far away from their families.
Everyone has read or heard of the Seven Habits of Highly Successful People. There's an alternative list of the seven habits that you probably haven't seen -- but it may be more accurate. Just CLICK HERE.
Thanks to Matt Homan for sharing this on his blog the [non]billable hour
