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court-o-rama.org

About the courts.
By Anne Skove, Esq.

Post Frequency: 12/day

Last Entry: March 25, 2011 at 00:00:00

Grim Anniversary: 100 Years after the Triangle Fire

Posted on March 25, 2011
We hadn't heard about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, which took place 100 years ago today, until we read the case in law school in the 90s. Partly because our professor was an excellent storyteller, partly due to the horrific facts, and partly because anyone whose ancestors came over at the turn of the century has a There but for the grace of God sentiment, the story has stayed with us ever since...

Be My Court Valentine

Posted on February 15, 2011
Every year on Valentine's Day zillions (that's an unscientific estimate) of couples line up in probate courts around the country to get hitched. Here are a few stories: Saying 'I Do:' Couples Marry, Renew Vows at Courthouse, Carole Townsend, Gwinnett Daily Post (February 14, 2011)...

The Magic Number

Posted on January 02, 2011
Court-o-rama.org turned three years old when you weren't looking! Thanks to everyone who inspired, donated, supported with kind words, and clicked in. Thanks especially to chief instigator, Mr. Carlson for taking care of the troublesome tech work but mostly for saying, "Hey, kids! Let's put on a blawg!" Yep, those were his exact words...

Anti-Social Media

Posted on November 01, 2010
Most of the hype surrounding potential jurors' use of social media is just that -- hype. We are reminded of similar issues surrounding court technology generally. The basic rule is this: high tech is not so different. For example, electronic records are the same as those on paper -- the same rules apply...

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Haunted Courthouses 2010: Scary Decisis!

Posted on October 30, 2010
It's that time of year -- time to look around for the most haunted courthouses. Footsteps after hours? Must be haunted, because nobody's working overtime. That's the story behind the Georgetown, S.C. County Courthouse. See Ghosts, Spirits, Wander Georgetown, Georgetown Times (October 27, 2010)...

Happy New Term!

Posted on October 02, 2010
Aside from Red Mass (which is not nearly as full of shooting flames as we had hoped), how do people celebrate the new SCOTUS term? Welcome Justice Kagan cupcakes? A moment of silence/listening in honor of Justice Thomas? Flipping someone off, ala Justice Scalia? The ABA has a nice online Supreme Court Previews...

Just Read It

Posted on September 17, 2010
There are many ways to celebrate Constitution Day -- gift a gun, assemble peacefully, or demand to see a warrant. But the best, simplest, purest form of celebration is this -- read it. It's a mini history lesson (for example, what was going on in the world at the time of each amendment?) It's a lesson in restraint...

In re: Goldstein

Posted on September 14, 2010
Of *course* he works for a law firm -- he lives in DC! Of *course* he thinks everybody is Best Justice Evah! It's fun to watch the SCOTUS. Those who do are hooked. Even (especially?) Justice Scalia can be entertaining. It's hard to watch the nation's highest court day in and day out and not be a little awed by its greatness...

Robot Kittens!

Posted on September 07, 2010
Wow, really? Robot kittens? Where can we get one? Must have one!!! Waiiiit a minute -- like robot kittens, courts (and taxpayers) should check out new court-related programs before they bring one home. Who will feed it? What does it do? And does it work? In these times of lean, mean budgets, you'd think this would go without saying...

So You Don't Have To

Posted on August 28, 2010
Recently, it came to our attention that the techie half of court-o-rama hadn't heard about LiLo's misdiagnosis. He was too upset by the news (the fact that it was news, rather than the content of the news) that Paris Hilton had been arrested to notice...

Why Does Franklin County Heart Jury Service?

Posted on May 24, 2010
Recently we posted a happy note from a juror who had served in Franklin County, Ohio (Columbus). Why is she so happy? Franklin County Municipal Court Jury Administrator Tom Shields explains: I started implementing changes [to the jury system] back in 1985 due to the fact that only 23% of the jurors summoned were actually reporting for service, and therefore the demographic representation was obviously not where it should be...

Love Letters from a Juror

Posted on May 22, 2010
Why do Franklin County (Ohio) Municipal Court jurors love jury service? Here's a letter from one such juror to the jury commissioner Tom Shields -- Hi, Tom. I wanted to say thank you for being so flexible. I was originally requested to appear for jury service March 22-April 2...

The Woman Who Knew Too Much

Posted on May 14, 2010
She's waaaay too smart! Not enough judicial experience! Softball player -- bad news! The truth about Elena Kagan is that being too smart was never a hurdle to a job as SCOTUS Justice. When it becomes one, we're all in trouble. Experience? Solicitor General is a pretty good start...

Random Read-O-Rama

Posted on April 22, 2010
So much to look at, so little time! Geoffrey Stone (like George Will before him) wins a free court-o-rama t-shirt for these words of wisdom: Our Fill-in-the-Blank Constitution, NYT (April 13, 2010). See also the letters from fans and foes alike (April 21, 2010)...

Feeling Lucky?

Posted on April 22, 2010
A few Cochise County, Arizona court clerks are wearing white hats and tin stars after their spectacular records find. See (and hear) Clerks Find Papers from 1881 Gunfight At OK Corral, Peter O'Dowd, Morning Edition (April 22, 2010).

Random Reads: SCOTUS Edition

Posted on April 17, 2010
George Will dusts off his Frankfurter and claims Ted Kennedy invented Borking: No (Political) Experience Required (April 15, 2010) Adam Liptak is seldom surprised: Why Newer Appointees Offer Fewer Surprises NYT, (April 17, 2010) Stanley Kutler populates his list with folks we've never thought of, such as Ohio's AG Cordray -- who is an utterly boring version of Eliot Spitzer: A Supreme Court Choice We Can Believe In, courtesy truthdig (April 15, 2010) Link whore (the NYR spammed -- um, sent -- us a link to this post) Anthony Lewis ponders Justice Stevens's legacy and mind: An Unfettered Mind: Justice Stevens, NYR blog (April 13, 2010) Just how gay (or not) should a SCOTUS nominee be? The Courage Campaign speaks up (and encourages others to do the same): President Obama: Sexual Orientation Shoult NOT Be a Factor...

Berkeley, Shmerkeley, or Yoo Who?

Posted on April 17, 2010
Oh no! Thw WSJ is afraid of the b-word when it comes to SCOTUS nominees: Berkeley. See Berkeley's Judge: A Liberal Nominee of Illiberal Temperament, WJS (April 17, 2010). But wait...on the very next page (paper version), see The Supreme Court and National Security, by -- guess who! John Yoo! Who is Yoo? A Boalt Hall (aka Berkeley Law) professor...

The Stevens Pool

Posted on April 07, 2010
Aren't you glad you're not a Supreme Court justice? The minute you turn 90-ish and whisper thoughts of retirement, the wonks of the world start thinking about your successors. They compile lists, argue about religion, and pull out their extra-special SCOTUS crystal balls...

Miner Issues

Posted on April 06, 2010
Because getting stuck is only one way to die in a mine, students in the Washington & Lee School of Law's Black Lung Clinic work with ailing miners and the families they leave behind. An offshoot of professor Uncas McThenia's Lawyering for Social Change class, the clinic replaces the former mental health law clinic (the state hospital work is now covered 100% by UVA's program)...

Goodbye Handshake

Posted on April 03, 2010
Chief Justice Moyer was the kind of person who would attend an event and greet people at the door with a handshake. Not the Vote for me! kind, but the Glad you could stop by! kind. We know the difference. So we were very sorry to hear that this tireless advocate of ADR (he started one of the first and best foreclosure mediation programs), election reformer (he opposed judicial elections), and all-around nice guy passed away yesterday...

Sleb Fun

Posted on March 23, 2010
Or Fun With Slebs...or Slebs Have the Darndest Legal Problems: Settled! See Oprah Winfrey [Oh, *that* Oprah! -- bloggs.] Settles Defamation Legal Action, BBC News (March 24, 2010). We don't know who the hell these people are, but they broke up! See Split! Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush End Their 3-year Relationship, New York Daily News (March 23, 2010)...

Chief Bobblehead

Posted on March 19, 2010
Who knew Yale had a Center for the Study, Admiration, and Cataloging of Judicial Bobbleheads? See Relax, Legal Scholars: Bobbleheads are Safe at Yale, NYT (March 18, 2010). We look forward to reading the Journal of Bobblistic Legal Studies. And yes, we ARE jealous (even with our princess fabu sparkley c-o-r shirts)! At the very least we want a Groot Bobblehead (we assume it recites the elements of common law burglary if you tip the coffee cup)...

Dime a Dozen

Posted on March 07, 2010
We're pretty sure we get a dime every time this happens. If only we got a dime every time we wrote about it -- we would be blogging from our own private island courthouse!

The Peace of Summons

Posted on March 06, 2010
We read a lot of letters praising jury service for its ability to promote patriotism, the rule of law, and education of the public about the legal system. We've also seen voir-dire-is-stranger-than-fiction letters, full of women giving birth in the jury room, jurors falling in love, or jurors who gather together on a regular basis long after their service is complete...

Easy Answer

Posted on March 04, 2010
Ooooh, pick us pick us pick us! Slate's Mary Adkins asks why court mediation programs don't take domestic violence cases: Breaking Up Is Hard Enough to Do, Slate (March 3, 2010). Answer: because that's the way the advocacy community wanted it. Some programs had a very tough start back in the day due to this very dilemma...

YouJudge

Posted on February 27, 2010
Some judges would only be caught dead on a camera in the courtroom -- Over my dead body say some. Not Judge James Kimbler and Judge Kovack of the Medina Court of Common Pleas in Ohio. On the court website, Judge Kimbler says I want you to know what is going on in your Medina County Courthouse...

Courthouses By Design

Posted on February 24, 2010
Is your courthouse state-of-the-art? Let the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) know. NCSC is collecting courthouse designs from 2001-2010 for its new Retrospective of Courthouse Design. According to NCSC's call for entries, Special project categories will include facilities for small rural courts, juvenile courts, and family courts...

Free Soap and Continental Breakfast Included

Posted on February 21, 2010
Relax...it's a municipal court! The Mansfield Municipal Court may have a new slogan when it moves into its new digs at...you guessed it, a Holiday Inn. This is what happens when courts are firebombed: broken windows, fire and water damage, etc. While the building is repaired, court must go on...

For the Defense

Posted on February 21, 2010
To thine cell phone be true! Like a Richard Stern syllabus, the Manhattan federal courthouse is introducing modernity. See Now, Cellphones for the Defense, Too, John Eligon, NY Times City Room blog (February 19, 2010). Why do we care? Because the trend thus far in most courts has been to collect all electronics at the door, as though those entering were fourth-graders who stayed up too late playing DS...

With a Little Help from Our Friends

Posted on February 20, 2010
Two seemingly unrelated links were sent to us by our friends this week. The better half of Court-o-Rama's worse half alerted us to the fact that more potential jurors are claiming financial hardship. Over 24% were dismissed in L.A. last year due to that reason...

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