by Wick Chambers on January 26, 2012
That briefs filed with the Connecticut Supreme Court are available online is not breaking news. As a result of a cooperative arrangement between the Judicial Branch and the Appellate Advocacy Committee, beginning with the 2008 Term Supreme Court briefs are available online at a site named Supreme Court Briefs Online. The title of the site itself offers a valuable lesson to lawyers who write to persuade: there are no wasted words; every word counts (H/T Strunk & White, The Elements of Style.)
The site contains a clear explanation of how easy it is to find Supreme Court briefs by using the search The description is fine as far as it goes. But one search option, which works according to my recent tests, is to search by author. So, for example, if one wanted to find a brief written or co-written by one of the most well known appellate advocates in Connecticut, all one need do is type in his or her last name into the search bar and voila! Why does this matter? Well, there is always room to improve one’s advocacy oral and written. Thanks to the Appelate Advocacy’s Committee and the Judicial Department, a first rate resource for lawyers who want to learn and to improve is available online for free. Try it out. Enjoy. By the way, the briefs I’m especially looking forward to reading – not yet available – are in the case of Simms v. Seaman. For earlier, not particularly enlightening posts about Simms v. Seaman, click here and here.
The work of the Appellate Advocacy Committee in makng Supreme Court briefs available online is another example of lawyers contributing their time and expertise on a pro bono basis to better the profession. All lawyers should contribute to the profession in some way. No lawyers should take for granted the work that others do to. If you’re not a member of CBA and you are wondering what you can do to help the profession, one simple yet meaningful step would be to join the CBA. For more information about joining click here
by Wick Chambers on January 23, 2012
Today, January 23, 2012 the CBA and New Haven County Bar Association websites announce the passing of Judge Peter C. Dorsey. The CBA has a link to Judge Dorsey’s obituary which is available here. I clearly remember the first impression Judge Dorsey made on me. It was in the men’s room of a large Hartford firm. An explanation is called for. At the time Bill Cousins had just hired me. Among other things Bill did insurance defense work. He once remarked that he had handled cases involving every possible way in which two cars could have intercourse. Among the other kinds of insurance defense cases Bill handled was one involving a claim that a grown man had been reduced to the mental status of a six year old through long exposure to toxic chemical fumes. As is common in such cases there were numerous defendants. The day came for the deposition of the plaintiff, which was to take place at a large Hartford firm whose name I don’t recall. Defense counsel were to meet prior to the deposition to “discuss strategy.” Bill invited me to tag along so that I could learn. Defense counsel met in a large conference room. Bill sat next to Peter Dorsey. He introduced us. My immediate impression was that Mr. Dorsey seemed like a regular guy. A young man, young by comparison to Bill and to Peter but older than I was, took the lead. He stood at the head of the conference table. I remember he wore suspenders, bright ones. He started off by asking “what we knew about the plaintiff” and “whether we could drain the plaintiff’s treasury” by burying him in paper. I saw Bill and Peter look at each other. Some time later we took a bathroom break. Peter and Bill headed to the men’s room. So did I. We were lined up left to right: Peter, Bill and me. Peter glanced over at Bill and said, “Who is that jerk? We don’t do that sort of thing.” Bill shook his head. I think the word Peter used was “jerk” but his tone of voice suggested a different word.
Young lawyers are impressionable. Peter Dorsey made a lasting impression on me.
