Common Sense Rules of Advocacy

  Common Sense Rules of Advocacy for Lawyers A Practical Guide for Anyone Who Wants To Be a Better Advocate By Keith Evans Common Sense Rules of Advocacy for Lawyers provides tips and rules that will help anyone – lawyer or lobbyist, account executive or negotiator, parent or teacher – improve their advocacy skills in … Read more

Common Sense Rules of Advocacy

  Common Sense Rules of Advocacy for Lawyers A Practical Guide for Anyone Who Wants To Be a Better Advocate By Keith Evans Common Sense Rules of Advocacy for Lawyers provides tips and rules that will help anyone – lawyer or lobbyist, account executive or negotiator, parent or teacher – improve their advocacy skills in … Read more

Government by consent of the governed: West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624

There are village tyrants, as well as village Hampdens, but none who acts under color of law is beyond reach of the Constitution. . . . The very purpose of a Bill of Rights was to withdraw certain subjects from the vicissitudes of political controversy, to place them beyond the reach of majorities and officials, … Read more

Common Sense Rules of Advocacy

  Common Sense Rules of Advocacy for Lawyers A Practical Guide for Anyone Who Wants To Be a Better Advocate By Keith Evans Common Sense Rules of Advocacy for Lawyers provides tips and rules that will help anyone – lawyer or lobbyist, account executive or negotiator, parent or teacher – improve their advocacy skills in … Read more

Supreme Court Nominees

Shortly after Elena Kagan was nominated to the Supreme Court, I wrote critically of her “thirty-year gamble” to secure a spot on the United States Supreme Court, though I prefer Karlan’s imagery of trimming the sales. It seems every effort Kagan has taken over the past three decades was made intently, and with a focus … Read more

Practicing Law in 2013

[T]he big legal story of the day is the news out of Weil Gotshal. The firm is conducting large layoffs of both attorneys and staff, as well as reducing partner pay. Thus far, many of our recent layoff stories have involved staff layoffs, especially secretarial layoffs; relatively small numbers of affected individuals; and firms not … Read more

Official Title / Short Title / Popular Title / Popular Name (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Official Title / Short Title / Popular Title / Popular Name Nat King Cole — Mona Lisa Official Title: Statement of a measure’s subject and purpose, which appears before the enacting clause. Popular Title: The informal, unofficial name or the short title by which a … Read more

Executive Privilege / Qualified Privilege (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Executive Privilege / Qualified Privilege   Mark Rozell – The Looming Battle Over Executive Privilege   The phrase “executive privilege” is a shorthand reference to the “qualified privilege” of the executive to decline to respond to a request for information–documents or testimony or both–from either … Read more

Understanding Report Language and Legislative History / Joint Statements (CongressionalGlossary.com)

Learning to research and understand legislative history is an important part of any legislator’s job. Legislative history includes the official reports that are generated in Congress throughout the course of the legislative process, such as committee reports and joint statements. photo credit: EverJean When researching case law, be aware that court decisions can frequently include … Read more

Impeach / Impeachment (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Impeach / Impeachment The House has sole power to impeach (Article. I. Section. 2.), and the Senate has sole power to try an impeachment (Article. I. Section. 3.). Senate deliberations during impeachment trials may be held in secret session. Also see Secret Session; § 8.100 … Read more