A CHANGE IN COMMENT POLICY
December 14, 2010 § 4 Comments
I enjoy reading people’s different opinions, including those that disagree with my own. It doesn’t bother me when people get testy and personal when they present their positions; how they say it says as much about their positions as what they say. The thread of comments below on the SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL post is a case in point. I like the exchange of ideas.
What I don’t approve of, though, is people taking pot shots at others from a position of anonymity. My name is up there for all to see, and most comment-makers have used their real names.
In my opinion, anonymous opinions are worthless. Anybody can boldly hold forth if he or she knows reputation is not at stake. If you have something to say, be ready to put your name behind it.
From here on out, if you have a comment, sign it with your first and last name, telephone number, city and e-mail address. If the post has to do with case law, I will require in addition your bar number. When I allow your comment, it will show your real name and city, but not your e-mail address, bar number or other info. All comments will be moderated for these requirements. This may necessitate a little longer delay in your comments appearing. Please be patient.
No more anonymous or alias posts.
As I have from the beginning, comments by non-lawyers about pending cases, or seeking legal advice,or commenting on judges in particular rulings will not be allowed.
The Better Chancery Practice Blog 
Dear Judge Primeaux: I primarily practice chancery law in the first district, and have been doing so for 35 years. I have never enjoyed a site on the computer as much as I have your blog. Your comments that most lawyers do not read the cases is spot on. Anyway, keep up the good work, and I will try and throw my2cents in occasionally. Jak Smith
Thanks. If you have any suggestions or want to share some useful tidbit, please feel free. In the meantime, please say hello to Judges Hatcher, Mask, Littlejohn and Malski for me.
I’m trying the comments under the new policy to see if what I did work, and to ask where you’d like lawyers to post their bar number when they make comments above the law.
I totally understand the problem with anonymous comments, although there’s a way it can be part of an informal community of folks comfortable with speaking can develop with them. They then bring along a headache of policing that you’ll probably avoid or at least minimize by requiring names.
I wish wordpress provided a form to solicit the info I’d like. If the info is in the body of the comment, I will edit it out before allowing the post, leaving only the name and town.
For a blog like yours, I don’t see anonymity as an problem per se. Here, though, I have to deal with the constraints of judicial ethics. I have had to filter out around 20 comments (my estimate) from disgruntled litigants (none from my court, thank goodness) and some seeking legal advice.
Lawyers, of all people, should have a thick enough skin to endure rock throwing at their opinions. Hence, my requirements.
I appreciate your input.