Meet the Other Blogging Judges
April 20, 2015 § Leave a comment
I’ve never given much thought to how many other judges have blogs. Recently, though, in a ramble through the online ABA Journal, I stumbled upon a list of judge blogs, including mine.
The list may or may not be complete, I am not sure. The ABA site asks readers to send in links to other blogs, so I suspect there are some more. Judge Griffis’s blog isn’t there … yet. The ABA list purports to list only regularly updated blogs, but I found some that are inactive.
Here are the active entries, with links:
Anonymous blog by several UK magistrates (JP’s) who tell of the sad, funny, tragic, and epic cases in their courts and the lawyers and characters who play the parts.
From 1980 to 2008, US District Judge Jerry Buchmeyer had a monthly column in the Texas Bar’s monthly magazine with hilarious actual legal anecdotes and excerpts from depositions, briefs, and trial transcripts. This blog is a serialized archive of those columns. Reading these is like reading our own autobiography for many of us.
Maryland Judge Stephen I. Platt’s bog focusing on the interface between business, law, and public policy. This blog is also published as an op-ed column in the Daily Record, a Baltimore business and legal newspaper.
Retired Arizona judge Thomas A. Jacobs answers actual questions submitted by teens on a broad array of legal topics, such as cyberbullying, criminal procedure, First Amendment rights, alcohol and the law, and many others. He also writes about legal issues of interest to young people. This is not your usual stuffy, legalistic site. The blog has an appearance and style appealing to young people. If someone — Judge or lawyer — in Mississippi is considering taking on the task of authoring a blog, this would be a worthwhile model for a valuable service for Mississippi youths.
The subtitle, “The Role of the Federal Trial Judge,” defines senior status US District Judge Richard George Kopf’s blog. Kopf, of Nebraska, writes on a wide range of subjects with wit, waxing philosophical, and imparting advice to practitioners and other judges alike. Even if you don’t become a regular reader, you owe it to yourself to click on the tab “Generalissimo Francisco Franco and this Blog,” on his home page. Caveat: Judge Kopf has gotten some unwelcome and hostile attention for a post he made that was critical of the USSC’s Hobby Lobby decision, in which he admonished the justices to “STFU.” He also has been criticized for comments that can be considered sexist.
Judge Patricia A. Barnes’ blog covering legal aspects of workplace discrimination. Barnes is a judge with the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe (Chief Judge interim) and the Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe (Associate Justice, Court of Appeals) in Northern Nevada. She is a licensed, practicing attorney in Pennsylvania.
The Better Chancery Practice Blog
Oh, but you’re already here. Welcome.
There are several more, but they appear to be defunct. You can access the complete ABA list at this link. And if you click on the tab “Blawgs” on that page, you will find a directory of legal blogs, which the ABA calls “blawgs.”
Inspired by the ABA directory, I googled “Judge Blogs,” and came up with these active sites:
Wisconsin Judge John Dimotto’s blog “to record and convey the daily experiences of a Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge.” The subjects are practical tips, expositions on the law, and observations.
Judge Kenneth Burke writes posts of interest to judges (which should be of interest to lawyers) for the American Judges Association.
UK Magistrate Trevor Coulart’s blog about life, photography, and his other interests, none of which involve the law.
Anybody know of any others?
Courthouses of Mississippi
April 17, 2015 § 4 Comments
George – Kathy Wilkinson
Kemper -LP
Hinds at Jackson – LP
Marion Chancery – Erik Lowery
Pearl River – Barbie Parham
Montgomery – LP
Leflore – LP
Stone – Kathy Wilkinson
R.I.P. Chancellor Dan Fairly
April 3, 2015 § 2 Comments
… This day, April 3, 2015.
“May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.”
Reprise: Checklist for Closing an Estate
March 26, 2015 § Leave a comment
Reprise replays posts from the past that you may find useful today …
CHECKLIST FOR CLOSING AN ESTATE
September 27, 2010 § 15 Comments
- _____ Judgment opening the estate or admitting will to probate is filed, and there is no contest.
- _____ Oath of Executor/Administrator filed.
- _____ The Executor/Administrator has properly filed his or her bond, or it was waived by the will or by sworn petition of all heirs with entry of a court order authorizing the waiver.
- _____ Letters Testamentary or of Administration issued.
- _____ The affidavit of known creditors required by MCA § 91-7-145 was properly executed by the Executor/Administrator and filed before publication to creditors.
- _____ Publication of Notice to Creditors was made in “some newspaper in the county” that meets the criteria in MCA § 13-3-31, for three consecutive weeks, and it has been more than ninety days since the first publication.
- _____ Inventory and appraisement were done and timely filed, or were waived by the will or by all heirs by sworn petition with order so waiving.
- _____ All accountings were timely filed and approved by court order (other than the final accounting, which is now before the court), or waived by the will or excused by the court.
- _____ In the case of an administration, publication for unknown heirs has been completed, and a judgment determining heirs has been presented, or will be presented in advance of presenting the final accounting.
- _____ All interested parties to this estate have been served with the petition to close and all other closing documents, including the final account, and they have joined in the petition or have been duly served with a Rule 81 summons, and there is a proper return or properly executed waiver or joinder for each interested party.
- _____ All probated claims have been paid, and evidence of such payment is in the court file, or the probated claims will be paid in the course of closing the estate, and a final report will be filed evidencing payment.
- _____ The attorney’s fees and expenses, as well as those of the Executor/Administrator have been disclosed to all interested persons, and they have no objection.
Wearin’ O’ the Green
March 17, 2015 § Leave a comment
Happy Saint Paddy’s Day to all you Irish and Irish at heart out there.
Pie Are Squared
March 12, 2015 § 3 Comments
What’s so special about 3-14-15 at 9:26:53 a.m. and p.m.?
I’ll give you a few minutes to ponder that configuration of numbers. (Waiting. Waiting. Waiting.)
Okay, for you non-math-nerds out there: the numbers of the date and time together are the first ten digits of the mathematical constant pi (π), which, as I am sure you dimly recall, is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter.
The coincidence of date and time = π happens only once each century.
What does this have to do with the law? Well, nothing, I guess. Except that if the courthouse were open on the notable day, you could bring a pecan π to the courthouse for all to share. That not being the case this particular century, simply bake your own and enjoy it Saturday with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. You deserve it after a busy week practicing law.
A Most Aptly-Named Case
March 10, 2015 § 6 Comments
Be sure to file this away to include in your next appellate brief. It’s a quote from the recent COA case, Bell v. Stevenson, at ¶ 10, decided February 17, 2015:
The Supreme Court of Mississippi has previously stated that the appellate court “is not required to address any issue that is not supported by reasons and authority.” In re B.S., 105 So. 3d 1120, 1122 (¶9) (Miss. 2013).
Professor Bell Will be Interim Dean at Ole Miss Law
March 5, 2015 § 4 Comments
This message from the office of the Provost at Ole Miss arrived yesterday:
School of Law Announcement
Dean Richard Gershon has informed me that he has decided not to stand for quadrennial review and that his service as Dean of the School of Law will conclude on June 30, 2015. I have asked Professor Deborah Bell to assume the role of Interim Dean of the School of Law for the near future. Dean Gershon and Dean Bell will begin to work out the plans for transition immediately.
Please join me in thanking Dean Gershon for his dedicated service to the School of Law. We are pleased that Dean Gershon will remain with the University as one of our valued faculty colleagues.
Thank you,
Morris H. Stocks
Provost
Only yesterday I posted about the schedule for this year’s Bell Family Law Seminars.
I know Professor Bell will do a superlative job as interim, and I will keep my fingers crossed that, if she wants it, she will be offered the job as Dean of the School of Law. I can’t think of anyone more capable.
I only hope that this does not sidetrack her in her role as foremost authority on Mississippi family law. If it does, I hope she has a worthy successor.
Congratulations, Debbie.
Bell Seminar Save the Date
March 4, 2015 § 3 Comments
I’ve said here more times than I can count that if you are going to practice any family law in Mississippi, you must own and use a copy of Professor Deborah Bell’s definitive text on the subject, and you should rearrange your schedule to attend her annual seminar, which is by far the most complete and informative update available. Here is the info about the 2015 edition:
| The 19th Annual Family Law CLE
Professor Deborah Bell, Seminar Leader This year’s Family Law CLE will be presented Jackson · Friday, July 17, 2015 Oxford · Friday, July 24, 2015 Gulf Coast · Friday, July 31, 2015 _______________ Save the dates for this annual 6 hour CLE Register online at or send your registration fee ($225) to: Family Law CLE Make check payable to: Carroll Chiles Moore, Conference Coordinator phone: 662-513-0159
REGISTER NOW, ONLINE! http://msfamilylaw.com/
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