The Better Chancery Practice Blog

The germ of an idea for this blog popped up after a conversation I had with a young lawyer. We discussed a matter involving an estate, and I realized it was at least the fourth time that I had had the same discussion with different lawyers. I thought that there must be a better way to address lawyers’ questions and concerns about practice, and I filed the notion away in the recesses of my mind.

A couple of months later a chancellor in another district called me and we discussed our mutual exasperation over lawyers either ignoring or not even being aware of changes to the adoption jurisdiction requirements. Again, I thought there had to be a more efficient way to spread the word about these things.

Then, while reading a blog one day, it hit me: “Duh. This is the obvious way to do it.”

And after a little experimentation, I launched this blog on June 14, 2010, about six and one-half months ago.

It’s been a rewarding experience for me. Lawyers from around the state have told me they keep up with the blog.  I have seen lawyers questioning witnesses using checklists they printed from posts here.  Several lawyers have told me that they print out posts that they find useful and keep them in a binder for future reference.  Out-of-district lawyers have told me they appreciated being able to find out in advance what I expected for a minor’s settlement, an irreconcilable differences divorce, or an intestate estate.  I have had comments and e-mails from attorneys telling me that a post I made helped them resolve a difficult issue in a case.

All of that is what I hoped for when I started this. I hope you have found something here that you can use and that keeps you in touch.

In the six and one-half months of this blog there have been more than 220 posts. There have been 215 comments, but that is misleading because, for some reason, WordPress counts a link to another post as a comment. My guess is that we’ve had around 100 actual comments. We get between 150 and 200 views of the blog on a typical weekday, and 50-60 on a typical weekend or holiday. Those are views of the home page — the one you see when you sign on the blog. When a specific post is viewed separately, it is counted separately. The all-time most viewed post, with 532 unique views (and climbing; there have been 8 this week so far), is Sympathy for the Devil, my rather unsympathetic review of Curtis Wilkie’s The Fall of the House of Zeus. No doubt some of that traffic was driven by Tom Freeland’s mention of it and link on his own, popular NMissCommentor blog.

The all-time top twenty posts in 2010, followed by each post’s unique number of views, are:

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.

It was in the fall of 1968 that I began my love affair with Aretha Franklin.  I found an LP of hers on special in a campus bookstore and paid $2.98 ( and that was marked down from $3.98) for ARETHA FRANKLIN LIVE IN PARIS.  That was nearly three hours’ worth of earnings from my part-time minimum wage job.  A lot of money for a starving college sophomore to spend on a little entertainment.  That record became one of the most beloved of my formidable vinyl collection. I played it until the stereo was worn out of its grooves, and I still have it. I listen to the version on my computer now from time to time, last Sunday the most recent.  The Queen of Soul still reigns, as far as I am concerned.

So it was with great sadness that I learned only yesterday that Aretha has pancreatic cancer and has been given less than a year to live.  How sad.

It was not too many years ago that a diagnosis of any kind of cancer was a death sentence.  That has changed dramatically, and many forms of cancer can be successfully treated and defeated.  We all know survivors today who would have been victims some years ago.

Unfortunately, it’s all too true that pancreatic cancer is still a swift death sentence.  It claimed both the universally admired and loved Circuit Judge Bob Evans and Meridianite Guy Feltenstein earlier this year.  Judge Evans lived only a few months after his diagnosis.  Guy had a few months longer.  Both suffered agonizing illnesses.  Both left a gaping hole in the lives of others. 

I read not too long ago that with the ability to do stem-cell research, scientists feel they are on the path to a cure.  I hope so.  The Lustgarten Foundation promotes research for a cure.  If you have some spare change to donate, it would be for a good cause.           

In the meantime, the death watch for this superbly talented woman who in every sense is the Queen of Soul ticks down to its inevitable conclusion.  How so very sad.

We have snow flurries today in east-central Mississippi.  And, yes, there are snow flurries on my blog. I may just let it keep on snowing through Christmas.

Cheers.

Now that there are more than 200 posts on this blog, I realize that it may not be as easy as it once was to find what you’re looking for.  Here are five ways to search the blog:

• In the panel to the right is a small window with the word “Search” and a magnifying glass.  Enter a search term there and you will retrieve a selection of posts that might have what you’re looking for.  For example, if you’re looking for “tax effects of alimony,” you could enter “alimony,” or “tax effects,” or even “IRS.”
• Again in the panel to the right is a drop-down menu that says “Select category,” under the label “Search Older Posts by Category.”  Every substantive post is assigned a subject-matter category, and it can be retrieved by their category grouping.  For example, that alimony post you were looking for above will be under the category “Alimony.”  Grandparent visitation posts will be under “Child Custody,” since visitation is a subset of custody.
• And again in the panel to the right, you can look at “Older Posts” and search month by month, or scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and you will find boxes with numbers; each numbered page includes 10 posts, and you can search through all the older ones by going back page by page.
• Finally, you can click on a “Category” or “Tag” in the left column, and that will take you to a page with all posts on other WordPress blogs in the same category or using the same tag. 

If all else fails, ask me and I will try to point you to the post you need.

We have so many blessings, it’s almost impossible to find a starting point to count them all.  Maybe the turkey is the best starting point.

God bless you all.  See you again November 29.

Runoff elections were held in two Chancery Court districts yesterday. 

In District 10 (Forrest, Lamar, Pearl River and Perry Counties), for Place 2, to replace Judge Sebe Dale. Dawn H. Beam of Sumrall defeated Scott Phillips of Columbia. 

In District 13 (Covington, Jefferson Davis, Lawrence, Simpson, and Smith Counties), 16-year incumbent Judge Larry Buffington of Collins lost to David Shoemake of Collins.

This information is from the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, and percentages were not provided.

In District 10 (Forrest, Lamar, Pearl River and Perry Counties), for Place 2, to replace Judge Sebe Dale. Dawn H. Beam of Sumrall faces Scott Phillips of Columbia. 

In District 13 (Covington, Jefferson Davis, Lawrence, Simpson, and Smith Counties), incumbent Judge Larry Buffington of Collins is in a runoff with David Shoemake of Collins.