It’s Friday afternoon. Hmmmm. What sounds like something fun to do. Why – how about respond to an obnoxious defense lawyer letter. Notice the operative word here. Not what do I have to do. Or what am I angry about.
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Trial Diary Day 6: McNamara v. Nessl civil murder case
Trial day 6 We had trial day 5 on Friday – a day when we should have been able to work on other cases or prep for trial. From 9 to 3:45. Furhad stayed with JHB in Grant County but…
The nonsense of requiring us to hire someone to video a zoom deposition.
In a case where 100s of depositions need to be taken, we asked the City of Seattle and King County to agree that instead of hiring a videographer plus a court reporter for each zoom deposition. That we be allowed…
Trial Diary Day 4: McNamara v. Nessl civil murder case
Trial day 4 Am sitting in a room that is 8 x 6 ‘. Lynette the jury coordinator let me in. My own private cubicle to stay during the lunch hour. The desk is a cabinet with drawers. I love…
Trial Diary Day 3: McNamara v. Nessl wrongful death trial
The ironing board is out. First time have used one for anything but dinner napkins in decades. Have no choice. The black jumpsuit am going to wear is super wrinkled. Turn it inside out and press. Not perfect but it…
Trial Diary Day 2: McNamara v. Nessl wrongful murder trial
Grant County has a beautiful old courthouse façade set back on a majestic green lawn. But it is not where superior court is. No. If you enter via those pretty portals you have a winding path to follow. First you…
Trial Diary Day 1: McNamara v. Nessl wrongful murder case
March 7, 2022Trial Day 1Wake up in gray hotel room. There’s a text from Furhad – our first year associate who will help me in trial. He’s going to the courthouse and leaving at 8. Smile. The doors won’t be…
Deposition hell: dealing with the poorly mentored defense baby lawyer
My consistently biggest irritation is the defense lawyer who wastes time for the sake of the billable hour. The typical arena for this involves inefficient taking of depositions. What could be done in an hour – takes four. Or worse…
Saturday before trial out of town
7:50 wake up8:00 don’t get up9:00 get up9:15 pull out computer and sit down to begin9:20 don’t begin9:25 make microwave breakfast9:30 eat breakfast. Skim news 9:40 pull out computer to begin9:45 don’t begin9:50 up the stairs. Get load for laundry. …
The Year Lani Guinier Came to Town
The year was 2008 and I was president of the state trial lawyers association then called WSTLA (now WSAJ). Every year the president had the honor of presiding over the law day dinner. A formal sit down event filled with…