Blog Posts

Steven Hayes was found in his cell this morning unconscious. He is now in a medically induced coma. Prison officials are not commenting on why he was found in that condition. But already, in comments to news stories posted on line, folks are declaring victory -- blood, they cry, and pain, too. Did...

In the past couple of weeks I have received several calls from folks who wondered why the State of Connecticut has not taken the initiative to remove them from the state's sex offender registry. It appears as if the state will not take the initiative in removing folks from the list. Will litigation...

This will be mailed tomorrow. It speaks for itself, and it speaks volumes about the status of litigation arising under 42 U.S.C. Section 1983.
February 1, 2010

Dear Jeff:
Flattered though I am by your offer to let me participate in creation of the new book on model federal...

Walter Olson is a clear and concise thinker. I've read his blog page, Overlawyered, intermittently over the years and have, frankly, been won over by his common sense. There are too many lawyers. We have too much power to disrupt the lives of strangers with impunity. As a society, I am persuaded,...

The headline of this piece alone will prompt a spike in readership of this page. Gerry Spence casts a long shadow. He has admirers from one coast to coast. Silent lovers will ponder these words and write secret notes to others. They will ask. Is it true?
Is Gerry Spence dead?
He stepped...

I don't get out much, but I do love to read. So while I have yet to see the movie, The Informant, released this past September, I did read the book, published in 2000. The book is fantastic, and I commend it to anyone interested in a sustained look at how the Government puts together a white-collar...

Tomorrow is the thirteenth day of jury selection in a capital felony case I am attempting to try this year. We've got twelve jurors. We are now looking for three alternatives. Jury selection began in the case on January 4, and we have been given several days off to attend to other matters; the...

Another name circulating throughout the state for nomination to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit is Janet Hall's. She currently sits as a District Court judge in Bridgeport. Much though I would hate to lose her as a trial judge, I hope she gets the promotion.
I've...

The Litigation Section of the Connecticut Bar Association is considering creation of a task force to study the method of selecting juries in the state courts. The committee should form such a task force, and resolve to have a full report to the CBA in 2010.
I'm not a committee joining sort, so...

A representative of the ABA is making the telephone rounds of the state chatting people up about whether United States District Court Judge Robert Chatigny has a temperament suitable for a promotion to the United States Court of Appeals. The answer is obvious: Hell no.
I'll have more to say on...