Maybe there will be a return to common sense in federal courts. Maybe lawyers will be advised to think and act more rationally.
North Alabama federal Judge David Proctor issued an order to two piddling attorneys. It is so creative, clear and commonsensical that it is being shared on social media. Just possibly, it will go into the law books. Possibly, it will reset the standard governing attorney foolishness in court.
In fact, a Circuit Judge in Montgomery shared it and said, "Wish I had entered this order." That was from Judge James Anderson, who has seen more than his share of tomfoolery in court.
Reading the court order, you can tell exactly what happened and why it should not have.
The order is so down-to-earth that it is entertaining. Almost funny unless you were one of the offending attorneys.
Proctor went further and ordered the two offending lawyers to have lunch together before their next court hearing in this case. One lawyer was ordered to pay for the lunch and the other to pay the tip.
Rather than explain what the lawyers did and what the judge ordered, it is better to just read the actual two-page order. It can't be explained any plainer:
The black robe syndrome. Federal judges have the image of being serious, formalistic and humorless. Maybe that image is an over-generalization.
Jim' Zig' Zeigler writes about Alabama's people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
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