Editorials

Privacy And Economic Class

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Friday, February 22, 2013 |  The Connecticut Law Tribune

The rights of privacy afforded by the U.S. Constitution should have nothing to do with personal wealth. They protect the dignity and privacy of people, not money. But the way Fourth Amendment privacy rights have been applied in recent decades has biased these rights in favor of the rich.

Lawyer Assistance Program At 10

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Friday, February 22, 2013 |  The Connecticut Law Tribune

Meaningful gestures are not always measured by their size. A simple note of gratitude from a recipient of services to those who toil in anonymity on their behalf can outweigh its seeming ordinariness.

The Downside Of Outstanding Judicial Appointments

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Friday, February 22, 2013 |  The Connecticut Law Tribune

It is generally acknowledged that Governor Dannel Malloy's recent nominees for the Superior Court bench included some truly outstanding lawyers. Unfortunately, those nominations, coming as they do on the eve of the legislature's consideration of long overdue pay raises for the judiciary, can have some unintended and unwanted consequences.

Mark Kravitz — The 'Aporetic Judge'

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Friday, February 15, 2013 |  The Connecticut Law Tribune

We have honored the late Judge Mark Kravitz for many of his contributions to the law, but one characteristic of his that deserves special note has not yet been discussed in these pages. That was his willingness to recognize and honor the valid points in both sides of an argument, even when he found those points unavailing.

Appellate Court Slams the Door

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Friday, February 15, 2013 |  The Connecticut Law Tribune

The Appellate Court attempted to resolve an issue that divided Superior Courts around the state. The issue was whether an assignee of a mortgage note could be liable for the assignor's wrongful conduct. In opting for a bright line approach, the court has regrettably instructed lenders on how to avoid the consequences of wrongful conduct toward the mortgagor and even worse, burdened the wronged mortgagor with multiple lawsuits in order to obtain justice. Fortunately, the Connecticut Supreme Court has granted certiorari in the case.

'Zero Dark Thirty': The Torturer's Apprentice

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Friday, February 8, 2013 |  The Connecticut Law Tribune

For a period following the attacks of 9/11, our nation pursued a policy of torturing captives held in our custody. Members of our profession ? lawyers ? were fundamentally complicit in this torture.

Transparency And Justice

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Friday, February 8, 2013 |  The Connecticut Law Tribune

In the federal and state courts of Connecticut, virtually all proceedings are conducted in public. We take this for granted, and it certainly contributes to public confidence in the administration of justice. A recent order of the military judge presiding over the Military Commission trial of Khalid Shaikh Mohammad is disturbing because it raises questions as to whether that separate system of justice is applying the proper standards in keeping matters out of the public eye (beyond the fact that the trials are conducted at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba).

Impaired Clients Suing Their Lawyers

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Friday, February 1, 2013 |  The Connecticut Law Tribune

When quoting language in our briefs, we as lawyers may occasionally be guilty of the sin of employing the ellipsis to eradicate unhelpful language or using brackets to embrace more helpful language.

'A Half Step Too Slow'

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Friday, February 1, 2013 |  The Connecticut Law Tribune

That's what Coach George "Pappa Bear" Halas said to Chief Justice Callahan when he waived him following his pre-season with the Chicago Bears in 1952.

The Poetic License

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Friday, January 25, 2013 |  The Connecticut Law Tribune

Just as the clock struck midnight, ushering in 2013, Connecticut's laws changed. Two interesting legal changes of note relate to the license to drive, one changing the circumstances under which those convicted of driving while under the influence (DUI) multiple times may drive again and the other using the license itself to facilitate identification of those who have served this country in the military.