I’m feeling a bit guilty. Well over a year ago, the publisher of Typography for Lawyers sent me a review copy. I have been using my free copy for quite some time, and I never wrote a review. It sits on the shelf next to the first edition, which I purchased. And this shelf is […]
00J. Scott Key/wp-content/uploads/SK-Logo-Black-White.pngJ. Scott Key2017-02-03 13:43:152017-02-03 13:43:15Book Review: Typography for Lawyers, Second Edition
At the start of this week, I penned a post critical of how President Trump handled the firing of Sally Yates. Today, I write to commend his nomination of Judge Gorsuch for the United States Supreme Court. Textualists and the criminal appellate bar are natural allies. And such is the case with this pick. I want […]
00J. Scott Key/wp-content/uploads/SK-Logo-Black-White.pngJ. Scott Key2017-02-02 16:24:422017-02-02 16:24:42How Might Judge Gorsuch Decide Criminal Cases on the Supreme Court?
Many of our cases take months or years to take from start to finish. But the way we finish is as important as how we start. I’ve written in a previous blog post that we take on cases with the knowledge that we will often be engaged in the process for quite some time. Direct […]
I sometimes find myself having the same conversation with different colleagues several days in a row. It may be that my thoughts find their way into the conversation or that there are certain trends. It may be pure coincidence. In the most recent version of the repeating conversation phenomenon, I have heard colleagues complain about […]
We live in strange times. But I still have faith in the judiciary and in lawyers. It took us just over a week of the Trump presidency to reach our first constitutional crisis, and the judiciary seems to be keeping its head. That branch of government will be tested in the months and years to […]
In episode #12 of First Mondays, Dan and Ian play cringe-worthy clips from the recent Supreme Court argument in Lee v. Tam, a case involving the disparagement provision of the Lanham Act and the First Amendment. There is a similar case in the pipeline involving the Washington Redskins. And counsel in that case argued that […]
00J. Scott Key/wp-content/uploads/SK-Logo-Black-White.pngJ. Scott Key2017-01-25 15:26:172017-01-25 15:26:17Just Because Counsel Can Do an Appeal Doesn’t Mean that he Should
Yesterday, I took a drive out to the hinterlands to visit a habeas corpus client. I met up with a law school intern for the visit. During the time we spend together, the client what to know what he could do to assist in his case. Over the course of my career, my thinking has […]
The oral argument transcript is now available on Nelson v. Colorado. the audio should be available later this week. This case challenges the constitutionality of Colorado’s Exoneration Act on procedural due process grounds. The two petitioners in the case were each convicted of crimes. While incarcerated, the State of Colorado took fine money from their […]
00J. Scott Key/wp-content/uploads/SK-Logo-Black-White.pngJ. Scott Key2017-01-09 16:32:182017-01-09 16:32:18Should Defendant Be Required to Prove Actual Innocence After Reversing a Conviction?
I’ve been hearing about First Mondays for quite some time. First Mondays is a podcast covering the United States Supreme Court. They record each week that the Court is in session. The co-hosts are both former SCOTUS clerks. I’ve only listened to one episode, the one for this week. But I’ve subscribed will become a […]
Georgia superior court judges have pursued some polarizing changes to the way they are regulated. Now, they want to impose strict restrictions on the public’ ability to record what happens in open court. On January 17, 2017, they will begin considering a new superior court rule that will give Georgia judges unprecedented control over their […]
00J. Scott Key/wp-content/uploads/SK-Logo-Black-White.pngJ. Scott Key2016-12-31 21:52:472016-12-31 21:52:47Best Argument For And Against Recording in the Courtroom
Book Review: Typography for Lawyers, Second Edition
/by J. Scott KeyI’m feeling a bit guilty. Well over a year ago, the publisher of Typography for Lawyers sent me a review copy. I have been using my free copy for quite some time, and I never wrote a review. It sits on the shelf next to the first edition, which I purchased. And this shelf is […]
How Might Judge Gorsuch Decide Criminal Cases on the Supreme Court?
/by J. Scott KeyAt the start of this week, I penned a post critical of how President Trump handled the firing of Sally Yates. Today, I write to commend his nomination of Judge Gorsuch for the United States Supreme Court. Textualists and the criminal appellate bar are natural allies. And such is the case with this pick. I want […]
How We Close Cases in Our Office
/by J. Scott KeyMany of our cases take months or years to take from start to finish. But the way we finish is as important as how we start. I’ve written in a previous blog post that we take on cases with the knowledge that we will often be engaged in the process for quite some time. Direct […]
Why Some Law Practices Struggle
/by J. Scott KeyI sometimes find myself having the same conversation with different colleagues several days in a row. It may be that my thoughts find their way into the conversation or that there are certain trends. It may be pure coincidence. In the most recent version of the repeating conversation phenomenon, I have heard colleagues complain about […]
The Sane Branch of Government
/by J. Scott KeyWe live in strange times. But I still have faith in the judiciary and in lawyers. It took us just over a week of the Trump presidency to reach our first constitutional crisis, and the judiciary seems to be keeping its head. That branch of government will be tested in the months and years to […]
Just Because Counsel Can Do an Appeal Doesn’t Mean that he Should
/by J. Scott KeyIn episode #12 of First Mondays, Dan and Ian play cringe-worthy clips from the recent Supreme Court argument in Lee v. Tam, a case involving the disparagement provision of the Lanham Act and the First Amendment. There is a similar case in the pipeline involving the Washington Redskins. And counsel in that case argued that […]
Giving the Client a Voice in the Process
/by J. Scott KeyYesterday, I took a drive out to the hinterlands to visit a habeas corpus client. I met up with a law school intern for the visit. During the time we spend together, the client what to know what he could do to assist in his case. Over the course of my career, my thinking has […]
Should Defendant Be Required to Prove Actual Innocence After Reversing a Conviction?
/by J. Scott KeyThe oral argument transcript is now available on Nelson v. Colorado. the audio should be available later this week. This case challenges the constitutionality of Colorado’s Exoneration Act on procedural due process grounds. The two petitioners in the case were each convicted of crimes. While incarcerated, the State of Colorado took fine money from their […]
First Mondays is My Favorite New Podcast
/by J. Scott KeyI’ve been hearing about First Mondays for quite some time. First Mondays is a podcast covering the United States Supreme Court. They record each week that the Court is in session. The co-hosts are both former SCOTUS clerks. I’ve only listened to one episode, the one for this week. But I’ve subscribed will become a […]
Best Argument For And Against Recording in the Courtroom
/by J. Scott KeyGeorgia superior court judges have pursued some polarizing changes to the way they are regulated. Now, they want to impose strict restrictions on the public’ ability to record what happens in open court. On January 17, 2017, they will begin considering a new superior court rule that will give Georgia judges unprecedented control over their […]