At the risk of being annoying about it, I want to commend another Steven Pressfield blog post to you. This one is titled Worthy Thoughts and Unworthy Thoughts. Mr Pressfield has been on the road lately, and he has had to work hard to focus on things that matter. Instead, because he is not working, […]
00J. Scott Key/wp-content/uploads/SK-Logo-Black-White.pngJ. Scott Key2011-08-09 22:18:062011-08-09 22:18:06The “Higher Realm” of Practicing Law: Another Post About Steven Pressfield
Last week, I had a post-conviction motion in a county where I never practice. The motion is under advisement, so I won’t go into the particulars about it or what happened at the argument. I write today about the things I did before the hearing started and I plan to do those things even when […]
00J. Scott Key/wp-content/uploads/SK-Logo-Black-White.pngJ. Scott Key2011-07-25 07:22:202011-07-25 07:22:20What to Do When Litigating in “Foreign Lands”
I returned from vacation pleased to find in my in basket at the office a copy of Ryan C. Tuck’s article from the Georgia Law Review on the confusing state of the law as it relates to ineffective assistance of counsel in Georgia. The article is titled “Ineffective-Assistance-of-Counsel Blues: Navigating the Muddy Waters of Georgia […]
00J. Scott Key/wp-content/uploads/SK-Logo-Black-White.pngJ. Scott Key2011-07-11 15:50:502011-07-11 15:50:50New UGA Law Review Article Takes Georgia to Task for the Way We Handle IAC Claims
Above the Law has a good recent post on the use of video arraignments and how judges find that the process makes them feel safer. I don’t know whether video Arraignments make the process any safer or not. But the process certainly makes the process more efficient. In fact, many of the rituals of […]
00J. Scott Key/wp-content/uploads/SK-Logo-Black-White.pngJ. Scott Key2011-06-22 23:21:062011-06-22 23:21:06Video Arraignments are a Step in the Right Direction
It’s been a bad month for my most recent crop of Supreme Court cases, both in terms of cases where I represent the party and in cases where I am amicus counsel. But I try to learn from them all. And here’s my takeaway from the month. To have and cite a case is not […]
00J. Scott Key/wp-content/uploads/SK-Logo-Black-White.pngJ. Scott Key2011-06-21 23:22:102011-06-21 23:22:10Lessons I Learned from This Month’s Appellate Losses
Alyson Palmer at the Fulton Daily Report has noted the passing of David C. Baldus. Mr. Baldus authored a study in 1986 showing that, in 2,000 murder cases in Georgia in the 1970s, defendants accused of killing white victims were more than four times as likely than defendants accused of killing black victims. That study […]
00J. Scott Key/wp-content/uploads/SK-Logo-Black-White.pngJ. Scott Key2011-06-16 17:48:332011-06-16 17:48:33Author of study of Georgia criminal justice system has died
Yesterday, I noticed that there is a proposed rule from the State Bar of Georgia to provide for electronic filing in Georgia courts. Of course, it’s just a proposed rule (PDF). And what comes of it may be simply a model rule for trial courts to follow if they choose to allow electronic filing. But […]
00J. Scott Key/wp-content/uploads/SK-Logo-Black-White.pngJ. Scott Key2011-06-15 16:42:242011-06-15 16:42:24Uniform Rule on Electronic Court Filing: A Step in the Right Direction For Georgia
How do you make the most compelling possible case for oral argument in the Georgia Court if Appeals? According to Judge Christopher McFadden, it is important to draft a self-contained request that summarizes the key issues in the case. It is important also to explain exactly how argument will assist the court under the unique […]
00J. Scott Key/wp-content/uploads/SK-Logo-Black-White.pngJ. Scott Key2011-06-13 20:46:452011-06-13 20:46:45Judge Christopher McFadden Offers Advice on Requesting Oral Argument
Two days at the annual meeting of the State Bar of Georgia in Myrtle Beach have given me enough material for a week of blogging. For today, the big news is that the Supreme Court will mandate e-filing for all attorneys before the end of the summer and will create a system for submission of […]
00J. Scott Key/wp-content/uploads/SK-Logo-Black-White.pngJ. Scott Key2011-06-03 16:08:342011-06-03 16:08:34E-Filing is the Talk of the Georgia Bar Meeting
This week’s theme has been orders. Every now and them, you are lucky enough to win. And when you’re even luckier, you get to prepare the winning order. Sometimes, though, you get asked to draft an order, and your opponent does, too. Drafting an order in that situation is a little tricky, because you have […]
The “Higher Realm” of Practicing Law: Another Post About Steven Pressfield
/by J. Scott KeyAt the risk of being annoying about it, I want to commend another Steven Pressfield blog post to you. This one is titled Worthy Thoughts and Unworthy Thoughts. Mr Pressfield has been on the road lately, and he has had to work hard to focus on things that matter. Instead, because he is not working, […]
What to Do When Litigating in “Foreign Lands”
/by J. Scott KeyLast week, I had a post-conviction motion in a county where I never practice. The motion is under advisement, so I won’t go into the particulars about it or what happened at the argument. I write today about the things I did before the hearing started and I plan to do those things even when […]
New UGA Law Review Article Takes Georgia to Task for the Way We Handle IAC Claims
/by J. Scott KeyI returned from vacation pleased to find in my in basket at the office a copy of Ryan C. Tuck’s article from the Georgia Law Review on the confusing state of the law as it relates to ineffective assistance of counsel in Georgia. The article is titled “Ineffective-Assistance-of-Counsel Blues: Navigating the Muddy Waters of Georgia […]
Video Arraignments are a Step in the Right Direction
/by J. Scott KeyAbove the Law has a good recent post on the use of video arraignments and how judges find that the process makes them feel safer. I don’t know whether video Arraignments make the process any safer or not. But the process certainly makes the process more efficient. In fact, many of the rituals of […]
Lessons I Learned from This Month’s Appellate Losses
/by J. Scott KeyIt’s been a bad month for my most recent crop of Supreme Court cases, both in terms of cases where I represent the party and in cases where I am amicus counsel. But I try to learn from them all. And here’s my takeaway from the month. To have and cite a case is not […]
Author of study of Georgia criminal justice system has died
/by J. Scott KeyAlyson Palmer at the Fulton Daily Report has noted the passing of David C. Baldus. Mr. Baldus authored a study in 1986 showing that, in 2,000 murder cases in Georgia in the 1970s, defendants accused of killing white victims were more than four times as likely than defendants accused of killing black victims. That study […]
Uniform Rule on Electronic Court Filing: A Step in the Right Direction For Georgia
/by J. Scott KeyYesterday, I noticed that there is a proposed rule from the State Bar of Georgia to provide for electronic filing in Georgia courts. Of course, it’s just a proposed rule (PDF). And what comes of it may be simply a model rule for trial courts to follow if they choose to allow electronic filing. But […]
Judge Christopher McFadden Offers Advice on Requesting Oral Argument
/by J. Scott KeyHow do you make the most compelling possible case for oral argument in the Georgia Court if Appeals? According to Judge Christopher McFadden, it is important to draft a self-contained request that summarizes the key issues in the case. It is important also to explain exactly how argument will assist the court under the unique […]
E-Filing is the Talk of the Georgia Bar Meeting
/by J. Scott KeyTwo days at the annual meeting of the State Bar of Georgia in Myrtle Beach have given me enough material for a week of blogging. For today, the big news is that the Supreme Court will mandate e-filing for all attorneys before the end of the summer and will create a system for submission of […]
What to do When You Get to Write the Order
/by J. Scott KeyThis week’s theme has been orders. Every now and them, you are lucky enough to win. And when you’re even luckier, you get to prepare the winning order. Sometimes, though, you get asked to draft an order, and your opponent does, too. Drafting an order in that situation is a little tricky, because you have […]