RUMPOLE RESOLVES

Our New Year's Resolutions

1) To be a better lawyer (if possible).

2) To be a better blogger. ( id.).

3) To be nicer to judges (every resolution list should have at least one unattainable item). For those robed readers who need a little love, here is Chief Justice John Roberts praising our over-worked, under-paid, highly-qualified US District Court judges (we mean most of that. Old habits are hard to break.).

4) To let all our readers know that if there is one book you should read in 2017, it is Bruce Springsteen's autobiography "Born To Run". Simply amazing.

5) More pilates...less sugar...should do the trick.

6) Two words that bring a smile to every funny/social commentator: President Trump.

7) (removed by blog administrator).

Happy New Year one and all.

See you in court, but not Tuesday- because remember the number one rule of Rumpole's rules of the practice of law ( (c) Justice Building Blog 2016-17, all rights reserved): NEVER EVER ...repeat- NEVER EVER let a judge set a trial for the first week of the new year. Never. Schedule elective surgery if necessary. But never let a case be set for the first week of January.

Judges and prosecutors have spent the holidays pondering their careers, and simple subjects that they are (just broke resolution #3) they all arrive at the same conclusion: to try more cases and seek and issue harsher sentences as a way of letting the word go forth that defendants should not be foolish enough to risk a trial in their courtroom.

Time and time again we have seen defendants slammed on simple cases all because their lawyers made the mistake of allowing their case to be set for the first week of January. 
There is also a more personal issue. For those of us that like to ski and travel and enjoy the holidays, having a jury trial set January 2 wipes out the last two weeks of December which much be spent in preparation for the trial. But beyond personal reasons, do not play into the New Years Resolution trap where Judges and prosecutors - unhappy to be back at work- take out their frustrations and fulfill their resolutions on the back of your client.

You've been warned time and time again. Don't complain to us if you haven't listened.

See You In Court.