Category Archives: Reform

Judge Richard Kopf – As Inspirational As The Robber Turned Law Clerk He Sentenced To Prison

Posted on August 14, 2013 by The Legal Reformer

Senior U.S. District Court Judge Richard Kopf has stated in his blog, Hercules and the Umpire, that his criminal sentencing “viscera” in the sentencing of convicted bank robber Shon Hopwood was wrong: “Hopwood proves that my sentencing instincts suck.” Shon Hopwood … Continue reading →

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Is NFL Legend Kenny Stabler’s Ex-Wife Really Litigious?

Posted on July 26, 2013 by The Legal Reformer

It’s a common retort: Sue your lawyer for malpractice, and they accuse you of being litigious.  That was the response of Jeff Deen, Rose Burch Stabler’s attorney whom she is suing for malpractice.  But is she really litigious or is … Continue reading →

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Cameras In The Courtroom – Take Two

Posted on July 6, 2013 by The Legal Reformer

The George Zimmerman murder trial taking place in Florida is a perfect example of why there should be cameras in all courtrooms.  As observed by Jeffrey Tobin, The New Yorker writer and CNN legal commentator, in the July 3, 2013 National … Continue reading →

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Law School for Legal Consumers?

Posted on June 14, 2013 by The Legal Reformer

William & Mary Law School is now offering a course titled “Introduction to the U.S. Legal System,” which teaches how judges and lawyers think and other information about the U.S. legal system.  In a June 5, 2013 Law Technology News article titled Taste Law … Continue reading →

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“Perceptions of Justice Toolkit” – A Guide Toward Improved Court Perceptions

Posted on June 8, 2013 by The Legal Reformer

This new guide, the brainchild of Wisconsin Court of Appeals Staff Attorney Christina Plum, includes a toolkit that addresses facilitating conversations about the public’s perceptions of the courts.  On May 29, 2013, in a post titled Justice May Be In The Eye … Continue reading →

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You Can’t Judge Attorneys By Their Reputations

Posted on May 25, 2013 by The Legal Reformer

So you’ve hired the most expensive, well-respected lawyer in the city to handle the most important dispute of your life.  Think that guarantees you will be well represented? Think again. On May 21, 2013, The Washington Post reported that the Virginia Bar … Continue reading →

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Searchable Databases of Judicial Decisions? It’s Possible!

Posted on May 11, 2013 by The Legal Reformer

What if there were a searchable database of state court judicial decisions, and you could readily find out how your judge decided cases like yours?  Many state courts have online databases of court case dockets, and some have viewable and … Continue reading →

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Criminal Cases Also Need A Level Playing Field

Posted on May 2, 2013 by The Legal Reformer

A Texas District Attorney reportedly hides evidence and secures a murder conviction. Twenty-five years later DNA evidence exonerates an innocent man, and a Texas judge issues an arrest warrant for the former DA, who is now a judge himself.  Sounds … Continue reading →

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Cameras in the Courtroom!

Posted on April 12, 2013 by The Legal Reformer

Transparency and accountability – two essential outcomes that are attainable if every courtroom across the country had cameras.  Filming court proceedings, including the judges presiding and the lawyers arguing, and posting the videos online would reveal each judge’s and many … Continue reading →

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A Boilerplate Lawsuit Costs How Much???

Posted on April 5, 2013 by The Legal Reformer

In Brooklyn, a boilerplate American With Disabilities Act (ADA) lawsuit can cost your targeted business $15,000.  The good news, federal Judge Sterling Johnson, Jr. issued an opinion on March 28, 2013 denying a $15,000 request for attorney fees by two … Continue reading →

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