Their View Category Archives: Their View

Legally Speaking: Teaching what matters

At a March dinner commemorating the 40th anniversary of the University of New Hampshire School of Law, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia gave a speech in which he proclaimed modern legal education a “failure.” Decrying the course offerings that … Read More »

Arguments, Lawyers/Law Firms, Their View

Legally Speaking: The case of the teeny weeny bikini and other legal weirdness

Any job can get a little boring, doing the same thing day in and day out—even when you’re a federal judge. I recently wrote an article about a federal judge who issued an order riddled with “Star Trek” references; I … Read More »

Arguments, Lawyers/Law Firms, Their View

Legally Speaking: In memory of Dean John F. Sutton

In the nearly 24 years that I’ve been practicing law, I’ve been fortunate enough to receive some accolades from my colleagues.  A number of these have been for a commitment to legal ethics and improving professionalism.  I look at it … Read More »

Arguments, Lawyers/Law Firms, Their View

Honoring the fallen in Smithville

About halfway between La Grange and Bastrop, nestled on the banks of the Colorado River, lies the town of Smithville, Texas; population: 3,817. It’s an idyllic Texas town with a brick-and-mortar Main Street that retains the charm of an earlier … Read More »

Arguments, Their View

Cornyn: Is this America or China?

U.S. Senator John Cornyn authored the following column on National Review Online, May 15, 2013: The events that have unfolded over the past week are showing big government at its worst. First we learned more details about the Obama administration’s … Read More »

Arguments, Their View

Legally Speaking: Will litigate for food

Law firm consultants like to throw around terms like “value added billing” and “alternative fee arrangements” in describing creative ways for lawyers to be compensated by their clients.  But long before the billable hour, the flat rate, or the contingency … Read More »

Arguments, Lawyers/Law Firms, Their View

Legally Speaking: If only Hallmark had a card for this

As I was picking out cards for Mother’s Day, I realized that there are so many occasions in life for which there simply is no greeting card—but maybe there should be. I can think of a few of the less-than-shining … Read More »

Arguments, Criminal Law, Their View

Legally Speaking: Maybe our teachers were right, after all

The longer I practice law, the more I appreciate the importance of fundamentals—you know, the golden rule, “treat others as you’d like to be treated” kind of principles. In fact, when you think about it, many of the better bits … Read More »

Arguments, Their View

Legally Speaking: Who’s teaching your children? You might be shocked

The recently-released movie “The Company You Keep,” directed by and starring Robert Redford, examines what happens when an investigative journalist reveals the hidden Weather Underground past of a mild-mannered Albany attorney implicated in a botched bank robbery in the 1970s … Read More »

Arguments, Criminal Law, Their View

Legally Speaking: Protecting the furry members of the family

The Texas Supreme Court recently ruled that owners of companion animals cannot recover non-economic damages from those who killed their pets. Whether it’s a motorist who hit your child’s adored puppy, a veterinarian who made a careless error or an … Read More »

Arguments, Property Damage, Texas Supreme Court, Their View