Federal Judge Invites Lawyers To 'Kindergarten Party' To Teach Them Not To Waste His Time

[cory777]

Source: TPM

Federal Judge Sam Sparks doesn't like it when lawyers waste his time. So last week he invited -- or rather, ordered -- lawyers who he says are "unable to practice law at the level of a first year law student" to a "kindergarten party" to teach them "many exciting and informal lessons."

Sparks, the Texas-based federal judge who ruled against a state law requiring women to undergo a sonogram before getting an abortion, was upset that lawyers for two men and Brigham Oil & Natural Gas, L.P. were asking the court to quash subpoenas issued to them on behalf of James L. Woods. The lawyers maintained that the subpoenas were not properly served, were overly broad and unduly burdensome, and sought privileged information.

In response, Sparks invited them to a "kindergarten party" originally scheduled for today at 10 a.m. Thursday, but subsequently cancelled, where they would have learned how to "telephone and communicate with a lawyer," "enter into reasonable agreements about deposition dates," "limit depositions to reasonable subject matter" and why "it is neither cute nor clever to attempt to quash a subpoena for technical failures of service when notice is reasonably given."

"Please remember to bring a sack lunch!" Sparks wrote. "The United States Marshals have beds available if necessary, so you may wish to bring a toothbrush in case the party runs late."

Read more: http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/09/federal_judge_invites_lawyers_to_attend_kindergarten_party_to_teach_them_not_to_waste_his_time.php?ref=fpblg

---

Activist News http://activistnews.blogspot.com/

[joeybee12]

1. This judge is an asshole...what those lawyers asked was reasonable..

Even if they are lawyers for Satan.

[Tempest]

3. The judge was right and the lawyers were unreasonable

Instead of defending their actions, the lawyers pulled the request.

[plumbob]

8. Perhaps you should read a bit about his record.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Sparks

He ruled against Tom Delay and Republican ballot shenanigans, for one.

[No Elephants]

12. Liking his decisions does not mean he is not abusing his power as to lawyers.

A family member worked for an abusive federal judge for under a year. Ten years later, he still shudders when anything reminds him. Federal judges have a lot of power and power corrupts.

This is abusive, demeaning and unnecessary. (One would assume a federal judge would have the intellectual and communication skills to make his point without demeaning people who have no choice but to bring their clients before him.)

[No Elephants]

14. Their Code of Professional Responsiblity REQUIRES lawyers to represent clients vigorously.

If they don't, they can be brought up for violating ethics.


Federal court rules provide a remedy for lawyers who take frivolous actions or file frivolous pleadings, though, and humiliation is not the prescribed remedy.

This judge is being a typical Republican anti-lawyer asshole.

[Supersedeas]

18. I believe the Judge is invoking Rule 1.2(a)(2)

A lawyer does not violate this rule by acceding to reasonable requests of opposing counsel that do not prejudice the rights of the client, by being punctual in fulfilling all professional communications, by avoiding offensive tactics, or by treating with courtesy and consideration all persons involved in the legal process.

At least, that's what our local rule encourages.

[No Elephants]

19. Is that the rule about humiliating lawyers for following the Code of Professional Ethics?

I don't know the text of the rule to which you are referring, but how is this about a reasonable request from opposing counsel?


"The lawyers maintained that the subpoenas were not properly served, were overly broad and unduly burdensome, and sought privileged information."


If a judge thinks that is wrong, he should rule against it. If he thinks it is so wrong as to have been frivolous, that is what Rule 12 is for.

BTW, if you're a lawyer, how come mine was the only post on this thread you wanted to correct? I'm the only one on this thread defending lawyers. Have you seen some of the other posts?

[Supersedeas]

23. You reference the Code of Conduct, so I quoted you are rule

BTW, the judge did rule against their technical objection.

[jwirr]

2. Hope someone tells this to Orley Tates

:sarcasm:

[Dont call me Shirley]

4. why her, do they need to have a teethbrushing lesson while they are there?

[Tyrs WolfDaemon]

7. Some lawyers are slime and jerks (dad is one and says so all the time)

Mrs Taint is just Oily. :evilgrin:









Just having fun.

edit: spelling

[No Elephants]

11. So? Name one group that could not honestly be said about.

Lawyers are also out there fighting for our constitutional rights and rights of people all over the world to be free of torture, to keep their land and crops free from contamination by various corporate interests, etc.,

Not many groups do things like that.

Rethugs did a very good job of discrediting lawyers, so good even the left fell for it.

[Tyrs WolfDaemon]

13. I was playing with words, nothing more

Slime -> oily and with a taint

oily sounds like Orley
Taint like Tates



if I was able to make even one person smile at the stupid word play, then my post did great.

[No Elephants]

15. And if my post made even one person think, then my post did great.

BTW, what did your Dad being a lawyer have to do with your play on words?

[Tyrs WolfDaemon]

16. Nothing about the word play, I was simply citing a source to lawyers being slime and jerks

I enjoy DU because there are plenty of things and people that make me think.

Unfortunately it feels like we (country) are going from awful to hammered dog sh*t awful and that is why I find bits of humor, even terrible humor helps take the edge off. If somebody were to read what I posted and laughs at me (not with me) for my bad humor, it is still worth it. One small smile for even half a minute may be enough to tip that person's day in a positive direction.

That's about all I can do these days.

[jwirr]

10. She calls herself a lawyer.

[Land Shark]

5. Some say the highest law is "that which will save the judge's time"

That certainly appears to be the highest law in this judge's court. I don't believe, however, that such a law usually, or even often, leads to the best quality of justice, even if it is invoked on occasion on the side of justice.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[lsewpershad]

9. Lawyers are liars

[Steerpike]

17. Bloodsucking Liars

[No Elephants]

20. Anything that broad brush IS a lie.

[RandomKoolzip]

21. ...until you need one. Then they're great guys/gals.

[No Elephants]

22. American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International and every other organization that fights for

your rights depends on lawyers and their skills.

Please leave the lawyer bashing to the RW, where it started.

This judge is an abusive, demeaning jerk, IMO. No one trying to do their job should be humiliated that way.

Someone belongs in kindergartem jail, all right, but it's not the lawyers.