So Long, ATLA

I resigned my position as a staff member at Gerry Spence's Trial Lawyer's College when I became persuaded that the place was chock-full of nuts. And I am not talking about the coffee.

The college won't permit prosecutors to attend. It won't permit insurance defense lawyers to attend. No, it wants only those pure of heart. Only those dedicated to the pursuit of "justice". As though there justice were a monopoly horded on only one side of a courtroom's aisle.

So I will also today tender my resignation to the American Association for Justice, formerly known as the American Trial Lawyers Association.  At its recent annual meeting, the ATLA voted to change its name. Why? It is running scared. Trial lawyers have a bad name. Justice is good. Just like Apple Pie.

I am a trial lawyer. I have represented and do represent prosecutors, police officers, persons accused of rape, state legislators, murderers, traffickers in child pornography, municipal officials, victims of police misconduct, employees, drug addicts and dealers, and pimps, prostitutes and others in trouble. And plently of other people, too. All come with needs and interests that need protection and vindication.

The trial lawyers' association is desparate to win the battle for tort reform. There is nothing wrong with our courts, they say. Big verdicts and huge fees are part of the pursuit of justice. Class action suits aren't a game, but rather a gold mine with Athena's scales measuring out fees. Changing the name to American Association for Justice is just plain silly, and desperate.

What's in a name? Not much. Unless you are a trial lawyer ashamed of your calling and afraid that someone might some day come seize your Lear Jet.

American Association for Justice? Forgive me, but I thought all members of the bar were a member of that association.

I wonder whether the folks at the trial lawyers' club will give me a refund on the unearned portion of my membership dues? Or is quantum meruit no longer justice?

Comments

[Michael Fox]

Great post. As someone on the defense side of the civil docket who prefers to think of himself as a trial lawyer, not a litigator, I kind of like it that the title is not, at least officially, presumptively usurped by one side. And of course there are considerably more "trial lawyers" who practice in the area of criminal law anyway. Let's just leave the term for anyone willing to step up to the bar, so to speak :).

[Aaron]

Did somebody poached the obvious domain name?

[mythago]

Big verdicts and huge fees are part of the pursuit of justice.

But only for the defense bar. When the plaintiffs' bar gets verdicts and fees, they're greedy bastards leeching off the pain of others.

I thought the name change was a bit silly, but the ongoing "Now we can't make fun of you as easily!" tantrum from the defense trial lawyers make it seem like a better and better decision to me.

[Raymond]

So, according to Norm the Spence Trial College crowd are "nut" cases, and he resigned( Some Board), and then spun it that Spence was doing some funny stuff, as per the ABC piece on tax deductions, with the land in the Wind River Range. But, with 48 spaces in the classes in the Summer breeze, and many more applications(than spaces--allotments), then he (some-- select) out who they want to associate with.
When Norm found it cool, he touted the Spence Trial College as if he was one of the chosen few, like some elite, who had gone to the Mt, and saw the visions.(all the drama of a life with the juices flowing, like holding life and death in one's heands)
Some put on their resume the title a graduate of the Spence Trial College like it is a LL'D from Harvard Law, or higher.
Another Big gun who has a mythial glow is Patrick Fitzgerald.
I hope the Governor of ILL, Rod Blagajevich, fights the indictments.
Did he get a dime in any so called bribe money, or was he just shooting his mouth off.
He was an Assistant State(ILL) AG once.
Looks like the GOP wnats to troll for one more GOP Senate seat, what a wire job, on that, as it pressed the Con, Rezko for a squeal job, and now wants to put clouds over Obama's head before he is sworn in.(and mess with the Service Employees UNION)
Wonder if Norm even read closely, the Spence book on how he was pressued to indict some poor guy in Riverton, who collected fines from drunk indians, and the head of Wyo GOV.
Norm go back and read that very carefully, and report back, and i will give you the full 9 yards.

Are you all sure Spence never lost a criminal case--as his books so cleverly markets ?
I could dispel that myth if any are interested, but some like the myth, and drink the cool ade, drinking it like some Jones-town special brew, old mythology out on the high plains.