What’s it like to appear before the United States Supreme Court? Let’s talk about it, podcast-style.

The United States Supreme Court hears oral argument from attorneys in only about 80 cases a year. Thus, many appellate attorneys never have the opportunity to experience what it is like to actually advocate in the High Court. I (Jared) recently learned what it is like appearing before the Supreme Court from Duane Daiker, a fellow board-certified appellate specialist in Tampa Bay and a good friend of DPW Legal, on the Issues on Appeal podcast.

Duane Daiker and Jared Krukar sit with studio monitors and microphones at a table while recording a podcast
Duane Daiker and Jared Krukar recording
the Issues on Appeal podcast.
Not pictured? The feather quill pen
memento Duane keeps in his office.
(Photo courtesy of Duane Daiker and used with permission.)

Duane is the creator and host of Issues on Appeal. Each week he speaks with fellow appellate practitioners about topics that are interesting to, well, the same people we suspect are interested in this Florida Appellate Procedure Weblog!

Duane recently took his first trip as an advocate to the Supreme Court. He sat second-chair on a case he handled through the trial and intermediate appellate stages. This visit was a perfect topic for his podcast. But rather than just talk about his visit himself on his podcast, Duane enlisted me to guest host his show, and turn the tables on him.

I asked every question I could come up with that all of us inquiring appellate nerds would want to ask. Where do you go when you enter the court? What’s security like? Who comes and talks to you? Is there a lawyers’ lounge? What’s it like sitting at counsel’s table? Did Justice Thomas ask a question? I hear you get a feather quill–can I touch it? (Yes, I really did ask, and yes, I did get to hold it. You know you would ask, too.) Our discussion was full of interesting tidbits about the preparation, the day of argument, the people at the Court, and the entire experience.

If this sounds interesting to you, check out Episode 4 of the Issues on Appeal podcast, “At the High Court.” You can check it out at the link or on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or Spotify.

And if you like that episode, listen to some of the other episodes. Duane has already had a number of great guests. Dineen and I are both slated to be guests for future episodes. What will we talk about? Stay tuned to find out.

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We’ve discussed the SCOTUS in the past (for example, here and here) and we’re sure to do it again. Keep abreast of changes there or in other courts that are interesting or may impact your practice by subscribing for updates on the Florida Appellate Procedure Weblog.

Supreme Court E-Filing to Begin Nov. 13, 2017

Last week we reported that the Supreme Court of the United States went live with their new website–its first step of a modernization plan that includes e-filing.  Yesterday, the Court set a date for e-filing to begin and provided some details.

According to the Court’s press release, e-filing will begin on November 13, 2017.  Parties will be required to file both paper and electronic copies, with the paper copy being the official copy for now (so remain vigilant with your mailing and paper filing practices!).  Pro se parties will continue to file just paper, but the Court will scan all filings to make them available on the electronic system.  That system should provide easy website access to all filed documents for public access.

Registration for the new e-filing system will begin “4-8 weeks before the system begins operation,” so keep a lookout for another press release at about mid-September.  The Court has placed an “Electronic Filing” link in the center of its home page that it says will supply additional information, but currently contains only the text of the press release.

A recent video from the U.S. Courts shows the amazing efficiencies obtained from e-filing in other federal courts.  Presumably the same benefits of modernization will occur in the Supreme Court.  That said, one wonders what the new, leaner Supreme Court will look or feel like.  We can’t help but feel a bit nostalgic for the days of paper as this bastion of traditional practice updates for the twenty-first century.

 

 

Supreme Court Overhauls Website

DPW Legal attorney Jared Krukar
and his wife Erin pose for a self-portrait
in front of the Supreme Court of the United States
on a hot day in 2010.

Changes are in store for the website of the Supreme Court of the United States.  According to a post on the Court’s website, July 28 will bring a host of upgrades that include a new look, enhanced access to information, improved functionality, and two new columns: “‘Today at the Court,’ which will provide daily information about the Court’s calendar and visitor services, and ‘Did You know…’ which will highlight historical facts about the Court and objects and art from the Court’s collection.”

Check out the post on the Supreme Court website at www.supremecourt.gov for more detail, or just visit the new and improved website on Friday to explore!

Need help before the United States Supreme Court? DPW Legal’s experienced appellate attorneys can help. Call us at 813-778-5161.