Monday, June 12, 2006
LAWYERS CANNOT AGREE SO JUDGE ORDERS ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS
Two lawyers who were allegedly grown could not reach agreement on the location for taking a deposition. So a Federal Court Judge in Tampa ordered to "convene at a neutral site" and "engage in one (1) game of 'rock, paper, scissors' " to settle the matter.
At first blush, this seem like a sensible solution. But, upon closer examination, it becomes obvious that the judge failed to consider the rights of the litigants in reaching his decision. While this case may be a joke to the two lawyers and the judge, we feel certain that it is no joking matter to the defendant and the plaintiff. And too often the rights of the litigants are ignored by judges. Therefore, judges should practice their stand up comedy routines on their own time. This goes double in Federal Court where the judges receive life time appointments. And it goes triple in Family Court, where the rights of the litigants are often either ignored or marginalized.
Two lawyers who were allegedly grown could not reach agreement on the location for taking a deposition. So a Federal Court Judge in Tampa ordered to "convene at a neutral site" and "engage in one (1) game of 'rock, paper, scissors' " to settle the matter.
At first blush, this seem like a sensible solution. But, upon closer examination, it becomes obvious that the judge failed to consider the rights of the litigants in reaching his decision. While this case may be a joke to the two lawyers and the judge, we feel certain that it is no joking matter to the defendant and the plaintiff. And too often the rights of the litigants are ignored by judges. Therefore, judges should practice their stand up comedy routines on their own time. This goes double in Federal Court where the judges receive life time appointments. And it goes triple in Family Court, where the rights of the litigants are often either ignored or marginalized.
