by James D. CrosbyI Miss Court.
We have adjusted to our locked-down litigator lives. Zoom depositions. Video and court call appearances. Working from home. Video mediations. Empty offices. Causal attire. Masks. Distance. Worries about getting others sick, about parents/loved ones, about getting sick. Cases move forward, discovery proceeds, motions are heard, depositions are taken, trials are set, cases are settled, new cases are filed. And the months pass. It has all kinda’ worked. It’s ok.
But, you know, …
I really miss being in a courtroom. The whole thing. Walking into the courthouse. Riding the elevator up packed with lawyers. Seeing and chatting up friends in the halls. Sitting with colleagues waiting through a long calendar for my matter to be called. Hearing other lawyers argue their cases. Interesting motions, stupid motions. Good arguments, stupid arguments. The judge-lawyer banter. Happy judges, terse judges, hard-to-read judges. Hearing my matter called. Appearing. Arguing. CMCs. TRCs. In-limines. Standing up to give opening. Cross-examining witnesses. Closing. Waiting on a jury. Taking a verdict. Winning. Losing. Those nobody-wins results. Even just walking back to the office along a crowded downtown sidewalk. All of it.
I miss court.
by James D. CrosbyThe Line.
Sometimes I think running your own practice is best described as, everyday, walking a line – the line between doing the work and getting the work. Spend too much time doing the work, you don’t have enough new work. Spend too much time getting the work, you struggle – working late or weekends – to do the work. The line, there to walk everyday. Some days I feel like a soldier, in shiny boots, rifle in hand, chin up, head erect, eyes forward, marching, in identically-calibrated steps, the line perfectly. Other days, I feel like a drunk, pulled over by a traffic cop, asked to walk the inebriation line, not even knowing where the line is. But, you plow ahead, everyday, you strive to do your best work every time, you get the work done and timely filed, you keep the clients happy, you hustle for new work, you pay the bills, you take some money home, you handle the ups and downs of private practice, you juggle work and home, and you move forward – everyday, happily walking the line, your line.
by James D. CrosbyTime to Meet & Confer – Episode 11 – SDCBA Women Bar Presidents Past and Present
In podcast Episode #11 of the San Diego County Bar Association’s Meet and Confer, SDCBA member-hosts, James “Jim” Crosby and Renee Stackhouse chat with the first female president of the SDCBA, Hon. Melinda J. Lasater, and with our current President, Johanna Schiovoni.
This special episode is recorded in conjunction with the San Diego Business Journal’s September 2020 Women in Law issue. Join first woman San Diego County Bar President Melinda Lasater (’85) and current President Johanna Schiavoni as they discuss how far women have come in the legal profession, what could still use some work, and how women lawyers can succeed in the profession.
This episode of the San Diego County Bar Association’s “Meet and Confer” podcast is live at https://www.sdcba.org/index.cfm?pg=Tech-Center and on Apple iTunes and Google Podcasts.
by James D. CrosbyTime to Meet & Confer – Episode 10 – An Upside to the Covid Crisis – Passion Projects Be Born
During the pandemic, local lawyers have let their creativity loose and started passion projects in addition to their successful practices. In podcast Episode #10 of the San Diego County Bar Association’s Meet and Confer, SDCBA member-hosts, James “Jim” Crosby and Renee Stackhouse chat with solo practitioners and SDCBA members, Jylan Megahed (YouTube Channel), Kris Mukherji (YouTube Channel), Sotera Anderson (YouTube Channel), and Gayani Weerasinghe (YouTube Channel).
Listen along as they tell us about what inspired them and how you can access the great content they’ve created.
This episode of the San Diego County Bar Association’s “Meet and Confer” podcast is live at https://www.sdcba.org/index.cfm?pg=Tech-Center and on Apple iTunes and Google Podcasts.
by James D. CrosbyTime to Meet & Confer – Episode 9 – There’s More to These Lawyers Than Meets the Eye (and Ear) – Lawyers Artists – Live Now!
In podcast Episode #9 of the San Diego County Bar Association’s Meet and Confer, SDCBA member-hosts, James “Jim” Crosby and Renee Stackhouse chat with SDCBA members Andrea St. Julian, Maresa Martin Talbert and Kate Yavenditti. Listen and learn about the grass-roots efforts to create a community-led independent Commission on Police Practices in San Diego, a measure which will appear on the November ballot and which is supported by the SDCBA, Earl B Gilliam Bar Association, National Lawyers Guild, SD, San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association, Tom Homann LGBT Law Association, and more. Over 7 years in the making, three women lawyers led the effort to provide a Charter amendment which can help ensure independent police oversight and accountability.
This episode of the San Diego County Bar Association’s “Meet and Confer” podcast is live at https://www.sdcba.org/index.cfm?pg=Tech-Center and on Apple iTunes and Google Podcasts.
by James D. CrosbyTime to Meet & Confer – Episode 8 – An Update on the SDCBA from Our President and ED
In podcast Episode #8 of the San Diego County Bar Association’s Meet and Confer, SDCBA member-hosts, James “Jim” Crosby and Renee Stackhouse chat with our President, Johanna Schiavoni and our, Executive Director, Jill Epstein.
This episode of the San Diego County Bar Association’s “Meet and Confer” podcast is live at https://www.sdcba.org/index.cfm?pg=Tech-Center and on Apple iTunes and Google Podcasts.
by James D. Crosby2020 San Diego Super Lawyer for Business Litigation.
I am honored to be selected a 2020 San Diego Super Lawyer for Business Litigation!
by James D. CrosbyWorking 4.0 – San Diego Courts Update
The Superior Court has fully closed now for all but emergency matters through April 3. All civil proceedings are continued and all court filings are suspended. For filing deadline purposes, all days during this suspension are considered holidays meaning, in effect, that all filing deadlines are continued for the duration of the court suspension and will reset where they were when the suspension is lifted. So, rights in ongoing cases will not be prejudiced by the court suspension.
The U.S. District Court in San Diego remains open but under very severe restrictions. All jury trials are continued to April 16 and no new trials are being set. Individual district judges retain discretion to hold hearings and conduct proceedings, by telephone or video conference where practicable, as necessary to preserve the rights of the parties. U.S. District Court electronic civil filings are still ongoing.
Accordingly, we will be making no new filings in Superior Court but will continue to meet all filing deadlines in all matters in U.S. District Court. Otherwise, cases and matters remain on file and active.
Regardless of these changes and any more to come, our practice is open and running, and will remain so in this unsettled time. Our opponents are surely working. So are we. We are here, we are available, we continue to fully represent our clients and protect their rights in all ongoing matters, and we are taking on new matters. If you have questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to call/email/text.
Be safe and stay healthy.
by James D. CrosbyWorking 3.0 – San Diego Court Update.
San Diego Court Update:
The Superior Court in San Diego has now closed except for emergency matters through April 3. All civil proceedings are continued. But, electronic civil filings are ongoing. We understand they will be held in queue and processed by the Court when operations resume.
The U.S. District Court remains open but under very severe restrictions. All jury trials are continued to April 16. No new trials are being set. Individual district judges retain discretion to conduct proceedings, by telephone or video conference where practicable, as necessary to preserve the rights of the parties. U.S. District Court electronic filings are ongoing.
Accordingly, we will continue to meet all filing deadlines in all matters in both the Superior Court and U.S. District Court. Our opponents are working, so are we. The battles continue, just from a distance for awhile.
Regardless of these changes and any more to come, our practice is open and running, and will remain so in this turbulent, unsettled time. We are here, we are available, we are working, we continue to fully represent our clients and their interests, and we are taking on new matters. If you have questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to call/email/text.
Be safe and stay healthy.