- Quickdraw McLaw
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- It finished with a flurry of activity, but the 2019 Legislative session is officially over. How do you think they did? [TNI]
- It’s also that time of year so many of you love to hate: the Legal Elite 2019 list is out. One of the few lists that recognizes the truly elite first year attorneys. [Nevada Business]
- Magistrate Koppe changes discovery motions. [Compelling Discovery]
Did the new judge seats or the pay raise get passed?
Unless it got folded into one of the budget acts without an accompanying change to the statutory provisions (I don't think it did, but I could be wrong), it looks like judicial salary increases in A.B. 46 died in the Assembly in committee without even a hearing. That response is legislative symbolism for "you're joking, right?" https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/80th2019/Reports/history.cfm?billname=AB46
New judges, in A.B. 43, is on its way to the governor. If the governor signs the bill, the bill increases: the number of district judges from six to seven who are judges of the family court in the Second Judicial District (Washoe), the number of district judges from two to three in the Fourth Judicial District (Elko), and the number of district judges from 20 to 26 who are judges of the family court in the Eighth Judicial District (Clark). This was pared back from the bill as it was originally introduced and entirely eliminated any increases to judgeships for the Eighth Judicial District who are not assigned to the family court.
I get the knee jerk on raises for judges, but think about it. 160k is what a 4th year attorney makes. Under current law, a judge cannot receive a pay raise mid-term. All of the terms (district and family) end in 2020. Thus, nobody gets a raise (assuming legislature authorizes at some point) until 2026.
And people complain about bad judges now. Just wait until 2nd years at the big firms in town are making as much as the judges. That inflation creeps up fast. A certain perennial candidate might finally get his judgeship.
Where are all of these 4th year attorneys making $160k? Can I get a slice of that pie?
No kidding, 4:12. I'm in my 7th year making $110k and I was thinking I was doing alright until I saw that.
There are firms in town paying $160k after a 1 year federal clerkship. It’s even online and not a secret.
I agree 100% with a comment in thread from yesterday:
"Judge Koppe, whether she intends to or not, contributes more to a lack of civility and unnecessary stress in the profession than anything the vast majority of opposing attorneys would ever consider inflicting on their brothers and sisters in the civil litigation trenches. The tone and hostility of her written work, from this attorney's perspective, reflects a disdain–if not utter contempt–for civil practice. It's clear she thinks it's beneath her."
I've had a business small firm practice for a very long time (39 years) and I've never seen a judicial officer like Koppe. I have prevailed the only time I appeared in front of her. She was condescending and unfairly insulted my opponent. She lacks temperament and is unprofessional. Nevada would be better off if she's non-renewed in 2022.
Agree 100%.
I believe she has been on the bench for about five or six years.
Did she exhibit this demeanor from the inception, or was she considerably more civil to attorneys during the earlier part of her tenure? If so, Robeitis, or Black Robe Fever may have gradually set in.
The really unfortunate part is that people's demeanor never seems to improve the longer they are on the bench. Legal performance can occasionally improve, but demeanor does not appear to. They either start out grumpy, and remain roughly the same or become even worse. Or their demeanor is acceptable at first but gradually deteriorates. Or we are fortunate and we receive a judge who has an okay demeanor, and it remains thus.
So, it's generally one of those three scenarios. But it never seems to occur that someone starts out as grumpy, dismissive and condescending, but then gradually improves into a judge of very sound and respectful demeanor.
Or at least I can't think of an example where a judge's demeanor greatly improved. Can anyone? Again, performance can improve, but the way the judge treats people usually does not.
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It's fine to be tough and a rule-follower, they all are over there, but there is no excuse for her sneering, condescending tone, or her wildly disproportionate treatment of exceedingly minor oversights. I had enormous respect for Judge Leen. She could be pretty tough on people, but she was always fair, and never found it necessary to behave that way.
2:01, no, she's really been like this from the beginning, but the special scheduling order for briefing discovery disputes is new and not welcome ground.
3:27 I agre about the disproportionate treatment of exceedingly mild oversights by MOST attorneys. It's jaw dropping. I also think she has a friends list that don't get that treatment for comparable oversights.
Just reviewed the list of Legal Elite. Please tell me the list is a joke. Friday is too far away from when I can sit down with a large box of wine contemplate what we have become.
Not a joke. Ultimately complete tripe.
Wow, first ccsd, now nshe clamming budget numbers were wrong. Why do they realize this one day after session? Seems odd.
Eglet Prince is no more.
Eglet Adams? https://www.facebook.com/EgletLaw/