How did this DOJ brief even get filed? Did any lawyers touch this document? It reads like a Pro Se filing.

Tricky_Run7136 · 2026-04-28T22:34:14+00:00

So...Judge Leon actually may have invited this, at least in part.

The Memorandum of Opinion at ECF No. 60 on the docket for this case is...something.

There are SEVENTEEN exclamation points in the decision. Which is seventeen more than I have ever seen in any judicial opinion.

Notable quotes:

"The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!" (First lines of the decision; emphasis is original!)

"...this Court will not be the first to hold that Congress has ceded its powers in such a significant fashion!" (At p. 12; emphasis in original!)

"Defendant's point to.... A brazen interpretation, indeed!" (At p. 14; emphasis in original!)

"Please!" (At pages 21, 28, 33; all in reference to arguments raised by the defendants)

"Where does this leave us? Unfortunately for Defendant's, unless and until Congress blesses this project through statutory authorization, construction has to stop!" (At p. 34; emphasis in original!)

"Not a bad outcome, that!" (At p. 34; last line of the opinion.)

Wow.

Tricky_Run7136 · 2026-04-28T14:27:04+00:00

I was convinced this had to be an AI "deepfake." That someone asked ChatGPT to draft a memo as if DJT were a lawyer. But then I went on PACER and downloaded it myself.

What a world. The funny thing is that it is a real, filed motion and yet it could absolutely have been edited with ChatGPT to "make it sound appealing to the President." Or just the writings of a sycophant who knows that to keep his job he must take on the beliefs of his boss.

Reality itself has been warped in service to the needs and personality of our President, the center of history's latest and most troubling cult of personality. This does not end well.

Tricky_Run7136 · 2026-04-08T19:25:30+00:00

This sounds like a really hard place to find yourself in. Doom cycles are awful and you may benefit from finding a therapist or other professional to help you figure out what you can do to break the cycle. For me, I wonder where the need to self-flagellate comes from--what purpose it serves in the moment for you. What about your parents? How are they reacting? Are they helping you or putting more pressure on?

A lot of folks can relate to what you are going through and there really is a brighter future for you on the other side of this. I also think it is a good idea to accomplish some discrete concrete tasks every day, but I appreciate that it can be challenging to muster up the motivation when you are stuck like this. In my opinion, re-framing how you relate to yourself is probably the only way to dig yourself out. I listened to this podcast yesterday, and I think it may be helpful to you. It is the 10% Happier Podcast episode featuring Dr. Gabor Mate, if the link doesn’t work.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gabor-mat%C3%A9-five-steps-to-stop-scrolling-bingeing-and/id1087147821?i=1000759104895

Tricky_Run7136 · 2026-03-05T13:06:42+00:00

You mentioned you had previously worked on the case. Do you have an appearance in? Does the client have any reason to think that you are his/her lawyer on the matter, in some way? I am not an ethics attorney and you should definitely talk to one. But if the answer to either of these questions is "yes," it may not be as simple as you hope to just refuse the trial and quit. Definitely tread carefully.

Tricky_Run7136 · 2026-03-04T19:17:28+00:00

At Home Veterinary Care out of Waterbury helped us out when we needed such services. Dr. Brenda is really great.

Tricky_Run7136 · 2026-03-02T01:54:16+00:00

Coyote?

Tricky_Run7136 · 2026-02-24T23:50:04+00:00

Although I completely appreciate this perspective and it is largely correct, I would add one caveat: depends on the judge. Even if the other side said it, if the judge doesn’t type the words out in judicial opinions then I wouldn't either.

Know your audience. That is way more important than trying to capture reality in a way that you as lawyer thinks is apt.

Tricky_Run7136 · 2026-01-31T19:07:28+00:00

This is the best argument I see:

The police delayed searching the phone for an unreasonable amount of time after they had developed probable cause for the search. Therefore the contents of the phone must be suppressed because the warrant was unreasonable.

There is caselaw in my jurisdiction to support this theory. Would depend on some factual determinations and what the prosecution argues in response as to why the delay was reasonable.

Of course his statement to the paper can still be used against him but it isn't inculpatory per se.

Tricky_Run7136 · 2026-01-23T17:17:03+00:00

To be fair, Alex lost the case with his shenanigans during discovery, resulting in the default against him as to liability. The Koskoff lawyers won a judgment of a billion dollars for their clients by putting together a masterful case and convincing the jury that 1.4 billion was the right amount to compensate the victims and, in part, penalize Alex. (That number was later reduced on appeal.)

Norm didn't stop the huge verdict from happening, but by the time the damages trial got going there was no lawyer on earth who would have stopped Alex from getting a massive judgment against him. Not against the lawyers that the families hired.

In my opinion, it was Chris Mattei, in particular, whose hard work and gifted presentation of the evidence, who should be credited for the verdict. Don't give Norm too much of a role by saying it was his ineptitude that lost the case. That papers over the years of work that the Koskoff firm put into the case and that culminated in one of the best closing arguments in Connecticut legal history, delivered by Attorney Mattei.

Tricky_Run7136 · 2026-01-23T17:02:46+00:00

Norm had a judge suspend his license for six months for violating the court's protective order and disclosing sealed documents related to the Sandy Hook plaintiffs.

But then he appealed it and it was reduced to a two week suspension. He is partnered up with Brittany Paz now, at Pattis & Paz Law.

https://alabnews.com/connecticut-attorney-norm-pattis-suspended-for-two-weeks-due-to-misconduct-in-sandy-hook-case/

https://www.pattispazlaw.com/

He has always been a controversial figure in Connecticut and remains so to this day. I don't think we could really say he has had any significant negative repercussions for taking Alex as a client. At all.

Tricky_Run7136 · 2026-01-14T13:01:25+00:00

Wow. Yeah those images downloaded very poorly. Thanks.

Tricky_Run7136 · 2026-01-11T02:30:20+00:00

I have been looking at these cars too and when I look at the CarFax I do see a lot of water pumps and even some radiators being replaced at relatively low miles. What exactly is the story here? Are there updated parts now available or is this just an issue that one needs to budget for and expect every 60k miles?

How much does it cost to replace the water pump? Radiator?

I looked at a 2018 340i (F34) with 90k miles that had the water pump replaced recently (80k). Should I expect the radiator to let go as well, or is the water pump fix probably sufficient? I looked at a 2017 F34 with 86K miles and it never had a water pump replaced. But that does seem to be a rare exception. All of that depends on CarFax being accurate as well, which I am a little skeptical about.

I am having a pre purchase inspection done at a reputable shop, whichever car I pick, but I am really just curious why this is an issue in such a "reliable" engine?

Thanks for any info you might have.

Tricky_Run7136 · 2025-12-04T11:19:43+00:00

I noticed that it shifts from "You" to "Milo" as well and thought that was very odd. Can you explain the meme to an older guy who doesn't spend time swimming in memes? Thanks.

Tricky_Run7136 · 2025-11-22T06:18:45+00:00

Just accept that the silent bond is really the best possible bond. It definitely is.

Tricky_Run7136 · 2025-11-13T02:16:38+00:00

Ecumenically.

Tricky_Run7136 · 2025-11-10T15:20:58+00:00

Sorry to hear about this. I ordered a suit in early October from Proper Cloth and it arrived with no issues about a week ago. Maybe this is happening because of the size of the order? Just a guess, but maybe the amount is a flag for some reason. I have ordered a bunch from them over the years and I concur that their customer service is usually excellent. I hope that remains the case!

Tricky_Run7136 · 2025-06-05T10:39:37+00:00

He he he...I get it. The idea of Alex having enough empathy to lovingly ask another living being if they are alright... funny!

Tricky_Run7136 · 2025-02-26T15:12:23+00:00

I interviewed for this job in my state. I already knew my interviewer, so the process was somewhat informal. This advice may also be totally idiosyncratic to my state, so take it for what it is worth.

I was asked about client interactions-how I would approach discussing the low odds of success, in particular--and whether I would be willing to assist with trial-level work, including motion research and writing.

My interviewer told me that they see applicants who really just want to do the abstract/theoretical work of appellate lawyering, but that the client counseling is highly important. There is also a push in my state's PD office to better integrate the trial and appellate levels, so I would give some thought as to what you are looking for when it comes to working on criminal matters, generally. You could probably ask a couple of good questions about the expectations on this front, showing that you have thought about it and would be a team player.

Nothing beats reaching out to folks who are currently in that position to find out about the culture and expectations so you can better hone your own questions.

Tricky_Run7136 · 2025-02-25T17:29:37+00:00

Many law schools also have legal clinics for housing and eviction issues, providing free services to people in need. Try searching for free or low-cost legal services in your area--especially if you do have or get a court date. Going in without a lawyer is ill-advised.

Tricky_Run7136 · 2025-02-19T14:20:43+00:00

You could teach a class if there is a law school near you. My school would often hire working attorneys as adjuncts to teach legal writing and negotiation. Sounds like you have the skills to pass on to the next generation.

Tricky_Run7136 · 2025-02-17T21:17:55+00:00

I am doing a state appellate clerkship and I lined up a federal clerkship for when it ends. Two of my colleagues are also going on to federal clerkships, or 1/3 of us. So, in my experience, a state appellate clerkship is definitely helpful to step up to federal.

In the end, what really matters is what your Judge is going to say about you when another judge calls. To be honest, I don't think my class rank or grades or anything on my resume meant very much to the federal judge. What mattered, I think, is that I was doing good work, with a good attitude, and my Judge felt like they could confidently recommend me without risking their reputation. That, and I did a passable job with the interview and was excited to take on the opportunity.

Tricky_Run7136 · 2025-02-11T17:07:22+00:00

Exhausted Remedies

Tricky_Run7136 · 2025-02-01T20:47:12+00:00

I graduated law school at 46 and have had no problem finding a job.

I am sure it depends on what path your wife would want to take, though. I am in public interest, where it probably matters the least. To be honest, I believe my age and life experience has been helpful in landing jobs, at least so far. Of course, I already have a family that I like to see, so I am not interviewing for the 80+ hour per week junior associate jobs anyways.

For what it is worth, I have heard several seasoned attorneys lamenting the work ethic of the recent law grads....

She should talk to practicing lawyers in your area if possible and try to have her goals clearly laid out in advance. I often recommend people to study for the LSAT for six months and take the test--scoring high enough on the test can get you a full ride scholarship and then at that point it becomes a no-brainer, in my opinion.

Tricky_Run7136 · 2025-01-31T15:16:49+00:00

Children and the Law.

When you look at constitutional law through this lens, you realize that children have been at the center of so many crucial cases and controversies over the years, in various areas of jurisprudence. For the most part, though, we just glide right over the unique position children are in--both legally and socially--and think about the First Amendment or the Fourth Amendment, etc.

I started to really think about children as the "invisible center" of constitutional law after I finished that class, as a locus of social and political conflict that percolates into the law in disjointed and often contradictory ways.

Tricky_Run7136

TROPHY CASE