f/k/a archives . . . real opinions & real haiku

  Living Will UPL?  The latest issue of HALT’s Legal Reformer (April-June 2005) has

a JEER for Lancaster, Ohio, lawyer Frank W. Green.  Green has filed a complaint with

the Ohio Unauthorized Practice of Law Board against nurse Karen Phillips for leading 

a seminar on Living Wills at the Fairfield Medical Center in Lancaster.  We agree with

HALT. — Green deserves a BARonx Cheer!  Similarly, although it’s good to see that the

Ohio State Bar Federation has an extensive Health Directives program, with a very long

list of “provider” partners, I’m chagrined that its list of presenters for seminars on the

topic includes only lawyers. Note: At the bottom of all the Health Directive webpages is

the statement: “None of the accompanying material is to be construed as legal advice.” 

• 
  
  
  

  On June 30th, the Ohio State Bar is presenting a CLE seminar titled

  
  

  “End of Life Decision: Legal, Medical & Ethical Considerations.” 

  
  

  Maybe it will clear up the UPL issue.

 

Exiled from the Blawg Republic: On May 24th, I wondered whether my  

unfavorable words on Feb. 14 about the Blawg Republic were the reason why none 

of my postings were listed on their Legal Ethics Page after Feb. 15, 2005.  Yesterday,

I followed a Referral link to this website from BR and discovered that only the

name f/k/a and our former tagline now exist on the BR Legal Ethics Page.  Them

coincidences keep buildin’ up, don’t they?

 

Get it off your chest, Your Honor:  The HALT Legal Reformer also pointed me to

the tale of Judge Judith R. Eiler, of the King County [Washington] District Court, South

Division.  Skelly covered the story quite well back in February, but I missed it.  Despite

the claim in a 1998 Election Pamphlet that she “has a proven track record for tough, fair,

and consistent judicial decision-making;” and, despite having bachelor’s and masters

degrees in Communications and Rhetoric, Judge Eiler was reprimanded by the State

Commission on Judicial Conduct for “rude, impatient and undignified treatment of

litigants” — especially pro se ones, apparently — “addressing them in angry, condescend-

ing and or demeaning tone of voice.”  In re Judith R. Eiler, CJC No. 4148 -F- 116 (with

links to audio of the hearing).  Judge Eiler’s defense:  Judicial Stress. You might want to

send the opinion and stipulation to your favorite rude judge. (See also Seattle P-I,

“Judicial stress lands on hapless litigants,” Feb. 5, 2005). 

• 
  
  
  

  Two tips for judges garnered from the Eiler case: (1) Do not

  
  

  wear a t-shirt in court that says”Wanna Piece of Me?”, nor

  
  

  (2) use a large mug during hearings that declares “Annoying

  
  

  People Annoy Me.”
  
  
• 
  
  
  

  
  

  Judge Eiler has been ordered to undergo psychiatric therapy and

  
  

  sensitivity training.  Washington State actually has a program, with

  
  

  sliding scale fees, to help judges deal with psychiatric problems.
  
  
• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  

  Question for HALT: why did you use the image of a male judge

  
  

  for this story?

 

Tom Clausen is far better than I at venting without venom

(but, I am trying):

 

without consent
my old sneakers
in the trash

 

 

 

 

we bicker
all through the house
    … cleaning

 

 

 

 

 

 

done –
the repairman tells me
any fool can do it

 

Tom Clausen from Homework (Snapshot Press 2000)

order it here

 

• 
  
  from dagosan  

 

june morning

clammy pajamas

before the alarm

 

 

june evening

the thunderstorm

cools things down

 [June 7, 2005]