On June 1, 2015, I and several colleagues participated in a program entitled “Meet the Justices of the Appellate Division, First Department,” sponsored by the Committee on Courts of Appellate Jurisdiction and the Committee on Continuing Legal Education of the New York State Bar Association, in collaboration with many other bar groups. The purpose of this program was to provide a forum for a frank discussion between members of our court and appellate practitioners regarding issues surrounding appellate practice. The lawyers were able to ask the judges pointed questions about effective brief writing, oral argument and raise other concerns and ideas. It was a rare opportunity for lawyers to explore the preferences and thoughts of appellate judges in a relatively informal setting.
It may have been even more beneficial for the justices. With only a little prodding, and by turning a careful ear to the questions coming from members of the bar, we were able to discern how our court is perceived by lawyers who appear before us. While lawyers may be hesitant to directly confront members of the judiciary with their complaints and concerns, programs that encourage and promote transparency in a professional, non-adversarial setting are ideally suited to encourage a frank exchange between judges and members of the bar.
