All Comfort the Dark Night Can Afford

“All comfort that the dark night can afford

Be to thy person”

- Richard III  V,3; Earl of Richmond to the Earl of Derby

My professional career yielded one of the sweetest Thanksgivings I ever had.  One year, many years ago, a district attorney initiated a trial for criminal contempt against my client. Somehow the trial was scheduled for the Monday following Thanksgiving! I don't know why the parties or the judge thought that was a fun idea, but, regardless of the reasoning, that was the schedule.  

Months before, I had filed a motion to dismiss for the constitutional violation of lack of a speedy trial: justice delayed is justice denied.  Those of you versed in criminal defense know that this was the longest of long shots. Thus far, it hadn’t worked. I was staring down a Thanksgiving weekend of preoccupied trial prep.

And then it happened:

The day before Thanksgiving, we received a ruling from the trial court granting my motion and dismissing the case.  That meant instead of salting my turkey with antacids while girding for trial over dark Thanksgiving nights, I was able to deliver good news to my client and spend a delicious, comfort-laden, non-trial-minded repose with my family.

Here is my wish for all of you this Thanksgiving: In whatever way it happens, I hope all of you have a slack-filled, trial-free holiday with your loved ones!  You deserve it and the world needs it.

Thanks for being a subscriber to the Bard of the Bar, and thanks to Brandon Boyd and the other editors at the firm who help me make it happen every week.  It is truly my privilege and my pleasure