Section & Affiliate News
Barristers’ Club Update
The Barristers’ Club of Sacramento Partners with ABOTA for “A Conversation with Supreme Court Associate Justice Carol Corrigan” Luncheon and Hosts Another Successful Summer Associate Reception
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alifornia Supreme Court Associate Justice Carol Corrigan spoke at a September luncheon co-hosted by the Sacramento Valley Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and the Barristers’ Club of Sacramento. The luncheon is the third annual event co-hosted by the two organizations. Recognizing the import of Sacramento’s most experienced litigators and Sacramento’s newest attorneys coming together, ABOTA and the Barristers’ Club are working to establish this event as an annual Sacramento tradition. According to event planners, Justice Corrigan wanted to speak in a question and answer format, and graciously agreed to take questions from the audience. Leadership from ABOTA and the Barristers’ Club also solicited questions from their respective memberships in advance of the luncheon. Justice Arthur Scotland (ret.), acting as the Master of Ceremonies, asked questions of Justice Corrigan, along with Ernest Long, president of the Sacramento Valley Chapter of ABOTA, and Amanda Gimbel, Vice President of Programs of the Barristers’ Club. Justice Corrigan was both straightforward and thoughtful, offering her advice on brief writing: keep it focused, take the reader logically through your storyline, make your point first, and oppose the other side’s position secondarily. In terms of surviving oral argument, Justice Corrigan offered that while oral argument generally cannot help you win a case, it can help you lose a case. She also encouraged practitioners to listen to the question, and answer the question asked rather than answering the question you wish had been asked.
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Sacramento Lawyer November / D ecember 2013
By Katie Nystrom
Her most colorful advice came when questioned about the most common pitfalls young lawyers make when appearing before the Court for the first time, and how they can be avoided. Recognizing that attorneys often skip breakfast on the morning of oral argument because they fear an upset stomach, Justice Corrigan candidly urged attorneys to eat breakfast “because if you throw up, you’re embarrassed; if you pass out, you’re done.”
Judge Winn, Judge Sueyoshi, Justin Delacruz, and Judge Sumner at the Summer Associates Reception
Justice Corrigan answers a question from the audience.
ABOTA and the Barristers’ Club would like to take this opportunity to thank the following generous cosponsors: Anwyl, Scoffield & Stepp, LLP; Matheny Sears Linkert & Jaime, LLP; Porter Scott; Rivera & Associates; Wilcoxen Callaham, LLP; Schuering Zimmerman & Doyle, LLP; and Russ J. Wunderli Mediation Services. In July, the Barristers’ Club hosted its 21st Annual Summer Associates Reception to honor the summer associates and firms participating in the Sacramento County Bar Association’s Diversity Hiring and Retention Program. These firms hired a first year diversity law student for the summer. The Summer Associates Reception also celebrates all of our Sacramentoarea summer associates. As always, the event had a tremendous turnout from the local legal community, including summer associates, judges, and attorneys. Please join the Barristers’ Club in extending a heartfelt thanks to this year’s sponsors: Boutin Jones Inc.; Downey Brand LLP; Flesher Mckague LLP; Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard; Mastagni, Holstedt, Amick, Miller & Johnsen; Matheny Sears Linkert & Jaime LLP; Newman & Broomand LLP; Olson, Hagel & Fishburn; Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP; Porter Scott; Stoel Rives LLP; VSP Vision Care; Wilcoxen Callaham, LLP; UC Davis School of Law; and University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. Katie Nystrom is an associate at Kronick, Moskovitz, Tiedemann & Girard and the media chair for the Barristers’ Club.