Trial Lawyers Section

Trial Lawyers Section Update

By Aimee L. Kumer, Esq., President, Trial Lawyers Section

The Trial Lawyers Section has launched its 2022 calendar with high hopes for a return to regular in-person events, finally giving us the chance to engage with friends and colleagues who we may have mostly seen only through a screen over the past two years. Although the Omicron surge prompted us all (the Bar and society at large) to proceed with caution at the start of the year, we adapted easily, offering our programming in “hybrid” format – giving members the choice to attend in person (including a “masked-only” space) or via Zoom. We expect to continue to offer this hybrid format for the foreseeable future to help encourage everyone to participate as much as possible.

This year’s CLE programming will focus on “ancillary” topics “for Trial Lawyers.” The hope is to provide you with a solid foundation in topics that may crop up in your practice from time to time. They are topics which may affect your cases but are not a common area of practice among trial lawyers. On March 22, we hosted a CLE on “Appeals for Trial Lawyers.” A panel composed of Superior Court Judge Carolyn H. Nichols, Paul Peel, Esq., and Nathan Murawsky, Esq., moderated by Colin O’Boyle, Esq., provided an overview of key elements of appellate practice that are a must-know for trial attorneys. Such key elements included discussing waiver and preservation issues, interlocutory versus final appeals, and tips for appellate advocacy.

We have also resumed our pre-pandemic practice of inviting members of the bench to address our Section during lunch meetings. President Judge Carolyn Carluccio kicked off the year at our first meeting in February, discussing the status of the Court and recent developments relating to COVID, and the construction of the new justice center. Judge Wendy Rothstein, Administrative Judge for the Criminal Division, will join us in April to provide us with an update on her division.

We will also be incorporating a focus on “wellness” into our events, as part of the Bar Association’s Wellness Initiative. We look forward to presenting you with interesting events that incorporate elements of social, physical, and emotional wellness, among others. In all, as your Chair, I’m excited for 2022, and what I hope will be a great year “for Trial Lawyers.”