THE STATE WE'RE IN...Let me share two separate "sightings" I've made over the past few weeks. First sighting: I bump into a Superior Court judge on the sidewalk in front of my building. In my earlier life as a law firm librarian, I did a lot of work for him when he was a partner. Even after he became a judge, we've always managed to stay in touch. We talk for a while, and then go for a walk together. He pulls what looks like a shopping list from his jacket pocket, and shows it to me. The List: "Post-its; Retractable pens; Paper clips." "What's this?" I ask. It turns out that the court has run out of many supplies, and there is no money to purchase any more. So, this Judge of the Superior Court is making a run to Staples before he leaves work for the day. Second sighting: A long, black limo pulls up on the Golden Gate Avenue side of the Federal Building. A well-known trial attorney, accompanied by a retinue of minions, pops out of the limo. All of them, even the limo driver, are impeccably dressed and impeccably groomed. The well-known attorney is on his way to make his appearance for a hearing in Federal Court.
"Okay," you might say, "These two lawyers made their choices as to the kind of work they wanted to do. They're grownups. Boo hoo hoo." My simple message to you: How will the public sector manage to attract the best and the brightest? Why should public service be seen as a ticket to the breadline? Why should our nation tolerate that?

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE...The current issue of the LLSDC's Law Library Lights reminds us that vendors doing end-runs around librarians is nothing new. "Do you know who's an expert in a small and specialized field: the planning of law libraries? A law librarian with various degrees and/or years of experience in the field? Guess again. Your friend from Bancroft-Whitney is an expert. His suggestions cost you nothing, and help you earn more money. Through training and experience, this man knows the tools of your profession. Because the complete law library is a long-range investment, it should be built carefully, step by step. The man from Bancroft-Whitney can help you plan those steps wisely—and a library well-planned is already half paid for." This Bancroft-Whitney advertisement appeared in the very first issue of Law Library Lights, September 1957. Thanks to Roger Skalbeck of Georgetown Law for pointing this out.

SPEAKING OF JUDGES...Recently, I spent an afternoon in the courtroom of a friend who is a District Court judge in Western Massachusetts. In Massachusetts, the District Court is the branch of the trial court system that is analogous to California’s old Municipal Courts. DUI, shoplifting, small claims, petty theft, domestic violence restraining orders…As a never-ending parade of defendants came in and out for arraignment or hearing, I found myself thinking how fortunate we law librarians are to have turned out the way we did. It’s unlikely that any of us ever landed in court. By the way, my friend was unfailingly courteous and patient with all the defendants who appeared before him, even those defendants who were obviously “frequent flyers.”