While digging through one of the larger-than-normal stacks of paper that currently occupy what I would estimate to be 63% of the 28 square feet of desk in front of me, I located some unopened correspondence from the Fayette County Bar Association (“FCBA”). This particular letter contained the invitation and registration form for the FCBA’s 2007 Annual Bench and Bar CLE, which I’ve found to be pretty good program.

Although I’m fortunately doing pretty well on CLE hours this year (and might even earn another Certificate for my refrigerator!), I’m going to attend the first day of the FCBA’s CLE—primarily to see Justice Mary Noble’s Supreme Court Update presentation.

Over the years, I’ve seen several different SCOKY Justices give case law update presentations. The typical format doesn’t exactly lend itself to a rapt audience (a notable exception being former Justice Keller’s crowd-participation, multiple-choice-question format that he came up with in order to compete with Judge Sara Combs, who frequently presented immediately before or after he did, and who believed to be a better public speaker). Nonetheless, I find them generally pretty interesting and informative. Most of the time, by listening closely, I can pick up a nugget or two about the types of issues that the Court is interested in at a particular time, whether a particular decision was more divisive than the opinions would suggest, etc.

When I first started attending CLE programs, I was content to allow my eyes to glass over during and/or smuggle in a crossword puzzle for the case law updates. Then, several years ago,before a presentation by a former SCOKY Justice, I was seated next to a criminal appellate attorney. In the course of the typical “is-that-your-Hampton-Inn-pen-or-is-it-mine?” and “they-have-some-good-mints-here-don’t-they?” conversation, he mentioned that he had just gotten to the program site and was leaving as soon as the Justice completed his presentation. My face must have shown my surprise, because he explained “Hey, trying to get inside these guys’ heads is my job. So, if they’re speaking somewhere, I’m there. . . .especially if someone else is paying for it.”

I tried it his way. I focused on the presentation in a way that I hadn’t focused since a particularly riveting lecture about the fur trade back in my AP U.S. History class in 1988. Instead of writing notes to others, I took notes. The Justice didn’t disappoint. He inadvertently leaked the result of a not-yet-published opinion and also disclosed the fact that the opinion that the Court ultimately rendered in a highly-publicized Fayette County homicide case was originally a dissenting opinion that had, in the course of the Court’s consideration of the case, ultimately garnered a majority of the votes.

Fortunately, most Justices’ CLE presentations avoid such wholesale divulging of inside information. I’ve found, however, that I can pick up valuable information by listening closely. For example, Justices occasionally make it known that they are looking for a case that will provide a suitable vehicle for the Court to address a particular “pet issue.”

So, here’s my thought: I know that Justice Noble is speaking in my hometown, and I’m planning to go listen to what she has to say. I suspect that it is likely that other local bar associations have similar “end of the year” programs elsewhere in the state where the local SCOKY Justice will give a presentation. I’d love to attend all such programs and listen for myself to what the Justices have to say, but there’s no way I can pull that off.

Accordingly, local SCOKYBLOG readers, if you’re planning on attending a CLE presentation where a SCOKY Justice is speaking, contact me and let me know. To date, SCOKYBLOG has been sorely lacking in diversity of viewpoints, and I’d love to be able to post someone else’s views for a change. If you’re willing to send me a copy of the written materials and prepare a written summary of the presentation’s actual content, I’ll agree to post those summaries (either anonymously, or, if you prefer, identifying you as the author),

Given the empirical lack of success in my previous “send me a VHS tape of your SCOKY Oral Argument and I’ll send it back to you with a DVD copy” offer, I’ll even do better for this one. I’ll agree to compensate the first two people who email me and express interest in writing a summary for the prorated cost of the SCOKY Justice’s presentation part of the CLE they attend. (For example, if it’s a 10-hour CLE that costs a total of $150 dollars, and the SCOKY Justice’s presentation is an hour, I’ll reach into my pocket and pull out a Hamilton and a Lincoln as an enticement for imbedded journalists to come out of the woodwork.) After all, as my CLE-neighbor told me “if they’re speaking somewhere, I’m there. . . .especially if someone else is paying for it.”

During the most recent election cycle, Justice Noble’s and Justice Schroder’s campaigns took advantage of cutting-edge technology as they utilized YouTube to get their message out.

These Justices’ television advertisements can be viewed here:

Justice Noble’s Television Ad #1

Justice Noble’s Television Ad #2

Justice Schroder’s Television Ads