Turn out the lights the party’s (Almost) over!

I write this on May 12, a truly momentous day. Today I submitted via UPS (I don’t trust Louis DeJoy’s USPS) my Motion For Resignation From The Rhode Island Bar to the Rhode Island Supreme Court. Yup, the state’s Supreme Court has to grant my Motion before I can actually retire. It‘s in R.I. Sup. Ct. Rule 23.

And I don’t even get a gold watch symbolizing years of faithful service to the people of my state.

Earlier this year I wrote about my retirement plans and a tentative time frame. According to my Motion it’s no longer tentative. On August 1, I’m done.

So what’s life after lawyering look like? I’d like to stay engaged with issues I’ve tried to work on over the years. For instance, I’ll have more time - and I hope opportunity - to advocate for a robust Access To Justice Commission in Rhode Island. Over the past weeks, I’ve spoken with people who remembered our LSO and lamented the continuing void in available legal services that was created by our organization’s demise.

Recently I became aware of a family facing eviction and the loss of their housing subsidy. I had COVID at the time (the health hits just keep on coming!) and couldn’t assist. So I gave them names of the few organizations that could help. I contacted former colleagues to see if they or anyone they knew could and would help. As it turned, services were accessed, the underlying premise of the attack on their housing revealed, and tonight they sleep in their own beds in their own home.

It all worked out for the better, but it shouldn’t have been so difficult to access vital legal services. While not a panacea, an ATJ Commission properly organized would have made more resources available to this family and other families similarly situated.

Obtaining legal services should never be tantamount to winning the lottery. Unfortunately, under current conditions that’s exactly what it is - a winning lottery ticket. We must do better.

Beyond the above crusade, I’d like to post more on this blog. I have a wonderful vehicle for expression and for … reasons … it’s been underutilized. Anyone who knows me knows I have opinions about a lot of things. It’s time to use this space to voice those opinions.

Next will be a comment on the Dobbs draft which if left in tact would overturn Roe v. Wade and in the process turn on its head 400 years of developed legal theory regarding individual liberties.

I also intend to examine whether there is a constitutional argument to support a so-called Civil Gideon holding by the US Supreme Court. I’ve been looking at this question for a couple of years and think that there might be a viable argument to secure such a judgment by the Court.

Grandiose? Yes. A little megalomaniacal? Perhaps. Worth exploring? Most definitely.

Finally, I’ll have more time to spend with my family, travel with my wife while we’re able, and undermine parental authority with my grandsons.

Sounds like a plan!