The California Blog of Appeal

"The California Blog of Appeal is an appellate practitioner's take on practice and legal developments in the California Courts of Appeal, California Supreme Court, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. But it's not just for appellate lawyers. ... Trial lawyers will also be interested in the focus of this blog," which includes "(1) substantive legal developments; (2) appellate procedure, standards of review, and appellate jurisdiction that can greatly influence how a trial attorney shapes litigation at the trial level; (3) post-trial practice in the trial courts; and (4) writing, oral advocacy, and other practical skills."

Author: Greg May is a Ventura, Calif., appellate attorney.

Blawg Related Categories: Appellate Practice • Law Practice Management • Trials & Litigation • States • California • Legal Information

Recent Posts from The California Blog of Appeal

Where are all the new posts?
Regular readers who are wondering where I’ve gone (and are, hopefully, disappointed at my lack of posting the last few weeks) should know that the blog lives! I, on the other hand, have barely felt…
The Mindset of Appellate Judges
Here is a well-stated look into the minds of appellate judges, from a 2-year old column by Howard Bashman: One essential trait that an appellate lawyer must possess is the ability to think about legal…
Does it Matter Who’s On Your Panel?
Our local appellate court in Ventura (Second District, Division Six) can be a good place to hang out if you’re looking for a chuckle. I don’t think I’ve ever left a session there without having…
Ever Felt Like Using an Expletive at Oral Argument?
I imagine swear words are material to cases quite often, especially in defamation or employment cases (the latter being the first time I had to put one in a brief). But I suspect they are…
Got a stay? Challenge the judge anyway!
Under Code of Civil Procedure 170.3, subdivision (c), a party may apply to disqualify the trial judge for cause, but must submit the statement of objection “at the earliest practicable opportunity after discovery of the facts constituting…
There’s No “E” Before “Mails” When it Comes to Triggering the Deadline to Appeal
Modern communication and the California Rules of Court collide in Citizens for Civic Accountability v. Town of Danville, case no. A121899 (1st Dist. Oct. 27, 2008), and the winner is . . . the rules!…
The Judgment, the Whole Judgment, and Nothing But the Judgment
Sometimes, a judgment is a mixed bag. That’s how all the parties must have viewed the judgment in Satchmed Plaza Owners Assn. v. UWMC Hospital Corp., case no. G038119 (4th Dist. Oct. 23, 2008). The…
New Law Blog: The California Constitution
Well, a young blog, at least, if not brand spanking new. The California Constitution was launched in August by Howard Rice partner Steve Mayer. Good luck! Hat tip: California Punitive Damages.
Why Some Lawyers and Their Clients are Reluctant to Engage Appellate Counsel, Part 4: “This Case Needs a Specialist.”
(NOTE: This post is the fourth in a series. To read the announcement of the series and/or leave your ideas for subsequent installments, click here.) Today’s post looks at another ability-related reason the trial lawyer…
What does “abuse of discretion” mean in your case?
Sometimes, it seems that defining an “abuse of discretion” is like nailing jello to the wall (maybe worse, since the latter is difficult, but not impossible). There are many nuances to the standard, which can depend…