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Recent Articles from Steven Platt
Neutrality: How to find it in a complex world
Kenneth Cloke is a mediator and coach in the field of conflict resolution, a profession that he and Joan Goldsmith created and are in the process of developing. In his book “Politics, Dialogue and the Evolution of Democracy,” Cloke — whom I have met and learned from — points out two very different schools of […]
Mediation in a complicated world
This writer’s 21st-century “branding” is as a “senior judge” when I am recalled to sit as a trial court judge or as a mediator for the Court of Special Appeals or for a trial court. When I am not recalled, I am a “mediator” or “arbitrator” in the private sector. As such, I mediate […]
New Year’s resolutions for those in power
As the new year approaches, I welcome the opportunity in this space provided by The Daily Record to reflect on the last almost 12 years since I “retired” as a full-time judge and entered a very different world of Private ADR, consulting, as well as public speaking, lecturing and teaching for diverse organizations. I have […]
Access to justice and the management of expectations
Increasing access to justice will proceed more smoothly if we contemporaneously address and temper the enhanced expectations honestly and forthrightly
Tragedy brings closer look at relationship between courts, media
This political and legal culture should compel both the judiciary and the responsible media to reinvigorate our defenses of each other, even when we disagree.
The challenge of judging judges
We are in the midst of an increased willingness of lawyers and litigants to use the judicial discipline commission to air their legitimate and illegitimate grievances.
Hold judges accountable with performance evaluations
The link between the lack of progress toward abolishing contested judicial elections of circuit court judges and the failure of the state to create a rigorous but fair program of judicial performance evaluations is unmistakable.
Resolutions for judges, politicians, policymakers
As the new year approaches, I welcome the opportunity in this space provided by The Daily Record, to reflect on the last almost 11 years since I “retired” as a full-time judge and entered a very different world of Private ADR, consulting, as well as public speaking, lecturing and teaching for diverse organizations. I have […]
Planning for justice after the revolution
Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon meet at the local bar to talk about what they have in common. “We need a political revolution,” Bernie says, as he did so often during his 2016 campaign and thereafter. “We are in a war with The Establishment while attempting the deconstruction of the administrative state,” Steve says, echoing […]
Cannabis industry fertilizes ADR business
Due to the nature of the cannabis industry and its multiple levels and conflicting state and federal regulatory schemes, many individuals and businesses are choosing to use ADR instead of litigating when troubles or disputes arise.
A lawyer’s lawyer, taken far too soon
Robert Julian Zarbin, Esq., died Saturday, July 8, far too soon at the age of 56. He was president and longtime board member of the Maryland Association of Justice, president of the James C. Cawood American Inn of Court, past delegate and president of The Council of Presidents of the American Association for Justice, member […]
Graduation speeches to live by
In the spirit of the season for soaring rhetoric and sometimes-pious or even self-serving bland admonitions provided free of charge (I hope) at high school and college graduation ceremonies, I offer two commencement addresses I consider among “the best and the brightest” (in honor of the late David Halberstam). For all you law school graduates, […]
