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.

Tagged with: capital gazette judiciary steven i. platt

Which dispute resolution technique should parties and their counsel use in the courthouse or conference room of the future? That was the question with which I concluded my last column. The short answer is the classic lawyer’s response – it ...

Tagged with: steven i. platt

Donald Trump has clearly taken political theater to a new level, and the mainstream media – not to mention social media – can’t resist the temptation to give him their almost undivided attention, thereby encouraging and enabling him to take ...

Tagged with: Donald Trump steven i. platt

President Obama lamented and vented, not necessarily in that order, the senseless and tragic slaughter of nine innocent people in their church in Charleston, South Carolina, by a deranged and racist also not necessarily in that order individual, whose racist ...

Tagged with: charleston steven i. platt

As the executive and legislative branches of our federal government approach yet another “crisis” that they created by setting up a partial government shutdown of one of our most important departments — Homeland Security — our “leaders” are, as usual, spending too much time developing talking points and not enough time figuring out how to make our increasingly fragile representative democracy work.

Tagged with: Legal Commentary maryland pursuit of justice steven i. platt

As Gov.-elect Larry Hogan fills posts in his incoming administration, it would behoove him to pay attention not only to the qualifications, but also the management style of the men and women who seek appointive office at the highest levels in the new government.

Tagged with: Legal Commentary maryland pursuit of justice steven i. platt

As the Ferguson, Missouri, community along with the rest of the country reacts to the decision of the St. Louis County grand jury not to indict police officer Darren Wilson, the secrecy of its deliberations for months and the lack of accountability that has inevitably accompanied it should raise serious questions about the utility of the aging institution of the grand jury.

Tagged with: Legal Commentary maryland pursuit of justice steven i. platt

As the general election for governor and virtually all of the state and local offices in our state except the Baltimore mayor and City Council approach, it is clearer than ever how the manner in which campaigns are conducted affects the initiation and implementation of public policy once the election is over.

Tagged with: Legal Commentary maryland pursuit of justice steven i. platt

In recent years, courts have been faced with an ever-rising tide of litigation. Many of the issues raised by a good portion of this litigation go to the very heart of our political, economic, social and cultural order.

Tagged with: Legal Commentary maryland pursuit of justice steven i. platt

The courthouse of the future will have multiple doors and many methods of dispute resolution available behind those doors.

Tagged with: Legal Commentary maryland pursuit of justice steven i. platt