Final week we lined a narrative the place a Proskauer lawyer tried to make use of his opposing counsel’s spouse’s moving into to labor as a leverage-gaining train. In her protection, Kathryn Rubino did a terrific job of actually emphasizing how callous and allergic to usually accepted human sensibilities it’s to not give a bit grace in conditions the place being pregnant interrupts issues earlier than the court docket. Sadly, 5 of the seven members of Ohio’s Supreme Courtroom didn’t appear to get the memo. From ABA Journal:
The Ohio Supreme Courtroom on Sunday rejected a bid by a pregnant lawyer on mattress relaxation to remain a trial scheduled to start the following day.
The state supreme court docket dominated in opposition to lawyer Chelsea J. Panzeca in her emergency bid to remain the Could 8 trial of her shopper, whereas the justices think about whether or not to direct the trial decide to grant a continuance.
Justice Jennifer Brunner mentioned she would have granted the keep in a dissent joined by Justice Michael P. Donnelly.
To make issues worse, the Courtroom’s denial of keep doubles down on saying no matter to fairness and accessibility:
It’s “normal follow” at Panzeca’s agency for her to take the lead in Ohio legal instances, like the moment one through which the alleged sufferer is a toddler, Panzeca mentioned in her Could 3 mandamus grievance.
Panzeca’s aiding counsel is difficult of listening to.
Panzeca’s due date for her twins is Could 25. She agreed to a Could 8 trial date in Highland County, Ohio, earlier than she was instructed to remain in mattress due to a medical situation.
The trial decide ought to have granted the continuance as cheap underneath the circumstances, Brunner wrote in her dissent. Now, Panzeca’s solely entry to the trial will probably be to observe it on YouTube.
Hear — going to legislation college on glorified YouTube was troubling sufficient. Being lead on a high-stakes case, then getting sick after which being consigned to laying in mattress as your co-counsel has to deal with every little thing is a nightmare.
When pushed on their reasoning, the bulk had this to say. From Law360:
Decide Rocky A. Coss denied Panzeca’s continuance request and a movement to remain proceedings, citing a sufferer’s rights to a well timed trial, though Panzeca identified that if the trial was moved to August, it will nonetheless be inside the statutory time-frame to have the case tried. The lawyer and he or she didn’t see how Shepard may very well be faulted for a delay within the trial when “there was such a delay in indicting anyone.”
“That had nothing to do with Mr. Shepard,” she mentioned.
For anybody inquisitive about following the case, The State of Ohio ex rel. Chelsea J. Panzeca, Esq. and Ronald W. Shepard v. The Highland County Courtroom of Frequent Pleas, case quantity 023-0582 can be a great begin.
Pregnant Legal Protection Lawyer On Mattress Relaxation Loses Trial-Delay Bid In Prime State Courtroom [ABA Journal]
Break up Ohio Excessive Courtroom Spurns Pregnant Atty’s Trial Delay Bid [Law360]
Chris Williams turned a social media supervisor and assistant editor for Above the Regulation in June 2021. Previous to becoming a member of the workers, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ within the Fb group Regulation College Memes for Edgy T14s. He endured Missouri lengthy sufficient to graduate from Washington College in St. Louis College of Regulation. He’s a former boatbuilder who can’t swim, a printed writer on essential race concept, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for biking that sometimes annoys his friends. You’ll be able to attain him by e-mail at cwilliams@abovethelaw.com and by tweet at @WritesForRent.
