Tom Julin: Not Everything an Attorney Says On a Website Is True!

Hi kids, it's Friday!

The above 15 minute "educational" video (i.e., kinda boring) stars a lot of old white men from Tally who are red-faced, wear bow-ties, and who seem to know something about the history of merit retention in this State.

Oh yeah, plus Justice Barkett.

If you want to skip the video, here's the takeaway:  vote NO on all the Constitutional Amendments and YES to retain our Justices.

In other news, Tom Julin says not everyone who claims to be an expert on social media actually is one:

"There is so much written about social media and technology these days that I see a lot of attorneys boast about being experts on the subject on their websites," Julin said. "It's not clear to me that they are legitimate experts in that field, but there is certainly money to be made in it."

Hmm, just what is Tom trying to say?

Finally, is it the anniversary of Kristallnacht yet?

Oh well, close enough.

Have a great weekend!

Large Law Firms to Hold Conference Calls!

Even the intrepid Julie Kay can't unpack the byzantine and pointlessly restrictive new bar rules on intertubal law firm websites:

Some law firms — including Maltzman Foreman with offices in Miami, Los Angeles and Chicago — already altered their sites to reflect the proposed rules, and some hired experts such as LexisNexis to advise them how best to do so. The firm added a pop-up disclaimer page that requires visitors to check three boxes before moving to the main content.

Several lawyers have sent comments to the court. But Florida’s largest law firms are only now becoming aware of the proposal and have not yet sent comments.

A loose coalition that includes Holland & Knight, Carlton Fields, Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod, Hunton & Williams, Jorden Burt and Foley & Lardner filed a petition requesting more time to submit comments.

The coalition is being organized by First Amendment lawyers Thomas Julin of Hunton & Williams and Richard Ovelman of Jorden Burt. In a ruling July 1, the Supreme Court agreed to the extension.

Ok, hopefully The Grinder can get the Bar to act reasonably.

But first there's this:

Julin said the law firms likely will have conference calls to devise a position and file joint comments.

YES!!!!

Conference calls!!!

Let's have a non-billable hour billing party -- everybody bill 2.6 asap (especially you summer associates)!!!

Oh boy, the Bar better be ready.

Free Speech Rights?

More on Tom Julin -- now he's busy representing BigPharma and lobbyists.

I don't have a comment on this, other than that is possibly the worst photo I have ever seen of Tom Julin.

Is that Tom or the Kingpin from Spiderman?

There, now I have exercised my free speech rights.

Sealed!

Judge Thornton seals the Hirsch tapes:

A Miami Beach man attempting to overturn his DUI manslaughter conviction was handed a setback today when a Circuit Court judge ruled that a secretly made tape recording did not show prominent defense attorney Milton Hirsch urged his client to flee the country rather than face trial.

Judge John Thornton told lawyers for Sean Casey that he listened to the taped conservation "not just once, but several times" before he decided to permanently seal the recording, which makes it illegal to disseminate it or a transcript of the recording.

Don't worry -- the Eric Dane/Rebecca Gayheart threesome tapes are still available and do not appear to be subject to Judge Thornton's order.

So it's kind of a split-the-baby ruling.

BTW, Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart -- what a marriage!

Way to keep things fresh, you newlyweds.

Your Regularly Scheduled GG Update.

Francisco Alvarado has done some great reporting on the continuing Sean Casey/Milt Hirsch secret tapes saga, which brought none other than the big man himself, Tom Julin, into Judge Thornton's courtroom this afternoon to seek the release of the tapes.

Tom's also been busy petitioning the Supreme Court on Florida's lunch and goodies lobbyist ban, again on free speech grounds.

Any predictions on what Judge Thornton (I know I know -- I'm still getting used to that too) will do?

Tom Julin Represents Milt Hirsch Accuser.

Over at Rump's place, they have been discussing for days this whole Milt Hirsch brouhaha.

It's sorta like the criminal defense bar's version of the endless Mr. Clucky coverage -- it's catnip to those JBB lawyers.

I've stayed away from the story, mostly because I have nothing to add as a civil litigator beyond that I know and respect Milton, plus the dude really knows how to rock a full beard.

On those two criteria alone, Milt will make an excellent judge.

But Riptide has opened up a civil angle to the story, in that none other than the Gainesville Grinder, the Media Man With A Plan, yes -- I'm talking Tom Julin himself(!) -- is representing Milt's accuser, Sean Casey, on a pro bono basis.

In a letter to New Times' Francisco Alvarado, Mr. Casey writes:

Please contact Mr. Thomas Julin (305-810-2516), a partner in the law firm of Hunton & Williams, a widely respected media attorney who is representing me pro bono. Yesterday, Mr. Julin effectively argued in Court against the sealing of the documents on legal and public policy grounds. There is a major legal issue here. The judge granted more time and set an August 13 date for the next hearing. I know you spoke with Mr. Julin once before. He would be more than willing to give you a statement on the issues. The prosecution is asking the court to seal tapes that are crucial evidence in my case and would help me get a new and more fair trial.

That's some serious firepower and a superb lawyer to have in your corner, Mr. Casey.

I suspect we have not heard the last of this one -- hail, it may even outlast the epic Reverend Cutié coverage.

(Ok, unless the tapes reveal Milt sticking his hands down a sexy latina's bikini bottom, it probably won't hit peak Cutié Crisis Coverage levels.)