drfine.bsky.social
@drfine.bsky.social
Dad, husband, appellate advocate, legal writing, oral advocacy, autism dad. Comments worth what you’re paying for them. Comments are mine, not my firm’s or its clients’.
One hundred sixty-two years ago today, President Lincoln stood up in Gettysburg—just 30 miles down the road from where I sit to write this—and gave a two-minute talk that the world will never forget. Yes, it was the only time a lawyer didn’t use all the time allotted to him. #FOLO
November 19, 2025 at 11:14 AM
One hundred sixty-two years ago today, President Lincoln stood up in Gettysburg—just 30 miles down the road from where I sit to write this—and gave a two-minute talk that the world will never forget. Yes, it was the only time a lawyer didn’t use all the time allotted to him. #FOLO
I’ve written here about my son, a young man with autism and his dad’s best pal. K’s interest in Halloween generally focuses on the party that they have at his day program, but my wife likes to put together creative costumes. Enjoy (see below and comments).
October 31, 2025 at 1:59 PM
I’ve written here about my son, a young man with autism and his dad’s best pal. K’s interest in Halloween generally focuses on the party that they have at his day program, but my wife likes to put together creative costumes. Enjoy (see below and comments).
I don't really challenge the First Department's courtroom for its beauty, but the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's Harrisburg courtroom is pretty close.
September 10, 2025 at 5:35 PM
I don't really challenge the First Department's courtroom for its beauty, but the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's Harrisburg courtroom is pretty close.
Oral argument in the Susquehanna County Court of Common Pleas in Montrose, PA.
August 26, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Oral argument in the Susquehanna County Court of Common Pleas in Montrose, PA.
We take our sons to HersheyPark to ride the coasters, have lunch and appreciate the warmth of easy friendship. I ride with the boys. S holds our things and waits at ride exits. She is a fierce advocate for her son, and I think the only things she fears are roller coasters.
August 3, 2025 at 10:54 PM
We take our sons to HersheyPark to ride the coasters, have lunch and appreciate the warmth of easy friendship. I ride with the boys. S holds our things and waits at ride exits. She is a fierce advocate for her son, and I think the only things she fears are roller coasters.
My wife decided our boy needed Biscuit because, well, a boy and his dog and all of that, and our boy is afraid of the real ones. So she sent me off to toy stores to find our boy’s new, best and animatronic friend. 2/
July 30, 2025 at 11:13 AM
My wife decided our boy needed Biscuit because, well, a boy and his dog and all of that, and our boy is afraid of the real ones. So she sent me off to toy stores to find our boy’s new, best and animatronic friend. 2/
100 years ago today, a Tennessee jury convicted John Scopes of violating the Butler Act, a statute that forbid teaching evolution. I should note that an appellate lawyer persuaded the Tennessee Supreme Court to vacate the judgment (albeit on a technicality).
famous-trials.com/scopesmonkey...
famous-trials.com/scopesmonkey...
July 21, 2025 at 1:21 PM
100 years ago today, a Tennessee jury convicted John Scopes of violating the Butler Act, a statute that forbid teaching evolution. I should note that an appellate lawyer persuaded the Tennessee Supreme Court to vacate the judgment (albeit on a technicality).
famous-trials.com/scopesmonkey...
famous-trials.com/scopesmonkey...
Today is the birthday of his great-great grandmother, and so I took some time to tell him about her. How she was born 148 years ago and came from Russia to Canada as a young girl. How she met my great grandfather in the very small Jewish community in Chatham, New Brunswick, in the 1890s. 2/
July 15, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Today is the birthday of his great-great grandmother, and so I took some time to tell him about her. How she was born 148 years ago and came from Russia to Canada as a young girl. How she met my great grandfather in the very small Jewish community in Chatham, New Brunswick, in the 1890s. 2/
Adventures in Being K’s Dad. As I’ve written, K is my son, an adult with autism and his dad’s best pal. Let me tell you about K and his cousin, J. J is three and a half years older than K. When they were kids, she took a real interest in him, even though he wasn’t interactive like other kids. 1/
July 1, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Adventures in Being K’s Dad. As I’ve written, K is my son, an adult with autism and his dad’s best pal. Let me tell you about K and his cousin, J. J is three and a half years older than K. When they were kids, she took a real interest in him, even though he wasn’t interactive like other kids. 1/
Adventures in Being K's Dad. I've written here about my son, an adult with autism and his dad's best buddy. Today is our boy's birthday and, as parents do on such occasions, I'm reflecting on him and our time together. There's a lot I could write, but I'll focus on one thing. 1/
June 27, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Adventures in Being K's Dad. I've written here about my son, an adult with autism and his dad's best buddy. Today is our boy's birthday and, as parents do on such occasions, I'm reflecting on him and our time together. There's a lot I could write, but I'll focus on one thing. 1/
Being impatient, I drafted a proposed order requiring the baby to be born by the next day & left it for the judge. He didn’t say anything, & I assumed he wasn’t amused. But later that day he came by my desk, dropped the signed order on my desk & told me to file it in the clerk’s office. 2/
June 23, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Being impatient, I drafted a proposed order requiring the baby to be born by the next day & left it for the judge. He didn’t say anything, & I assumed he wasn’t amused. But later that day he came by my desk, dropped the signed order on my desk & told me to file it in the clerk’s office. 2/
Adventures in Being K’s Dad. I’ve written here about my son, an adult with autism and his dad’s best pal. My dad loved opera. On my dad’s birthday and on the anniversary of his death, my boy and I listen to some of Dad’s favorite arias. Yesterday was such an anniversary. 1/
June 10, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Adventures in Being K’s Dad. I’ve written here about my son, an adult with autism and his dad’s best pal. My dad loved opera. On my dad’s birthday and on the anniversary of his death, my boy and I listen to some of Dad’s favorite arias. Yesterday was such an anniversary. 1/
I've written here about my octogenarian Jewish mother in Toledo who eagerly awaits the results of appeals I've worked on and complains about delay. I visited her this past weekend, and she asked about a case I recently argued and when I'll get a decision. She wasn't satisfied. #AppellateSky
May 19, 2025 at 2:11 PM
I've written here about my octogenarian Jewish mother in Toledo who eagerly awaits the results of appeals I've worked on and complains about delay. I visited her this past weekend, and she asked about a case I recently argued and when I'll get a decision. She wasn't satisfied. #AppellateSky
When you’re getting ready for oral argument and your best pal needs a swing, you practice answering hard questions at the New Cumberland Borough Park.
May 11, 2025 at 4:02 PM
When you’re getting ready for oral argument and your best pal needs a swing, you practice answering hard questions at the New Cumberland Borough Park.
Adventures in Being K’s Dad. I’ve written here about my son, a young man with autism and his dad’s best pal. Pretty much every weekend, we go out for breakfast. My boy is non-speaking, but he knows how to order. In fact, he’s an impressive communicator (And, you bet his old man is proud.)
May 10, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Adventures in Being K’s Dad. I’ve written here about my son, a young man with autism and his dad’s best pal. Pretty much every weekend, we go out for breakfast. My boy is non-speaking, but he knows how to order. In fact, he’s an impressive communicator (And, you bet his old man is proud.)
From the Second Circuit's opinion today in Öztürk v. Hyde. Is there a typo in the highlighted section or have I just missed this turn of phrase ("The argument runs the government head into the 'general rule ...")
May 7, 2025 at 8:57 PM
From the Second Circuit's opinion today in Öztürk v. Hyde. Is there a typo in the highlighted section or have I just missed this turn of phrase ("The argument runs the government head into the 'general rule ...")
When you’re standing alone in your office practicing for an oral argument…
May 7, 2025 at 1:44 PM
When you’re standing alone in your office practicing for an oral argument…
Adventures in Being K's Dad. I've written here about my son, an adult with autism and his dad's best pal. Pretty much every weekday, I drive my son 25 miles to his day program. It's our time to listen to music, to giggle and ... (1/)
May 2, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Adventures in Being K's Dad. I've written here about my son, an adult with autism and his dad's best pal. Pretty much every weekday, I drive my son 25 miles to his day program. It's our time to listen to music, to giggle and ... (1/)
Today marks the (formal) end of Autism Awareness & Acceptance Month here in the states. I've written here about my son, K, a 30-year-old man with autism and his dad's best pal. I hope you won't mind my sharing a bit more. 1/
April 30, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Today marks the (formal) end of Autism Awareness & Acceptance Month here in the states. I've written here about my son, K, a 30-year-old man with autism and his dad's best pal. I hope you won't mind my sharing a bit more. 1/
But there's one thing the transcript doesn't tell: who was this "Ms. Wilson" who kept answering questions when the government's counsel, Sarah Harris, was at the lectern? Seems like she should have let Ms. Harris do the answering. 2/
April 22, 2025 at 8:56 PM
But there's one thing the transcript doesn't tell: who was this "Ms. Wilson" who kept answering questions when the government's counsel, Sarah Harris, was at the lectern? Seems like she should have let Ms. Harris do the answering. 2/
Autism describes a spectrum, and so one ought to avoid generalizing about it, and one ought never describe it as invariably a dark cloud over people who are somehow doomed never to engage with or contribute to the world. 1/
April 19, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Autism describes a spectrum, and so one ought to avoid generalizing about it, and one ought never describe it as invariably a dark cloud over people who are somehow doomed never to engage with or contribute to the world. 1/