Listen to me and you'll be thanked by the Ninth Circuit and your name memorialized forever in the F.3ds.
That's what you should learn from today's opinion by Judge Gould. Back in March, the Ninth Circuit, in a rare (but very nice) move, invited submission of amicus briefs on an interesting evidence issue. And I responded by publicizing the invitation and suggesting that people should feel free to write something up.
And guess what a couple of people did? Precisely that. To which Judge Gould responded by including the following footnote on the first page of the opinion: "In a published order following oral argument, we invited amicus briefing on the important issues raised in this appeal. See United States v. Yida, 478 F.3d 1068 (9th Cir. 2007). We thank the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Professor Richard D. Friedman from the University of Michigan Law School, and Aaron Petty, a recent graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, for their responsive amicus briefs, which we received in addition to the parties’ supplemental briefing."
Pretty cool, huh? Great job, Professor Friedman, Mr. Petty, and the NACDL. Plus, that's not all; Judge Gould also includes lines like the following in the actual text of the opinion: "Professor Richard D. Friedman of the University of Michigan Law School, in his amicus brief, offers additional reasons for the courts’ preference for live testimony, which we find persuasive. . . ." Nice!
Those names could have included yours as well, my loyal readers. So next time the Ninth Circuit wants some free legal help, let's make 'em feel the love, shall we?
