Appellate Practice

Annual Business Meeting Minutes

The Appellate Practice Section conducted its annual business meeting on July 19, 2005, at the offices of the Utah State Bar.

Scott M. Ellsworth reviewed the Section’s activities during the past year, which included a successful appellate writing seminar in April 2004 and the continued development of the appellate courts’ audio streaming program that broadcasts oral arguments in real time. Scott also previewed upcoming Section events, including a seminar to be presented by David C. Frederick on oral advocacy; the continued development of an appellate practice primer, to be published on the Bar’s website; CLEs featuring panels of state and federal judges; and a new lawyer CLE on the nuts and bolts of appellate practice. Scott extended his thanks to those who served on the Section’s Executive Committee during the 2004-2005 term.

The Section’s new chair, Ken Bronston, updated the section on the audio streaming project. Quality of the webcasts is high, so long as microphones are used. Ken discussed the possibility of having law schools sponsor the webcasting project. The Section also discussed other states’ use of audio streaming of oral arguments and various ways Utah’s program could be expanded in the future. Ken gave more information on the David Frederick seminar to be held on September 16, 2005, which will be sponsored jointly with the Litigation Section.

Ken then took nominations for the position of Secretary/Treasurer of the Section. Jeanne Inouye was elected by acclamation. The section elected two Executive Committee members, Lori Seppi and Kate Toomey. Tawni Sherman became Chair-Elect.

Section members made several suggestions for the upcoming year, including holding a “meet the judge” reception for the new Utah Court of Appeals judge, putting a link on the Bar’s website to the appellate primer, and putting together a roster of appellate practitioners to answer questions from lawyers who handle appeals infrequently.