A personal gripe I have of coverage of legal and judicial topics is the lack of research.

Few appear to read the briefs, focusing on judicial doctrine, without getting an editorial rebuke for writing “legalese,” thought to alienate a chunk of readership.

Gadfly Michael Horne has a well-researched piece out topical to Milwaukee’s race for City Attorney.

Horne digged out a case that blew up in City Atty Grant Langley's face, awarding a bank $400,000, paid by Milwaukee taxpayers.

Besides the $400,000 judgement, the judge, Ralph Adam Fine, denounced the City Atty's office under Langley's administration, for calling the bank’s legal position: "Hogwash," "Ludicrous," "Crazy," and "Obstructionistanarchist".

Writes Judge Fine:

The brief submitted to us by the City of Milwaukee is overly tendentious and lacks the civility that lawyers owe to both their adversaries and to the courts.

The following has no place in a brief before any court in this state: accusing an opposing party of seeking “political anarchy” (capitalization omitted), “anarchy,” “anarchy with a vengeance,” and “taxpayer anarchy”.

Horne’s analysis may prove influential in the Milwaukee City Atty’s race, an interesting election in this year of political “change,” though not quite as sexy as some other races.

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