![]() Today, elite, top-notch lawyers help shape the court’s docket by asking other elite lawyers to file amicus briefs supporting their petitions for certiorari. But even though the rise of amicus filings is partially linked to interest-group activity, the most notable aspect of the growth and, in particular, the influence of amicus filings is the dramatic spike in activity by the so-called Supreme Court bar. The prevalent account portrays motivated interest groups urging their policy positions on the justices in much the same way they lobby Congress. ” After interviewing over two dozen Supreme Court advocates, we offer a new description of the origin of many amicus briefs today. We tell this story in our forthcoming Virginia Law Review article, “The Amicus Machine. The real surprise, however, is the story behind the scenes – a story that amplifies fundamental changes in both lawyering before the Supreme Court and, more significantly, Supreme Court decision-making. The amicus growth spurt is significant and shows no sign of slowing down. Although nobody can say for sure whether these briefs actually change case outcomes, it is clear that the justices are citing them regularly and that there are more and more “friendly” briefs from which to choose. That is over an 800-percent increase in submissions from the 1950s and a 95-percent increase from 1995. Reed Anderson have shown, approximately 800 amicus briefs were filed in 93-98 percent of all cases, with marquee end-of-June cases attracting briefs in the triple digits. Over the past six terms, as Anthony Franze and R. Last term, amici curiae, or “friends of the court,” filed 863 briefs at the court – an average of 13 per case argued – and the justices cited these briefs in 54 percent of the cases they decided. We are living in the age of the Supreme Court amicus. Massachusetts Wills Estates & Trusts.Allison Orr Larsen is a Professor of Law and Neal Devins is the Sandra Day O’Connor Professor of Law at William & Mary Law School. She also worked for Davis Bruce, now retired Attorney at Law, who strictly specialized in criminal law.Īttorney Melcher was the winner of the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in four separate legal areas: Domestic Violence 2. She spent a year working for Bonner, Kiernan, Trebach & Crociata, a civil defense firm in downtown Boston, where she earned rave reviews and excellent recommendations from her superiors. She spent time discussing case outcomes with the justices – learning how cases are decided and how to make the best arguments to achieve positive outcomes. She graduated 2nd in her class, Magna Cum Laude with a 3.82/4.0 grade point average.Īttorney Melcher spent time working as a judicial intern in the Plymouth Superior Court system in Brockton, MA as well as in the Norfolk Superior Court, Dedham, MA – gaining invaluable knowledge related to the inner workings of the courthouse. Hirsch Award for outstanding service to the institution. Melcher was awarded the President Anna E. She earned the Trustees Academic Scholarship, a second full-tuition scholarship and was a valued Editor of the New England Law Review. Melcher was on the Dean’s List every semester, she also earned the designation New England Scholar for each semester she attended (awarded to the top 10% of the class). During her tenure at New England Law, Ms. ![]() During her years at New England School of Law, she also had the privilege to meet Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who is currently serving on the U.S. As the Sandra Day O’Connor scholar, she was granted the opportunity to meet with the former Justice of the U.S. Honors Program.Īccepted by many of the top law schools in the country, she chose to attend New England School of Law with a full-tuition merit scholarship. She furthered her education at Boston College, earning her Bachelors degree in English and graduating from the highly-esteemed B.C. The daughter of a Latin Teacher and the Superintendent of Schools, she grew up on Cape Cod and attended the public school system in Sandwich, MA. ![]() She is an attorney in good standing in Massachusetts and Connecticut she is a member of the Boston Bar Association, Massachusetts Bar Association and she volunteers as Lawyer for the Day at the Norfolk County Probate Court.Īttorney Melcher is a lifetime Massachusetts resident. ![]() Her practice focuses on Family Law matters such as divorce, child custody disputes, alimony and restraining orders as well as Estate Planning. Attorney Maura Melcher made the decision to start her own practice and now operates out of her office on Boylston Street in downtown Boston and her office on Central Street in Foxboro, Ma. ![]()
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