Miscellaneous

Update from the Palmetto State

By Anne Skove, Esq.

Wow, 24 hours without a post! We hope the Peeps-show kept you entertained in the meantime.

As we are in South Carolina for spring break, the next few days will be all about the courts here.

Let's start at the top: Chief Justice Toal. If there's a gun ban in the state supreme court, they shouldn't let her in -- she's a pistol!

She's been (and may still be, for all we know) a field hockey goalie, the better half of the only husband-and-wife team to edit the South Carolina Law Review, a mother, Carolina Gamecocks fan, and first (and only, to date) woman to serve on the state's highest court.

Before she was a judge, CJ Toal was a state legislator. Few judges (let alone chiefs) understand the importance of approaching the legislature for money. Fewer still feel comfortable doing so. Many feel as though this task should not be in their job description. But the legislative rounds are indeed part of the job. Going to bat for your court budget is essential.

This background has served CJ Toal and South Carolina well. She has secured money for statewide technology projects and other innovations.

CJ Toal is an outgoing, smart, and fun person to boot. Maybe she'll run for governor next to complete her tour of the branches!

Full post as published by court-o-rama.org on March 25, 2008 (boomark / email).