Law Office Management
Dec. 2, 2009
2010 Prognostications
Members of our editorial advisory board predict what will happen in California law next year.
The UC Berkeley School of Law, formerly known as Boalt Hall, will be renamed "The Target UC Berkeley School of Law at Boalt Hall, presented by Sprint." Christopher Edley Jr., Oreck Vacuum Cleaner Distinguished Chair and Dean, will claim that the move ensures high-quality education at everyday low prices. The move will follow similar actions by the Tostitos Law School at Riverside and the Exxon Law School and Center for Petroleum Industry Studies at Stanford. Ronald M. George, Chief Justice, California Supreme Court
If California's fiscal situation continues to decline and the courts do not receive adequate resources, our courthouses may end up being open only one day each month instead of closed one day a month. Drucilla S. Ramey, Golden Gate University School of Law
The Equal Rights Amendment will be resurrected, the U.S. Supreme Court will follow California's lead in holding gender to be a suspect classification, and men will be flattered when told they think just like a woman. Ralph H. Baxter Jr., Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
"Big Law" will continue its reformation in an uneven way. Some firms will adapt imaginatively, delivering ever-more-valuable and cost-effective service while offering more-rewarding careers for their lawyers and staff; they will flourish. Others will be slow and ineffective in changing; they will decline, be absorbed, or fail. Erwin Chemerinsky, UC Irvine School of Law
There will be a Supreme Court vacancy in 2010 and President Obama will pick a politician?not a judge?for the seat. He will look for another Earl Warren in someone such as Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, or Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. Joseph W. Cotchett, Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy
Next year will bring a further reduction in California's judiciary budget, and the civil courts will go to a permanent four-day schedule, with shorter hours statewide. Civil-case resolution will approach the time it takes in Italy: twelve years. David Balabanian, Bingham McCutchen
Opposition to cloning and same-sex marriage will merge into one ballot proposition that would ban people from marrying themselves. Antonia Hernández, California Community Foundation
Amid the reality of unstable corporate jobs, more law students will choose to become public-interest attorneys, finding that community work is not only more secure?but also much more fulfilling. Daniel Grunfeld, Kaye Scholer
Chance that major law firms and their clients will contribute serious money in the upcoming gubernatorial race: 100 percent; chance that serious progress will be made toward convening a California constitutional convention: 25 percent; chance that other law schools will follow UC Irvine and offer free tuition to an entire class: 0 percent. Gary T. Lafayette, Lafayette & Kumagai
All of the lawyers laid off during the 2008?09 recession will be rehired into health-law practices. Colette Vogele, Vogele & Associates
Major recording and music-publishing companies will continue filing copyright actions against online service providers that offer music fans new ways to engage with the music they purchase legally?despite 2009 litigation losses and the protections of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Gerald F. Uelmen, Santa Clara University School of Law
One of the California prisoners given early release to relieve prison overcrowding will become a public hero by rescuing four legislators from a collapsing bridge during the 2010 San Francisco earthquake. Gregory M. Gallo, DLA Piper
Tuition at University of California law schools will become the highest in the country as state support for public higher education disintegrates. Maria E. Stratton, Judge, Los Angeles Superior Court
Governor Schwarzenegger will get so fed up that he will terminate the Legislature, run the state by executive fiat, solve the fiscal crisis by himself, and then be named U.S. ambassador to Austria when his term ends. Bill Lockyer, California State Treasurer
To rescue the court dockets from overcrowding, all misdemeanor and small-claims court trials will be conducted via Twitter. Calendar call will be via email. Pleas will be entered via automated phone menus: "Press 1 for Not Guilty; press 2 for Guilty; press 3 for Guilty with an Explanation. Your trial is important to us, please stay on the line and a paralegal will be with you shortly."
Kari Santos
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