Supreme Court
Dan Schweitzer, Project Counsel
NAAG Projects
Supreme Court
Dan Schweitzer, Project Counsel
The Supreme Court Project, headed by Dan Schweitzer, conducted more than 20 moot courts during the 2007 Supreme Court Term. The panelists were experienced Supreme Court practitioners, including members of the U.S. Solicitor General's office, former Supreme Court clerks, and Supreme Court experts in academia, private practice, the U.S. Department of Justice, and state Attorney General offices.
Project Counsel edited more than 50 briefs that were filed in the Supreme Court in the past year, including cert petitions, briefs in opposition, merits briefs, and amicus briefs. These edits ranged from major redrafting of briefs to stylistic suggestions.
Fifty state attorneys attended the Project's 27th annual Supreme Court Advocacy Seminar in December 2007. This two-day seminar on oral and written advocacy before the Court began with observation of two oral arguments at the Court, followed by a discussion with the arguing attorneys. Panels of experienced Supreme Court practitioners then addressed oral argument, written advocacy (including petitions for writs of certiorari and oppositions thereto, merits briefs, and amicus briefs) and more.
The twelfth annual State Solicitors and Appellate Chiefs Conference is scheduled for June 18-19, 2008 in Providence, Rhode Island. The conference provides a forum in which State Solicitors and appellate chiefs can exchange ideas and obtain information that will help improve each state's appellate practice.
The Project publishes the bi-weekly Supreme Court Report, which informs states of opinions issued, cases granted review, and other items of interest from the Court.
The Project also oversees the Best Briefs Awards, which recognize excellence in brief writing in the Supreme Court by state attorneys. Six briefs (written by the Alabama, New York, Texas, and Wisconsin offices) were selected as winners for the 2007 Term.
Five state attorneys will serve as NAAG Supreme Court Fellows this Term. The Fellows program is designed to give state lawyers an opportunity to obtain direct and intensive hands-on exposure to Supreme Court practice. The Fellows for the 2008 Term are from the Attorney General offices of Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Montana, and New Mexico.
