There was a time when most county courthouses had cafes . Grand Forks had one . Cass County might still have one , not sure . Mountrail County has potluck on the 1st , 2nd , and 4th Thursday of every month . These are court dates , and Mountrail County State ’ s Attorney Wade Enget organizes the menu . Defense attorneys are welcome . I try to arrive early before an afternoon hearing .
But the courthouse cafe , like so many amenities which have sustained and nurtured our traditions and relationships , have fallen by the wayside these past few years . It is a terrible loss . Email , texting , fax machines , and IVN , none of that technology works as well as meeting with your colleague over a cup of coffee , a bowl of soup , or a beer and talking to each other about your case , about their family , or about the weather . I recently saw an article that the people of Sardinia live longer than anyone else . They attribute their longevity to the fact that they actually talk to each other on a regular basis .
Last year , I was having lunch at a Bismarck cafe , when I walked by a table where a married couple ( both lawyers ) were having lunch together . Of course , they weren ’ t talking to each other . They were on their cell phones texting , emailing , or shopping , who knows ? I walked over , grabbed both phones and said , “ You can have them back when you leave . Until then talk to each other .” I gave the phones back before I left . They were still talking to each other .
There is something being lost in our profession . It is not the
overwork . We have always worked hard . It is not the expense of running a law office . It has always been expensive . It is that we no longer just sit down and talk to each other . It can be beneficial . It can be interesting . Hell , it can even be fun . It might even make us better lawyers .
And so , when I go to Williston on a criminal case , I call ahead to the Williams County State ’ s Attorney ’ s Office to book a lunch date with the State ’ s Attorney . The Williams County State ’ s Attorney is Marlyce Wilder . She is a tough adversary . She is a respected colleague . She is an honorable person . She is my friend .
I have had so many cases in Williams County and made this call so many times that the receptionist , Esmeralda , doesn ’ t even ask what case I am calling about . She just confirms that Marlyce will meet me at the Courthouse Cafe . The last time , she also added , “ Tom , can you get here a little earlier today , Ginny made her donuts . Always a big crowd .”
Thomas A . Dickson has extensive experience in a variety of areas , including criminal defense , plaintiff ’ s personal injury , and oil field personal injury . He has tried more than 100 cases to jury verdict in North Dakota courts over the past 30 years . Since 1992 , Dickson has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America . He has also been listed in Super Lawyers . Dickson is a member or officer in many organizations and is also active in the community .
The patience , personality and persistence the process demands . The empathy litigants deserve . A uniquely qualified neutral .
WICK CORWIN
wick @ corwinmediation . com 701-541-0965 www . corwinmediation . com
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