Simon McGarr

One of my quiet amusements when I go abroad alone is to visit the courts nearby.

Currently, the holder of the record for the friendliest court is the NY State Supreme Court, where a registrar and a judge spotted me looking incongruous sitting in the court and the registrar took me on a tour.

Apr 10, 2024 at 8:47pmWeb
Show threadSimon McGarrApr 10, 2024
The case was on a break, as there were negotiations ongoing. I do not know what made me look so unusual as to trigger investigation from the bench. I would have thought Big Irish Heads were commonplace in New York.
Show threadSimon McGarrApr 10, 2024
I visited a court in Rome, but it wasn’t sitting, which was sad. I have seen Italian lawyers before the CJEU and they are a very different style. Gold braid is involved.
Show threadSimon McGarrApr 10, 2024
Visiting a court is an excellent way to see parts of a place that may not come in front of your eyes in touristy circumstances. It’s like a show, where random people are pressed in off the street to play parts without audition alongside practised actors.
Show threadSimon McGarrApr 10, 2024

I was once in Belfast’s small claims court equivalent and it was *fascinating*.

There was a lot of subtext in the room that day.

And the judge was extraordinarily skilful in ensuring everyone felt that they had been heard.

A really interesting outing.

Show threadSimon McGarrApr 10, 2024

A new idea I had on my last visit to Brooklyn was to offer to give a guest lecture to a nearby law school on some Data Protection thing.

I am not sure if this is a runner, but I am going to see if anyone is interested anyway.

Show threadSimon McGarrApr 10, 2024

I greatly enjoy lecturing and believe I am quite good at engaging students in the topic.

I also can make them get lively and engage with each other, which is also fun to see.

I do not know if this would translate to a US room full of students, but it would be worth a punt.

Show threadSimon McGarrApr 10, 2024
If you are an academic, particularly one in the US, let me know what sort of prevailing norms on guest lecturing there might be.
Show threadMarkham NolanApr 10, 2024
@Tupp_ed I was in Arusha in late 2001 after finishing my law degree and sat in on two sessions of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Rwandan Genocide. Harrowing testimony.
Show threadaidendesApr 11, 2024

@Tupp_ed I visited the courts in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Got a tour of the local law association premises, which was one of Cristobal Colon's homes on the Islands. Lovely lunch too.

Malta's lawyers, OTOH, were very much standoffish and a little unpleasant.

Show threadEnia TitovaApr 10, 2024
@Tupp_ed @icymi_law as a former NYS Supreme Court clerk this makes me so happy! I clerked in the Commercial Division in Manhattan, at 60 Centre Street. Which court did you happen to visit if you don’t mind me asking?
Show threadSimon McGarrApr 10, 2024
@eniatitova @icymi_law This one!
Show threadEnia TitovaApr 12, 2024
@Tupp_ed ah the good old Brooklyn courthouse! I had my first oral argument there as a baby lawyer.
Show threadSimon McGarrApr 12, 2024

@eniatitova what sort of law is done there? (it looked like family law where I was)

All our civil courts are in the same place so it didn’t occur to me there would be variations based on geography.

Show threadEnia TitovaApr 12, 2024

@Tupp_ed I believe you're correct. There are also other family law-adjacent departments there: juvenile delinquency, guardianship, mental fitness. because of the subject matter, that courthouse tends to be a bit chaotic.

but no, this kind of approach isn't typical in the US but because New York is so big and dense (and litigious!), there may be entire buildings devoted to one specific kind of case.

Show threadEnia TitovaApr 12, 2024
@Tupp_ed family and criminal courts do tend to have their own buildings in any decently-sized city because of security concerns and to accommodate the needs of those litigants: i.e. family courts will sometimes have supervised play rooms for kids so they aren't exposed to the arguments between their parents during a family court proceeding.
Show threadSimon McGarrApr 12, 2024

@eniatitova We also have a family court but it is in a terrible converted hotel on a cobbled street with no accommodations.

I salute the quality of thinking and empathy your system evidences.

Show threadEnia TitovaApr 12, 2024
@Tupp_ed I wouldn't give us quite that much credit. There are definitely good court systems and bad court systems, but yes, there are places that really try to make access to justice a priority.
Show threadSimon McGarrApr 12, 2024
@eniatitova This is the street outside.
Show threadEnia TitovaApr 12, 2024

@Tupp_ed see, to us Americans, that's so charming!

I haven't been to Dublin since 2019, but I'm hoping to come back in the early fall.

I used to stop on the way and back from Belfast for my old job :)

Show threadSimon McGarrApr 12, 2024
@eniatitova Give me a shout and I can pay my Tour forward around The Four Courts
Show threadSimon McGarrApr 12, 2024
@eniatitova (Side note: Early Autumn is August, middle Autumn is September and End Autumn is October here)
Show threadEnia TitovaApr 12, 2024
@Tupp_ed oh I know. I literally meant last week of August lol.
Show threadSimon McGarrApr 12, 2024
@eniatitova 500 POINTS!