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Getting out of a speeding ticket is one of the hardest offenses to beat nowadays in Maryland. An Annapolis Traffic Lawyer can help you get out of your traffic ticket. Here is a Speeding Handbook that could be helpful to you.
If you were clocked by a radar gun speeding (which is usually the case) then you can only attack the validity of that radar gun and the officer’s competency in operating that radar gun.
So on your day in court, you need to:
1. Make sure the police officer shows up, if the officer doesn’t show up, then ask the judge to dismiss the case.
2. If the officer is there, then ask the officer for two documents.

  1. The radar gun operator’s license
  2. Calibration certificate

3. If the officer has these two documents then you are probably out of luck. This document gives insight on what the Maryland Police officer is looking to do when issuing a traffic citation.
4. If the officer is missing one or both of these documents then you can cross examine the officer on these points.
The cross examination of the police officer is really where an Annapolis Traffic Lawyer is needed. Call 443-494-9775 for help in getting out of your speeding ticket.

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I’ll be speaking on “Best Practices for Working with Substantive Sections” on June 19th, 2014. I’m very lucky to be speaking with ABA YLD Affiliate leaders Keya Koul, past young lawyers chair of New Mexico and Russell Kelly, chair-elect of South Carolina young lawyers division. These two leaders and myself (Treasurer of the Maryland State Bar Young Lawyers Section 2014-2015) will discuss how our state affiliates reach a wide array of members and the public by combining resources and collaborating with various committees and local bar associations. Register here.

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All lawyers are guilty of “Humblebragging.” Young lawyers maybe even more so are guilty. What is humblebragging? Humblebragging has been defined as “bragging in the guise of humility, putting a thin veneer of humble over a clear expression of proud.” A lot of times the humblebrag is over social media but sometimes the humblebrag is executed to your face. This usually leads to sudden urges to slap someone.
Check out some of these examples of the legal humblebrag:
“I wasn’t able to get into the University of God’s Father’s Law School so I will have to just settle and go to the University of God’s Law School. I am still grateful for this opportunity!”
“I only got my client a million dollar settlement. I guess my kids will just be going to the local private school instead of boarding school. So happy for my client.”
“I’m so honored to be named a leading lawyer! My firm only had to make a $5,000 donation to the publication which named me a leading lawyer this year!”
“I’m so honored to be named a super duper attorney! I filled out a form and got my friends to say I am a super duper attorney! This is awkward because there are people who have been practicing law for 30 years and are not super duper attorneys! #feelingblessed.”
“It is such a pain in the ass to be invited to this prestigious conference for the 5th year in a row. Boooring!”
“I am so busy with clients. My phone keeps ringing. I don’t even believe I can write this sentence to you!”
“I don’t know how I am going to manage my crazy life. I just got invited to give a presentation to the entire state on my area of law. It is such a pain being this authoritative and sought after.”
“I’m humbled to be named a leader in my community. Every year right before this admirable and respected award is given out, I brave the elements outside of my firm for a quick photo opportunity and take a picture of myself giving homeless people food. It’s cold out there but I gave up one billable hour to those in need. #sacrifice. #frostbite. #theregoesmybonus.”
If lawyers would only say what they mean… I am very busy. I have money. I have influence. I piss excellence. I $#!t gold. I am the cat’s meow.
Anyway, I am so happy to be the one to bring this problem to your attention. I’m excited to hear if you have any other examples of legal humblebragging. (Special thanks to Elizabeth Morris for inspiring this entry by posting an article on Facebook on the subject. I am humbled and honored to know this great lawyer!)
What examples of humblebragging did I miss?
MORE IMPORTANTLY, is there a better way to self-promote or market oneself than the humblebrag?
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I was lucky enough to clerk for one of the most respected, influential and likeable  judges in the State of Maryland, The Honorable Nancy Davis-Loomis. She is the Administrative Judge for Anne Arundel County and the 5th Circuit for the State of Maryland. Her retirement dinner is tonight in Annapolis. From knowing her and her friends, it will most definitely be a blast! Her leadership, kindness and smile will be missed! Here is more information on the event: The Honorable Nancy Davis-Loomis Retirement Dinner.
Judge Davis-Loomis and Pat

I’ll be a featured speaker at the Maryland State Bar Association 14th Annual Solo and Small Firm Conference this Friday, November 15th. I’ll be speaking on the topic of legal technology. I’m excited to be speaking to a sold out crowd! Here is more information:
Gadgets, Apps and Websites Oh MY!: 60 Tech Tips In 60 Minutes
Technology is changing so fast it is hard to keep up with the newer gadgets, apps and websites. This session is always one of the most popular because it helps show what’s new and what you can use to be more effective.

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Excited and honored to be Severn School’s new Alumni President! Severn alumni include: moonwalker Buzz Aldrin,  business guru Tom Peters and last, but not least, The Honorable Richard D. Bennett.
Here is the article from Severn’s Bridge magazine:
 
Uniting the Clans
­­Scott MacMullan ’00 is new Alumni Association President
 
Severn’s Alumni Association welcomes a new president this year, Scott MacMullan ‘00. An attorney, Scott started his own practice in Annapolis last year, focusing on civil,
criminal, and family law matters. Recently, Scott was appointed to the Maryland State Bar Association’s judicial appointments committee, where he is interviewing judicial applicants across the state of Maryland and submitting the committee’s confidential findings to the Governor for consideration.
Scott knew he wanted to be a lawyer when he successfully argued for dismissal of a speeding ticket while he was in college.
Scott was, before welcoming Chesapeake Academy into the Severn family, what was known as a Severn lifer, starting in the 6th grade. “I went to Severn for seven years but I made friends for a lifetime,” recalled Scott. “The School has been good to me on both a personal and professional level. It is time to give back.” One of his professional mentors is The Honorable Richard D. Bennett ‘65, a Rolland Teel Distinguished Alumnus. Citing the invaluable advice and guidance he has received from Dick, Scott also noted that “anytime I have reached out to any Severn alum, he/she has always been receptive to me and helpful.”
Scott played varsity lacrosse all four years in the Upper School, leading his teammates as a captain his senior year. He was captain of both the JV and varsity football squads, was a Senior Prefect, and a member of the National Honor Society. “Scott is an outstanding individual to head the Alumni Association,” reflected Mr. John Bodley, Scott’s history teacher and football coach. “He was a great student and three sport athlete. Scott was a team leader that a coach could always rely on.”
Clearly Scott is a natural leader. Severn is delighted that he has agreed to now guide the Alumni Association as it moves into its next century. “Why am I doing this? It’s the same as when I was on the playing field during high school. I want to beat Boys’ Latin, Gilman, Loyola, Georgetown Prep or Landon. And especially that Catholic school by the water in downtown Annapolis. I just want to beat them on a professional level now. To do that, I want to ‘unite the clans’ and bring Severn’s network closer together.”
Scott’s goal is to connect all generations of Severn alumni, with a focus on recent alumni. “If we can engage and unite recent alumni with networking, community service, and career development opportunities, we can continue to build on and leverage Severn’s reputation within the local and world community. The traditional gripe regarding Severn alumni networking has been that Severn isn’t situated in a big city like Baltimore or DC. With new technology, social media and a flattening globalized world, that is no longer an excuse.”
Working with newly appointed Alumni Director Tyler Larkin ’03, Scott is formalizing and focusing the alumni association to build momentum. “The work of the association will provide alumni with the opportunity to take responsibility for the ongoing advancement of the School.”
Most immediately Scott plans to recruit new members to the Alumni Association. To that end, he’s creating four new committees:

  • Communications: strengthen the connection between all alumni and current students, and increase visibility of the Association.
  • Development: increase participation in the Annual Fund.
  • Leadership: recognize outstanding alumni and students who exemplify the mission and values of a Severn School education.
  • Programs: develop new activities to encourage alums to
    reconnect with Severn.

He’d also like to organize a community service event with students and alumni, and to plan a networking Navy lacrosse event in the spring.
All of this takes work and dedicated volunteers. Interested? Please contact Scott MacMullan ’00 (scott@macmullanlaw.com) or Tyler Larkin ’03 (t.larkin@severnschool.com). Meanwhile, join all if us at Severn School in thanking Scott and welcoming him to his new role.

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Judge Richard D. Bennett ’65 and Scott MacMullan
 

Kara Kowalski v. Berkeley County Schools, et al. (4th Cir. July 2011)
In a case involving cyber-bullying, a student sued the school district for limiting her First Amendment free speech rights by suspending her for creating a hate website against another student at school. The Fourth Circuit determined that the speech created actual or reasonably foreseeable “substantial disorder and disruption” at school; therefore, this was not the “speech” a school is required to tolerate and did not merit First Amendment protection.
Did the Fourth Circuit get the case right?
Click here for the full opinion.
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