The Council of Appellate Lawyers (CAL) is excited to start a new year. I am honored to follow my predecessor chair, Kirsten Castaneda, who led us through a productive 2023. I am fortunate to have an outstanding Chair-Elect, Gretchen Sperry, and an excellent Executive Board. We had many successes in 2023, and we hope for even more in 2024.
Programming
CAL continued its “Riding the Circuits” series of webinars that inform members about the practice of law in the federal appellate courts. Although these courts generally follow the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, each has its own preferred (and sometimes unique) local practices. Each program in this series focuses on a specific circuit, with judges and clerks from that circuit who serve as panelists. To date, we have covered the Third, Sixth and Ninth Circuits. We will continue this popular series in 2024, tentatively looking to cover the Fifth and Eighth Circuits.