We appellate lawyers, we’re human just like everyone else. We like to relax. Have fun. Let our collective hair down once in a while. But we’re also always on the look out for new cases that change the law for our clients. We need to stay abreast of the latest in the law to know what traps may lay in waiting for our clients. Or to know which traps to set for the opposing parties.
Turns out those things aren’t completely mutually exclusive. That’s right. In that tiny sliver of overlap in the Venn diagram of tomfoolery and staying up-to-date on the law lies Fantasy SCOTUS. You know how you always like to brag about how well you know the minds of the justices on the United States Supreme Court? Well now’s your chance to shine. It’s getting near the next Supreme Court term. So put your justice-channeling thinking cap on and get ready to make some predictions!
From what the makers tell us, Fantasy SCOTUS was originally conceived as a teaching tool for high school teachers to get their students interested in learning about the nation’s highest court. Since then, it has expanded to include law students and anyone with a love of competition and a nerdy fascination with the supreme court justices (read: you).
Anyone can sign up and make predictions on the upcoming term’s cases. After you sign up (and after the next term’s cases are announced), you can vote on how you think each justice will vote in each case. You can even set up your own leagues. Apparently, if you have the mettle, you can even join the Elect League. “This league is for the premier players. Users will be required to predict all cases that come before the Court and will be eligible for the Chief Justice, Senior Associate Justice, and Associate Justice Badges.”
That’s right. Supreme Court cases. Belonging in a fantasy league like all those cool sports-minded people. Badges. It’s an appellate-nerd trifecta.
Let the trash talking commence.
Derek Bauman
Staff attorney, First Court of Appeals
Comments, questions, and useful information are always welcome (and desperately sought). Please send them to: submissions@hbaappellatelawyer.org.