In 2018, Courtroom5’s blog surpassed the 200th post mark. Throughout the year, we tackled a multitude of topics important to pro se litigants, including access to justice, judicial bias, motion writing, finding cases, and setting hearings. We’ve highlighted lawyer antics, discussed court costs, and helped you distinguish between different motions. In short, it’s been a productive year. Below, we highlight posts that you found useful and others that stood out for other reasons. They’re all posts a pro se litigant shouldn’t miss. So, enjoy reading–or re-reading–our best blog posts of 2018.
The 5 Most Popular Blog Posts
This award is based on the number of comments on a post. In general, people comment on a post because it moves them or engages them in some way. The 5 posts below did that for people in 2018. The best thing about our posts is that there are very few 1-sentence comments on them. Comments tend to have depth and substance without name calling, which further proves the value of our top 5.
1. 6 Of The Biggest Mistakes Pro Se Litigants Make 25 Comments
Pro se litigants who make big mistakes lose badly and quickly. This is most often due to lack of knowledge, but judicial bias and lawyer tricks add another layer of peril. To stay alive, avoid these 6 mistakes that could cost you your case.
Posted: February 27, 2018
2. Plaintiff LeFloris Lyon And The Protective Order From Hell 19 Comments
LeFloris Lyon has a case pending at the US Supreme Court, an appeal of some of the most egregious rulings we’ve ever seen. Among other errors, the judge in his case effectively barred him from even speaking with a lawyer without his opponent’s permission. The treatment of pro se litigants doesn’t get much worse than this.
Posted: June 25, 2018
3. A Short Manual For The Pro Se Plaintiff 18 Comments
On the heels of a major victory in federal court, Brian Vukadinovich has learned enough to write a manual for the pro se plaintiff. This short but comprehensive manual is filled with helpful tips on the entire process of bringing a lawsuit to trial, and winning it. Is it difficult to represent yourself in court? Yes. Is it doable with the right preparation? Absolutely!
Posted: January 22, 2018
4. U.S. Courts Are Dismissing Too Many Cases And Violating The Constitution 18 Comments
The right to a jury trial is part of the U.S. Constitution. So why don’t most cases reach a jury? Sure, many cases are settled, and some are frivolous, not worthy of being considered. But there are enough meritorious claims to keep our courthouses busy. Or maybe not, according to the nation’s judges. They are dismissing cases left and right. You won’t believe how few cases reach a jury.
Posted: October 14, 2018
5. Judges Gone Wild – Is Lack Of Accountability To Blame? 17 Comments
Imagine sitting on a jury and being informed by the judge that God has already decided the verdict. Worse yet, imagine being tortured with electric shock in open court during trial. May we have some order in the courts? No, not until appellate procedures become more accessible to pro se litigants.
Posted: March 23, 2018
Most Fun Post
This award goes to the post that made us at Courtroom5 laugh most during writing and after posting. Letting Your Opposing Counsel Know It’s The Other Way This account of the experiences of a Courtroom5 member will brighten your day. It’s well worth a read. “Lawyers opposing pro se litigants want it to be one way, but sometimes it’s the other way. Few things warm our hearts more than seeing pro se litigants handle bullying tactics from opposing counsel. A Courtroom5 member shared her experience of being bullied by her opponent’s lawyer. The clapback was strong. She made sure he won’t do it again, at least not to her.
Runner Up: Judges Gone Wild – Is Lack Of Accountability To Blame?
Imagine sitting on a jury and being informed by the judge that God has already decided the verdict. Worse yet, imagine being tortured with electric shock in open court during trial. May we have some order in the courts? No, not until appellate procedures become more accessible to pro se litigants.
Posted: October 14, 2018
Most Researched Post
This award is based on usefulness and the amount of research that went into a blog. The winner below might help a pro se defendant twist that sword a little bit harder.
Estoppel, Waiver, And Ratification. Three Affirmative Defenses For When The Plaintiff Was Wrong Too
Equitable estoppel, waiver, and ratification all stop a person from reneging on a contract or taking legal action that conflicts with previous conduct or behavior. The three affirmative defenses all prevent someone from going back on their word.
Runner Up: High Court Fees Are A Threat To Access To Justice
The degree to which high court fees stop people from pursuing legitimate claims and defenses in court is not known. What is known is that filing and other fees are relatively high. While most people can handle simple one-time fees for documents or copying costs, filing and related fees might influence people’s decisions about going to court. That makes them an access to justice problem.
Best Post Overall
Of all the blog posts we’ve written in 2018, this is the one you should’ve read. Cases are won and lost on the degree to which a litigant understands the requirements for a particular motion or pleading. A well-researched post, the winner below clarifies critical differences between two motions that baffle many pro se litigants. The Motion To Dismiss Or The Motion For Summary Judgment, Know The Difference The Motion to Dismiss and the Motion for Summary Judgment both present a chance to end your case, but similarities between the two are few. Arguing one when you should be arguing the other could hand you a loss in court. So know your motion and understand the differences between it and a similar motion.
Runner Up: Estoppel, Waiver, And Ratification. Three Affirmative Defenses For When The Plaintiff Was Wrong Too Equitable estoppel, waiver, and ratification all stop a person from reneging on a contract or taking legal action that conflicts with previous conduct or behavior. The three affirmative defenses all prevent someone from going back on their word.
The best blog posts of 2018 reflect the depth and breadth of issues pro se litigants face regularly. If you don’t see your favorite Courtroom5 post on this list, share yours with us in the comments below. Happy New Year.