J. Michael Eakin
Encyclopedia
J. Michael Eakin is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was elected to the State’s Supreme Court on 2001 and is up for retention in 2011. http://www.courts.state.pa.us/Index/Supreme/eakin.asp
in 1975. http://www.courts.state.pa.us/Index/Supreme/eakin.asp In 2005 he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws from Widener University
. http://www.legalspan.com/catalog2/faculty.asp?UserID=2006090115022672348%20%20%20%20%20%20%20&OwnerColor=%23336699 He served on Pennsylvania’s Army National Guard
, 28th Division from 1971-1977. http://www.courts.state.pa.us/Index/Supreme/eakin.asp After graduating from the Dickinson School of Law
in 1975 and until 1983, he served as an Assistant District Attorney for Cumberland County, PA. http://www.courts.state.pa.us/Index/Supreme/eakin.asp In 1984 he became the District Attorney for Cumberland County, PA a position he held until 1995 when he was elected as a Judge for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Superior Court. http://www.courts.state.pa.us/Index/Supreme/eakin.asp This is a position he held until 2001 when he was elected to the State’s Supreme Court. He is currently married to Heidi Eakin and has three sons, Michael, Zachary and Chase. http://www.courts.state.pa.us/Index/Supreme/eakin.asp
In 2001, he was named runner up "Politician of the Year" by PoliticsPA
.
And example of the types of judicial lyricism that Justice Eakin is known for is this rhyme he wrote regarding a premarital contract gone wrong:
--Busch v. Busch, 732 A.2d 1274, 1275, 1278 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1999)
Another example if his prose would be this rhyme he wrote regarding a contract dispute:
--Liddle v. Scholze, 768 A.2d 1183 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2001)
Perhaps his most currently commented opinion is his dissent on Noel v. Travis, where he disagreed with the majority who found that the appellant was in fact not guilty of a DUI after being found riding his horse while intoxicated. Justice Eakin wrote (in part):
--Noel v. Travis, 857 A.2d 1283, 1289 (Pa. 2004)
Due to the unorthodox way Justice Eakin pens his opinions, he has been criticized by his fellow Justices. http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0212&L=poetics&D=1&P=50248 In Adam Liptak's article, Justices Call on Bench's Bard to Limit his Lyricism, N.Y. TIMES, Dec. 15, 2002, Chief Justice Stephen A. Zappala was quoted as writing that "An opinion that expresses itself in rhyme reflects poorly on the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania." Justice Ralph J. Cappy was also quoted as stating that "Every jurist has the right to express him or herself in a manner the jurist deems appropriate, [but I am concerned about] the perception that litigants and the public at large might form when an opinion of the court is reduced to rhyme." However, Justice Eakin has justified his so-called “poetic justice” by stating that "[Y]ou have an obligation as a judge to be right, but you have no obligation to be dull." http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0212&L=poetics&D=1&P=50248
On 07/07/07, Judge Eakin and Attorney Matthew A. Cartwright, of Munley, Munley and Cartwright, presented "Ethics Issues for Trial Lawyers" to the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Annual Convention in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Early life and career
Justice Eakin was born in Mechanicsburg, PA in 1948. http://www.courts.state.pa.us/T/SupremeCourt/SupremeCourtJustices/JusticeEakin.htm He graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in 1970 with a Bachelors of Arts (BA) in Government and obtained his JD, from Penn State University’s Dickinson School of LawDickinson School of Law
Penn State University Dickinson School of Law is the law school of The Pennsylvania State University...
in 1975. http://www.courts.state.pa.us/Index/Supreme/eakin.asp In 2005 he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws from Widener University
Widener University
Widener University is a private, coeducational university located in Chester, Pennsylvania.Its main campus sits on 108 acres , just southwest of Philadelphia...
. http://www.legalspan.com/catalog2/faculty.asp?UserID=2006090115022672348%20%20%20%20%20%20%20&OwnerColor=%23336699 He served on Pennsylvania’s Army National Guard
Army National Guard
Established under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code, the Army National Guard is part of the National Guard and is divided up into subordinate units stationed in each of the 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia operating under their respective governors...
, 28th Division from 1971-1977. http://www.courts.state.pa.us/Index/Supreme/eakin.asp After graduating from the Dickinson School of Law
Dickinson School of Law
Penn State University Dickinson School of Law is the law school of The Pennsylvania State University...
in 1975 and until 1983, he served as an Assistant District Attorney for Cumberland County, PA. http://www.courts.state.pa.us/Index/Supreme/eakin.asp In 1984 he became the District Attorney for Cumberland County, PA a position he held until 1995 when he was elected as a Judge for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Superior Court. http://www.courts.state.pa.us/Index/Supreme/eakin.asp This is a position he held until 2001 when he was elected to the State’s Supreme Court. He is currently married to Heidi Eakin and has three sons, Michael, Zachary and Chase. http://www.courts.state.pa.us/Index/Supreme/eakin.asp
In 2001, he was named runner up "Politician of the Year" by PoliticsPA
PoliticsPA
- Content :The website focuses on news aggregation, linking to major political news making headlines across the state. The editors write occasional features, like the weekly "Up & Down" scorecard and one-off lists like "Harrisburg's Smartest Staffer" and "Best Dressed Lobbyist" lists...
.
Rhyming opinions
Justice Eakin is better known in legal circles for the unorthodox way he pens his opinions. He enjoys writing his opinions in poetic verse when as he has stated, "The subject of the case (…) call[s] for a little grin here or there." http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0212&L=poetics&D=1&P=50248 For this, he has joined a long list of Justices and Judges who have been heavily criticized for bringing literary insight into what has traditionally been considered as boring and straight forward judicial decision making.http://tarlton.law.utexas.edu/lpop/etext/kearney.htmlAnd example of the types of judicial lyricism that Justice Eakin is known for is this rhyme he wrote regarding a premarital contract gone wrong:
--Busch v. Busch, 732 A.2d 1274, 1275, 1278 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1999)
Another example if his prose would be this rhyme he wrote regarding a contract dispute:
--Liddle v. Scholze, 768 A.2d 1183 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2001)
Perhaps his most currently commented opinion is his dissent on Noel v. Travis, where he disagreed with the majority who found that the appellant was in fact not guilty of a DUI after being found riding his horse while intoxicated. Justice Eakin wrote (in part):
--Noel v. Travis, 857 A.2d 1283, 1289 (Pa. 2004)
Due to the unorthodox way Justice Eakin pens his opinions, he has been criticized by his fellow Justices. http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0212&L=poetics&D=1&P=50248 In Adam Liptak's article, Justices Call on Bench's Bard to Limit his Lyricism, N.Y. TIMES, Dec. 15, 2002, Chief Justice Stephen A. Zappala was quoted as writing that "An opinion that expresses itself in rhyme reflects poorly on the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania." Justice Ralph J. Cappy was also quoted as stating that "Every jurist has the right to express him or herself in a manner the jurist deems appropriate, [but I am concerned about] the perception that litigants and the public at large might form when an opinion of the court is reduced to rhyme." However, Justice Eakin has justified his so-called “poetic justice” by stating that "[Y]ou have an obligation as a judge to be right, but you have no obligation to be dull." http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0212&L=poetics&D=1&P=50248
On 07/07/07, Judge Eakin and Attorney Matthew A. Cartwright, of Munley, Munley and Cartwright, presented "Ethics Issues for Trial Lawyers" to the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Annual Convention in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
External links
- Official Supreme Court Profile
- Eakin Profile from JudgepediaJudgepediaJudgepedia is a wiki-style website billed as an "interactive encyclopedia of courts and judges".-Mission:The mission of Judgepedia is to help readers find useful information about the court system and judiciary in the United States.-History:...
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