The legal blogosphere has recently given a lot of attention to Mike Sacks, the Georgetown 3L and author of “First One @ One First” who aspires to be the first one in the Supreme Court’s general admission line for “every politically salient case from January through April.” He’s even posting over at Above the Law now. The gimmick is certainly interesting, and his writing is good (though a bit pompous). But is he really trying to make it to every “politically salient” case? Or is the gimmick really an overstatement?
As Susan has already mentioned, we (unsuccessfully) tried to see Samantar v. Yousuf when it was recently argued. I was the second person denied entry (at #52), while Susan got pushed all the way back to #69 (*giggle*). As I stood there trembling in the cold, one of the guards walked up and asked, “What is this case about? There are more people here today than there were for McDonald.” The guard was right: there were tons of people there, stretching all the way down the steps of the plaza and along the sidewalk on First.
With a case that popular, one would expect Mr. Sacks to deem it “politically salient.” Mr. Sacks, however, was nowhere to be found. Turns out, he decided to sit this one out. Wha?! By his own definition (given on Above the Law), this case was somewhere between a “mid-major” and a “blockbuster,” as I got there before 7am and still didn’t get a seat. Why didn’t he at least try to show up? Of course, he concedes that he has not always been first in line, even for the ones he deems important. But this time he didn’t even try.
I propose he rename his blog “Frequently Towards the Front of the Line at One First.” I say this recognizing that, in the end, it’s not a big deal if some Georgetown 3L has taken liberties with his blog title. And my title doesn’t have the same ring as “First One . . .” But can’t we stop paying so much attention to a guy who can’t even follow through on his own schtick?
-Michael
Update: A gracious Mike Sacks comments, “Busted.” I’m glad to see he didn’t take my little review too seriously (and that he recognized it as the tongue in cheek piece I intended it to be).
Susan Simpson
Michael Williams