Strangers to Us All
Lawyers and Poetry

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Notable Publication

James Clarke's The Juried Heart was published Pleasure Boat Studio in 2015. The Juried Heart is a selection of Judge Clarke's poignant poems about his life and his work as a judge. Judge Clarke, a graduate of McGill University and Osgoode Hall, now retired, practiced law in Cobourg, Ontario and assumed his duties on the bench in 1983. Clarke's poetry has appeared in numerous volumes in Canada; The Juried Heart is Clarke's first book published in the United States. Collections of Judge Clarke's more recent work, Reluctant Witness and Fugitive Light appear in 2015 issues of the Legal Studies Forum.

 

Juried Heart is, to my knowledge, the first major collection
of poetry by a judge about his life on (and off) the bench.

"Highly recommended."
James R. Elkins


2017 (Collections of Poetry by Lawyers): Susan Lewis, Heisenberg's Salon (BlazeVOX, 2017); James Clarke, Oblique Verdicts (Exile Editions, 2017) [Oblique Verdicts was published in the U.S. in 2015 by Pleasure Boat Studio under the title, The Juried Heart]; L.Ward Abel, Dingby Roundabout (Kelsay Books, 2017) ; Joshua Hegarty, On Passing (Red Bird Chapbooks, 2017); Lynne Spigelmire Viti, Baltimore Girls (Finishing Line Press, 2017); Ace Boggess, Ultra Deep Field (Brick Road Poetry Press, 2017); Anita S. Pulier, Sounds of Morning (Finishing Line Press, 2017); Lawrence Joseph, So Where Are We (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2017); Dorritt Carroll, Sorry You Are Not an Instant Winner (Kattywompus, 2017); Lynne Viti, Baltimore Girls (Finishing Line Press, 2017); Erica Bodwell, Up Liberty Street (Finishing Line Press, 2017); Daniel A. Olivas, Crossing the Border (Pact Press, 2017); Tom Weston, What Is Left Behind (Steele Roberts, 2017); Lynne Spigelmire Viti, Punting (Origami Poems Project, 2017); Tom Jones, Beyond Existentialism: New and Selected Poems (Foothills Publishing, 2017); Dan Maclssac, Cries from the Ark (Brick Books, 2017); Laura Chalar, Unlearning (Coal City Press, 2017); James W. Keenan, Poetry by a Lawyer: A Collection of Reminiscences, Observations, and Opinions (Poetically Expressed) (Xlibris, 2017); Simon Perchik, The Osiris Poems (Forge, 2017); Paul Killebrew, To Literally You (Canarium Books, 2017); Evie Shockley, semiautomatic (Wesleyan University Press, 2017)

2016 (Collections of Poetry by Lawyers): Seth Abramson, Data (BlazeVOX [Books], 2016); Tim Nolan, The Field (New Rivers Press, 2016); Ann Tweedy, The Body's Alphabet (Headmistress Press, 2016); John L. Holgerson, Unnecessary Tattoo and Other Stains on a Stainless Stell Heart (Finishing Line Press, 2016); Gerry Grubbs, The Palace of Flowers (Dos Madres Press, 2016); James Clarke, The Quality of Mercy (JHC Press, 2016); Monica Youn, Blackacre (Graywolf Press, 2016); Adam J. Sedia, Inquitetude (CreateSpace, 2016); Thomas J. Erickson, The Biology of Consciousness and Other Poems (Pebblebrook Press, 2016); Simone White, Of Being Dispersed (Futurepoem Books, 2016); Jacqueline St. Joan, What Remains (Turkey Buzzard Press, 2016); Carol Jennings, Dead Spirits at the Piano (WordTech Communications, 2016); Martín Espada, Vivas to Those Who Have Failed (W.W. Norton, 2016); L. Ward Abel, A Jerusalem of Ponds (erbacce-press, 2016); William Bernhardt, The Ocean’s Edge (Red Dirt Press, 2016); Saul Touster, From My Life and Other Poems (Philodor Co., 2016); Richard Alan Bunch, Johnny Cake and Other Poems (Infinity Publ., 2016); Richard Alan Bunch, Seawind in the Plums: New and Selected Poems (Infinity Publ., 2016); Mystic Pizzazz and Tiger Lillies: Poems for the Spirit (Infinity Publ., 2016); T.S. Kerrigan, Missing the Sunset at Sounion (Xlibris, 2016); Tim Nolan, The Field (New Rivers Press, 2016); Jessica de Koninck, Cutting Room (Terrapin Books, 2016); Kelly Hansen Maher, Tremolo (Tinderbox Editions, 2016); L.Ward Abel, Little Town Gods (Folded Word Press, 2016); Annie Kim, Into the Cyclorama (Southern Indiana Review Press, 2016); Cynthia J. Patton, Across an Aqueous Moon: Travels in Autism (Finishing Line Press, 2016); Joni Wallace, Kingdom Come Radio Show (Barrow Street Press, 2016)

2015 (Collections of Poetry by Lawyers): James Clarke, The Juried Heart (Pleasure Boat Studio, 2015); James Clarke, Winter With Flowers (JHC Press, 2015); David Krieger, Wake Up! (Nuclear Age Foundation Book, 2015); Barry Marks, Dividing by Zero (Negative Capability Press, 2015); David E. Cowen, The Madness of Empty Spaces (Weasel Press, 2015); Seth Abramson, Metamericana (BlazeVOX [Books], 2015); Laura Chalar, Midnight at the Law Firm (Coal City Press, 2015); David Bristol, The Hour of the Poem Poem: Poems on Writing (New Academia Publishing/ Scarith Books, 2015); Kristin Roedell, Down River (Aldrich Books, 2015); Richard Falk, Waiting for Rainbows (iUniverse, 2015); Frank Pommersheim, Local Memory and Karma (Rose Hill Books, 2015); Rebecca Foust, Paradise Drive (Press 53, 2015); Barry George, The One Who Flies Back (Kattywompus Press, 2015); J.T. Whitehead, The Table of the Elements: Poems 1992-2007 (Broadkill River Press, 2015); Dawn Coppock, As Sweet as It's Going to Get (Sapling Grove Press, 2015); Judith Behar, A Green Bough (Finishing Line Press, 2015); Roberta Beary, Deflection (Accents Publ., 2015); Tom Gannon, Food for a Journey (Antrim House, 2015); Roberta Beary, Deflection (Accents Publ., 2015); Tom Jones, Beyond Existentialism (FootHills Publ., 2015); Richard Alan Bunch, Gazing Anew: Collected Poems 2011-2015 (Infinity Publ., 2015); Marianne Johnson, Tender Collisions (Aldrich Press, 2015); Graham Smith, Bar Napkins for Beginners (Sadie Girl Press, 2015); Betsy Snider, Hope is a Muscle (Blue Light Press, 2015)

2014 (Collections of Poetry by Lawyers): Warren Wolfson, At This Point (Ampersand, Inc., 2014); Howard Gofreed, Postcard from Bologna (Broadkill River Press, 2014); Ron Self, Rich Man's Son (Brick Road Poetry Press, 2014); Ace Boggess, The Prisoners (Brick Road Poetry Press, 2014); Sherri Felt Dratfield, Water Vigils (Finishing Line Press, 2014); Mary Anne Reese, Deep Down (Finishing Line Press, 2014); Mary Anne Reese, Deep Down (Finishing Line Press, 2014); Richard Alan Bunch, Summer Swans: New and Selected Poems (Infinity Publishing, 2014); Elizabeth J. Coleman, Proof ( Spuyten Duyvil Publ., 2014); Paul Nemser, Tales of the Tetragrammaton (Mayapple Press, 2014); Brian Gilmore, We Didn't Know Any Gangsters (Cherry Castle Publ., 2014); Richard Taylor, Rain Shadow (Broadstone Books, 2014); Laura Schulkind, Lost in Tall Grass (Finishing Line Press, 2014); Bruce Hesselbach, Roving Enchantments (White Violet Press, 2014); Joe Carvalko, Behind the Steel: One Life--Five Epochs (Anaphora Literary Press, 2014); Lynn Saul, In Our Language (Jumping Cholla Press, 2014); Leslie B. Neustadt, Bearing Fruit: A Poetic Journey (Spirit Wind Books, 2014); Richard S. Bank, Testation (Moonstone Press, 2014); Michael H. Levin, Watered Colors (Poetica Publ., 2014); Susan Lewis, How to be Another (Červená Barva Press, 2014); Susan Lewis, This Visit (Blaze Box [books], 2014); Sherna Spencer, Musing Aloud Allowed (Jalousie, 2014); Charles Hughes, Cave Art (Wiseblood Books, 2014); Viola Canales, The Little Devil and the Rose: Lotería Poems (Arte Público Press, 2014); Greg Powell, In Love’s Shawl (Centaur Press, 2014); Gary Stein, Between Worlds (Finishing Line Press, 2014); Olena Kalytiak Davis, The Poem She Didn't Write and Other Poems (Copper Canyon Press, 2014)

2013 (Collections of Poetry by Lawyers): Elizabeth J. Coleman, Let My Ears Be Open (Finishing Line Press, 2013); Jamie Stern, Chasing Steam (Visual Artists Collective, 2013); L. Ward Abel, Cousins Over Colder Fields (Finishing Line Press, 2013); L. Ward Abel, Roseorange (Flutter Press, 2013);Seth Abramson, Thievery (University of Akron Press, 2013); Jay Bryan, Selected Poems (Finishing Line Press, 2013); Thomas J. Erickson, The Lawyer Who Died in the Courthouse Bathroom (Parallel Press, 2013); Ann Tweedy, White Out (Green Fuse Press, 2013); Arthur Kleiman, Grand Slam (Crisis Chronicles Press, 2013); Rose Auslander, Folding Water (Finishing Line Press, 2013); Christopher Keefer, Lessons From Exile (Finishing Line Press, 2013); Sherri Felt Dratfield, The City (Finishing Line Press, 2013); John P. McVeigh, Burning Chairs (Moon Pie Press, 2013); Paul Nemser, Taurus (New American Press, 2013); Michael Denvir, The Best Poetry is Secret (Michael Denvir, 2013); Christine DeSimone, How Long the Night Is (Lummox Press, 2013); Doritt Carroll, GLTTL STP (Brickhouse Books, 2013); Marian Kent, Superpowers or: More Poems About Flying (All Caps Publ., 2013); Gerry Grubbs, The Hive: Is a Book We Read For Its Honey (Dos Madras Press, 2013); George Higgins, There, There (White Violet Press, 2013); Susan Lewis, State of the Union (Spuyten Duyvil, 2013); Natalie Shapero, No Object (Saturnalia Books, 2013); Adam J. Sedia, The Spring's Autumn (Adam J. Sedia, 2013); Selma Mann, Mourning Cloak (Premiere Sortie, 2013); Lynne Thompson, Start with a Small Guitar (What Books Press, 2013); William Bernhardt, The White Bird (Balkan Press, 2013); Hotel Room(Vostok East Press, 2013)

2012 (Collections of Poetry by Lawyers): Tom Jones, Nearing Palenque--Reflections on Native America: New and Selected Poems (FootHills Publishing, 2012); Kathleen Winter, Nostalgia for the Criminal Past ( Elixir Press, 2012); Laurel Kallen, The Forms of Discomfort (Finishing Line Press, 2012); James McKenna, The Common Law (Moon Pie Press, 2012); Wallace McCall, Pomeranian Pandemonium and Other Poems (CreateSpace, 2012); David Filer, Housekeeping (Finishing Line Press, 2012); David Filer, The Feat of Love (Plain View Press, 2012); Tim Nolan, And Then ( New Rivers Press, 2012); Michael Blumenthal, No Hurry: Poems 2000-2012 (Etruscan Press, 2012); Dan Burt, We Look Like This (Carcanet Press/Alliance House, 2012); Paul R. Rice, Every Leaf Casts a Shadow (Finishing Line Press, 2012); L. Ward Abel, American Bruise (Parallel Press, 2012); Kathleen Winter, Nostalgia for the Criminal Past (Elixir Press, 2012)Wendy Willis, Blood Sisters of the Republic (Press 53, 2012); Richard Alan Bunch, Seasonings of the Milky Way (Infinity Publishing, 2012); Sam Haskins Attorney: Poems 1970-1980 (IFSF Publishing, 2012); Greg McBride, Porthole Briery Creek Press (2012); Bonné de Blas, The Act of Dwelling (NightBallet Press, 2012); Michael Sowder, House Under the Moon ( Truman State University Press, 2012); Marian Kent, Responsive Pleading (All Caps Publ., 2012); Marc Stone, Diminishment (Main Street Rag Publ. Co., 2012); Jan Dejnožka, The Growth of a Thinker: A Chapbook of Poems (Jan Dejnožka, 2012)

2011 (Collections of Poetry by Lawyers): Evie Shockley, The New Black (Wesleyan, 2011); Seth Abramson, Northerners (Western Michigan University Press, 2011); Maureen Thorson, Applies to Oranges (Ugly Duckling Presse)' Joni Wallace, Blinking Ephemeral Valentine (Four Way Books, 2011); Gregory Chaimov, Everything is Water (Press 22); Martín Espada, The Trouble Ball (W.W. Norton and Company, 2011); John Fitzgerald, The Mind (Salmon Poetry, 2011); Raymond Zachary Ortiz, We Had More to Say: Poems from the Pilgrimage Road (Sunstone Press, 2011); David Filer, Weather Patterns: Selected Short Poems (Dancing Moon Press, 2011); Laurie Soriano, Catalina (Lummox Press, 2011); Josey Foo, A Lily Lilies (Nightboat Books, 2011)(with notes on Dance by Leah Stein); Mary Anne Reese, Raised by Water (Finishing Line Press, 2011); Dan Burt, Certain Windows (Lincott Press, 2011); Oscar S. Cisneros, The History of Dying Stars: A Book of Poetry and Art (Old Man Whimsley & Co., 2011); Mary Anne Reese, Raised by Water (Finishing Line Press, 2011); Richard Alan Bunch, Collected Poems 1965-2011 (Infinity Publishing, 2011); Kristin Roedell, Girls with Gardenias (Flutter Press, 2011); Alice N. Persons, Thank Your Lucky Stars (Moon Pie Press, 2011); Shane McCrae, Mule (Cleveland State University Poetry Center, 2011); Richard Taylor, Fading Into Bolivia (Accents Publ., 2011)

2010 (Collections of Poetry by Lawyers): Christopher Cessac, Eros Among the Americans (Main Street Rag, 2010); L. Ward Abel, Torn Sky Bleeding Blue (erbacce-press, 2010); Monica Youn, Ignatz (Four Way Books, 2010); Paul Killebrew, Flowers (Canarium, 2010); Bessy Reyna, Memorias de la amante infiel (Memories of the Unfaithful Lover) (Libros de la Tribu, 2010); Rachel Contreni Flynn, Tongue (Red Hen Press, 2010); Ann Tweedy, Beleaguered Oases (TcCreativePress, 2010); Keith Ainsworth, The Loyal Opposition (Open Books, 2010); Mary Leader, Beyond the Fire (Shearsman Books, 2010); Nancy A. Henry, SARX (Moon Pie Press, 2010); Charles Douthat, Blue for Oceans (New Haven Review Press, 2010); Charles G. Reynard, The Utility of Heart Break (Pikestaff Press, 2010); Rebecca Foust, God, Seed (Tebot Bach Press, 2010) and All That Gorgeous Pitiless Song (Many Mountain Moving Press, 2010); At the End of Time: The Incomplete Works of Richard Krech, Volume II: Poems 2001-2009 (Buffalo, New York: Sunnyoutside Press, 2010); Ruth Kramer Baden, East of the Moon (Ibbetson Street Press, 2010); Barry S. Marks, Possible Crocodiles (Brick Road Poetry Press, 2010); Jawanza Phoenix, The Intersection of Beauty and Crime (CreateSpace, 2010); Gowri Koneswaran, Still Beating (Gowri Koneswaran, 2010); Doritt Carroll, In Caves (BrickHouse Books, 2010); Anita Mohan, Letters to an Albatross (Blaze Vox Books, 2010); David Michael Belczyk, Sometimes Form Sometimes Vessel (Culturatti Ink, 2010); David Michael Belczyk, Call It Perpetual (culturatti ink, 2010); Robert Rosenbloom, Reunion (Finishing Line Press, 2010); Georgia Ressmeyer, Today I Threw My Watch Away (Finishing Line Press, 2010); Michele Leavitt, The Glass Transition (Finishing Line Press, 2010); Dan Burt, Cold Eye (Lincott Press, 2010); Jendi Reiter, Barbie at 50 (Barva Press, 2010); Myra Malkin, No Lifeguard On Duty (Main Street Rag Publ. Co., 2010); James J. Brown, Reflections of a Poetic Judge (AuthorHouse, 2010); Shane McCrae, In Canaan (Rescue Press, 2010); Leonard Weintraub, Poems Unpleasant (Langdon Street Press, 2010); Aisha Othman, Reflections of a Wayfarer: Poetry of Islamic Excellence (AuthorHouse, 2010); Kristin Roedell, Seeing in the Dark (Tomato Can Press, 2010); Dan Gunter, Songs of Neanthus (Tomato Can Press, 2010); Joyce Meyers, Shapes of Love (Finishing Line Press, 2010); Greg Larson, Of Squid & Other Humans (Main Street Rag Publ. Co., 2010); Jessica Fjeld, The Tide (Pilot Books, 2010); David R. Clowers, Shedding My Three Piece Birthday Suit (Birchwinds Press, 2010)

Best of 2010: Christopher Cessac, Eros Among the Americans (Main Street Rag, 2010); L. Ward Abel, Torn Sky Bleeding Blue (erbacce-press, 2010); Charles G. Reynard, The Utility of Heart Break (Pikestaff Press, 2010); Georgia Ressmeyer, Today I Threw My Watch Away (Finishing Line Press, 2010)

2010 (News): The University of Iowa Press has published a new anthology of law-related poetry, Poetry of the Law: From Chaucer to the Present, edited by David Kader and Michael Stanford. [For a review of Poetry of the Law, see Robert E. Rains, Of Cantos & Clerihews, 13 Green Bag2d 453 (2010)][An article by Michael Stanford on lawyer poets was published by the Legal Studies Forum in 2006. See Michael Stanford, The Cyclopean Eye, The Courtly Game, Admissions Against Interest: Five Modern American Lawyer Poets, 30 Legal Stud. F. 9 (2006)]

2010 (Legal Studies Forum): The first issue of LSF for 2010 is devoted to the prose/verse historical vignettes of John Sanford (1904-2003). [Life and Work of John Sanford]

The second issue for 2010 contains poems by Michael Blumenthal, Margaret Hoehn, Christopher Cessac, Richard Alan Bunch, Jesse Mountjoy, L. Ward Abel, Warren Wolfson, Charles Reynard, Ann Tweedy, Robert Nielsen, Megan Carpenter, Susan Ayres, Laurie Soranio, Laura Chalar, María Constanza Farfalla, Mercedes Araujo, Mariella Nigro, John W. Teeter, Jr., John Charles Kleefeld, Lou Faber, and Joan Blessing. The second 2010 issue also includes stories by Peter Haje, David Butler, Gaynell Galvin, Allan B. Ecker, and Richard Bank.

2009 (Legal Studies Forum): Volume 33 includes three, single poet issues: Margaret J. Hoehn's "collected works"; Gary Forrester's "The Beautiful Daughters of Men" (a novella in short verse); Lee Warner Brooks's "Novlets: 67 Sonnets."

Volume 33, no. 2, presents poetry by: Iris Alkalay, David Berman, Robert Boliek, Christopher Cessac, Laura Chalar, Elizabeth J. Coleman, Laura Fargas, Léonie Garicoïts, John Hay, Laurel Kallen, William Kenner, Bruce Laxalt, Barry Marks, Jesse Mountjoy, Mariella Nigro, John Perrault, Charles Reynard, Michael Sowder, Saul Touster, Elena Vázquez, Michael Walls, and Warren Wolfson. (It also includes stories by Paul Homer, Lowell B. Komie, and Laura Chalar.)

2009 (Collections of Poetry by Lawyers): Seth Abramson, The Surburban Ecstasies (Ghost Road Press, 2009); Keith Ainsworth, The Courage of Intimacy (Open Books, 2009); Michael Blumenthal, And BOA Editions, 2009) [cover]; Lee Robinson, Creed (Plainview Press, 2009)[Plainview Press]; Robert Boliek, Barry Marks, et.al., Einstein at the Odeon Café (Churn Dash Press, 2009);Andrew Borene, Blood, Sweat & Fury (iUniverse, 2009); Elizabeth Coleman, The Saint of Lost Things (Word Temple Press, 2009); Rachel Contreni Flynn, Haywire (Bright Hill Press, 2009) [Bright Hill Press]; Rebecca Foust, Mom's Canoe (Texas Review Press, 2009) [book cover]; William Keener, Gold Leaf on Granite (Anabiosis Press, 2009); Greg McBride, Back of the Envelope (Copperdome Press, 2009); Paul Rice, Through Yesterday's Window (Finishing Line Press, 2009); Jendi Reiter, Swallow (Amsterdam Press, 2009) [order information]; Jonathan Rothschild, The Last Clubhouse Eulogy (Chax Press, 2009); Kit Thornton, Piltdown Agonistes and Selected Poems (Beau Soleil, 2009); James R. Whitley, This Is the Red Door ( Ironweed Press, 2009); James R. Whitley, The Goddess of Goodbye (Word Press, 2009); Maureen Thorsen, Twenty Questions for the Drunken Sailor (Dusie/flynpytar Press, 2009)

Best of 2009: William Keener, Gold Leaf on Granite (Anabiosis Press, 2009); Michael Blumenthal, And (BOA Editions, 2009)

2008 (Legal Studies Forum): In January, 2008, the Legal Studies Forum presented still another substantial collection of poetry (along with a judicious selection of short stories, memories, and writings for which we haven't as yet discovered a name).

In April, 2008, our second LSF issue of the year arrived. It featured memoirs, essays on legal education, and a featured poet--Tom Jones.

2008 (News): Cassandra Lizaire, Bards of the Bar, Columbia News Service.

2008 (Published Collections of Poetry by Lawyers): L. Ward Abel, The Heat of Blooming (Pudding House Press, 2008); Keith Ainsworth, The Courage of Intimacy (Open Books, 2008); Jim Chastin, Antidotes & Home Remedies (Village Press Books, 2008); Rebecca Clark, Bending Light (Finishing Line Press, 2008); Nancy Henry, Who Are You? (Sheltering Pines Press, 2008); Louis Faber, The Right to Depart (Plain View Press, 2008); Rebecca Foust, Dark Card (Texas Review Press, 2008); Richard Krech, In Chambers (sunnyoutside press, 2008); Richard Krech, Within The Curtilage (Dover, Delaware: Bottle of Smoke Press, 2008); John Levy, Oblivion, Tyrants, Crumbs (First Intensity Press, 2008); Tim Nolan, The Sound of It (New Rivers Press, 2008); Frank Pommersheim, East of the River: Poems Both Ancient and New (Rose Hill Books, 2008); Carl Reisman, Home Geography (Stone City Press, 2008)(illustrated by Ronald Wojtanoski);Mike Sutin, Graven Images (Sunstone Press, 2008); Day Williams, 100 Sonnets (Carson City, Neveda: Days Rays, 2008); Susan Settlemyre Williams, Ashes in Midair (Many Mountains Moving Press, 2008); Kathleen Winter, Invisible Pictures (Finishing Line Press, 2008); Warren Woessner, Clear All the Rest of the Way: New & Selected Poems 1987-2007 (The Backwaters Press, 2008)

Best Collection of Poetry by a Lawyer (2008): T.S. Kerrigan, My Dark People
(Central Avenue Press, 2008)

Our 2008 'Best Finds' (of previously published work): Two collections and two chapbooks by Margaret J. Hoehn: Vanishings (Writers Voice of the Tampa Metropolitan YMCA, 1998); Balancing on Light: Poems (Riverstone, 2002); The Trajectory of Sunflowers (Backwaters Press, 2004); Traveling Without a Map (Anabiosis Press, 2005). An issue of the Legal Studies Forum featuring Hoehn's was published in early 2009. The issue (119 pgs./$10) can be obtained by contacting James R. Elkins. The poetry is quite extraordinary.

2007 (Legal Studies Forum): In 2007, the Legal Studies Forum published an issue of poetry, essays, and fiction by Michael Blumenthal, and tributes to Chicago lawyer/novelist/short-story writer, Lowell B. Komie. We also published a "supplemental" issue devoted to the poetry, fiction, and essays of Leslie Hall Pinder, a Vancouver lawyer.

2007 (Published Collections of Poetry by Lawyers): Lisa Alexander Baron, Reading the Alphabet of Trees (Finishing Line Press, 2007); Roberta Beary, The Unworn Necklace (Snapshot Press, 2007); Mark Brodeur, Sisters Katrina & Ria: Poems From the Aftermath (Tate Publishing, 2007); Robert Boliek, Barry Marks, et.al., Poems from The Big Table (Churn Dash Press, 2007)(Jerri Beck ed.); Isidore Century, From the Coffee House of Jewish Dreamers: Poems of Wonder and Wandering (Ben Yehuda Press, 2007); Rebecca Foust, Dark Card (Texas A. & M. University Press, 2007); Nancy A. Henry, Our Lady of Let's All Sing (Sheltering Pines Press, 2007); Jerry Hoffman, the quality of light in alabama (Xlibris, 2007); Ken Jones, Ceaseless Greasepaint in Combat Stance (Slough Press, 2007); Richard Krech, Some Global Positioning Dharma (Red Barn Press, 2007); Richard Krech, From Both Sides of the Line Break (glass eye books, 2007); Richard Krech, We Are on the Verge of Ecstacy: Selected Early Poems 1965-1970 (Green Panda Press, 2007); David Krieger, The Doves Flew High (Artamo Press, 2007); Brad Leithauser, Curves and Angles: Poems (Alfred A. Knopf, 2007); James Liddy, On the Raft with Fr. Roseliep (Arlean House, 2006); Joyce Meyers, Wild Mushrooms (Plan B Press, 2007); Alice N. Persons, Don't Be a Stranger (Sheltering Pines Press, 2007); Paul Rice, Walking Among Shadows: Searching For the Red Sunfish (Fishing Line Press, 2007); Taiyu Johnn Robertson, Always Doing Being We Live Our Lives (2007); Lynn Thompson, Beg No Pardon (Perugia Press, 2007); Stephen B. Wiley, Mockingbird Come Home (Oasis, 2007); Susan Settlemyre Williams, Possession (Finishing Line Press, 2007);

Best Collections of Poetry by a Lawyer (2007): Greg Rappleye, Figured Dark (University of Arkansas Press, 2007); Joyce Meyers, Wild Mushrooms (Plan B Press, 2007)

2007 (News): The College of Law, University of Illinois, hosted a conference on Law and Poetry, the first ever such gathering of lawyer poets at an academic institution so far as we know. In conjunction with the University of Illinois gathering, WILL-AM (the radio broadcast station for the University of Illinois) featured an interview of Carl Reisman, a local poet/lawyer and, James R. Elkins) on Focus 580 with David Inge. [News article][Real Audio][MP3]

On August 21, 2007, Garrison Keillor on The Writer's Almanac read a poem by Alice Persons, "Why I Have a Crush On You, UPS Man," from Alice N. Persons, Don't Be a Stranger (Sheltering Pines Press, 2007).

2006 (Legal Studies Forum): In March, 2006, a third major collection of poetry by lawyers was published by the Legal Studies Forum. [online text]

2006 (Published Collections of Poetry by Lawyers): Patsy Bickerstaff, Mrs. Noah's Journal (San Francisco Bay Press, 2006); Mark Brodeur, Homage: Poems in the Voices of the Western Canon (Tate Publishing, 2006); Jim Chastin, Like Some First Human Being (2006); Jim Chastin, I Survived Cancer, But Never Won the Tour de France (Hawk Publishing, 2006)(memoir and poetry); Martín Espada, The Republic of Poetry (W.W. Norton & Co., 2006); Mark Falkin, The Half-Life of Casual Joy (Lulu Press, 2006); R ichard M. "Rick" Georges, Life is Simple, Really: Poems About Life, Loving, Fun and Family (PublishAmerica, 2006); Paul Homer, Impressions From A Curmudgeon: A Collection of Poems (BookSurge Publishing, 2006); Brandon D. Johnson, Love’s Skin (The Word Works, 2006); Ken Jones, Unutterable Blunders and Palace Disasters (Plain View Press, 2006); Vanessa Kittle, Apart (March Street Press, 2006) Richard Krech, Second Opinion (Bottle of Smoke Press, 2006); Brad Leithauser, Curves and Angles: Poems (Knopf, 2006); John Levy, Twelve Poems (tel-let, 2006) [online text], Greg Rappleye Eros, Psyche and the Death of Narrative (Candle Creek Press, 2006); Sara Littlecrow-Russell, The Secret Powers of Naming (University of Arizona Press, 2006); RJ McCaffery, Ice Sculpture of Mermaid With Cigar (Three Candles Press, 2006); Wayne Miller, Only the Senses Sleep (New Issues Poetry Press, 2006); Shari O’Brien, Uncaged (Shadows Ink Publications, 2006); Simon Perchik, The Milton Poems (Ahadada Books, eChapbook, 2006); Evie Shockley, a half-red sea (Carolina Wren Press, 2006).

Best Collections of Poetry by Lawyers (2006):

Richard Krech, Rumors of Electricity (sunnyoutside, 2006)[press release]

Ron Talney, The Broken World (Stone City Press, 2006)

Charles Williams, Asparagus Seems Deaf (Harmony House Publishers, 2006)

Michael Blumenthal Gives the Donley Lecture: College of Law, West Virginia University [Michael Blumenthal] [The lecture :: audio :: presented at the University of Chicago]

Bob Dylan | September, 2006: Bob Dylan and his new album, "Modern Times" has been in the news, even the New York Times. It seems he has an affinity for the work of a lawyer/poet named Henry Timrod and has used, in "Modern Times" a fair number of lines from Timrod for his new album. No case for complain even Dylan had seen fit to give credit where credit is due. He didn't. [For the reaction to the Bob Dylan/Henry Timrod story, see, Althouse: Ripping off Henry Timrod] [Winkleman blog]

Oregon Lawyer Poets Recognized by the Oregon State Bar Bulletin (July, 2006): Sonia Alisa Montalbano, Ron Talney, Ed Johnson, Ellen Mendoza, and James McCobb were recognized in Melody Finnemore's article, "Versus to Verse," Oregon State Bar Bulletin (July, 2006) as lawyers and poets. Montalbano, Johnson, and Talney's poetry has appeared in the Legal Studies Forum. For what its worth: The Oregon State Bar and the University of Oregon School of Law should sponsor a "gathering" of Oregon's lawyer poets, and when they do, they might consider the work of an earlier generation poet/lawyer, Charles Erskine Scott Wood.

2005 (Legal Studies Forum): In May, 2005, the Legal Studies Forum published a second poetry-focused issue of poetry by lawyers, Hank Lazer's law poetry along with essays about his work, and interviews with lawyer poets Ruthann Robson and Simon Perchik. The poetry in this issue is available online: Intelligible Hues.

2005 (Collections of Poetry by Lawyers): Michael Blumenthal, Days We Would Rather Know (Pleasure Boat Studio, 2005)(Viking Press, 1984); David Filer, Night Verse (Finishing Line Press, 2005); John M. FitzGerald, Spring Water (Turning Point, 2005); Rachel Contreni Flynn, Ice, Mouth, Song: A Collection of Poems (Tupelo Press, 2005); Nancy A. Henry, Europe on $5 a Day: Selected Poems (Moon Pie Press, 2005); Margaret J. Hoehn, Traveling Without a Map (Anabiosis Press, 2005); Lawrence Joseph, Codes, Precepts, Biases, and Taboos: Poems 1973-1993 (Farrar, Strauss, Giroux, 2005); Lawrence Joseph, Into It: Poems (Farrar, Strauss, Giroux, 2005); David Kreiger, Today is Not a Good Day for War (Capra Press, 2005); Bruce Laxalt, Songs of Mourning and Worship (Black Rock Press, 2005); Barry S. Marks, There is Nothing Oppressive as a Good Man: A Collection of Poetry by Barry S. Marks (Dancing Rabbit Press, 2005); David May, Love and the Persistence of Illusion (AuthorHouse, 2005); Shauuna Oteka McCovey, The Smokehouse Boys (Heyday Books, 2005); Carl Reisman, Kettle (Hot Lead Press, 2005); Bessy Reyna, The Battlefield of Your Body (El Campo de Batalla de Tu Cuerpo)(Hill-Stead Museum, 2005); Mike Sutin, Naked Ladies on the Road (Sunstone, 2005); Robert G. Wetmore, Old Thoughts, New Directions (PublishAmerica, 2005); Stephen B. Wiley, Hero Island (Oasis, 2005)

Rattle, a West Coast poetry journal, publishes it's "Tribute to Lawyers" (drawing on the work of the Legal Studies Forum) with an essay by James R. Elkins on his "discovery" of the lawyer poets.

The Rattle lawyer/poets issue presents poems by: Susan Abraham -- Richard S. Bank - -Ace Boggess -- Mark C. Bruce -- Rebecca Clark -- Louis Faber -- David Filer -- Rachel Contreni Flynn -- Katya Giritsky -- Nancy A. Henry -- Ilya Kaminsky -- William Keener -- Alyce Miller -- Lawrence Russ -- Terry B. Stevenson -- Robert Thomas -- Lynne Thompson -- Ann Tweedy -- Jesse Weiner -- Warren Wolfson

2004 (Legal Studies Forum): After our first poems in 2003, we published, in 2004, a volume of poetry titled, Off the Record: An Anthology of Poetry by Lawyers, the first collection of non-law-related poetry by lawyers ever published. The anthology presented the poetry of sixty-six contemporary lawyer poets (and poets who took up the study of law but abandoned the legal profession for other pursuits). [Off the Record: An Anthology of Poetry by Lawyers]

2003 (Legal Studies Forum): Some brave and hardy souls--poets one and all--entrusted their poems to me and I set out to publish the poetry of lawyers. That first venturesome group included TS Kerrigan, Helen Bailey, Daniel Caine, Stan Biderman, Lillian Kennedy, and a Canadian, Gary Botting.

2001 (Inauguration of Website): After a summer of intensive work, Strangers to Us All: Lawyers and Poetry is posted in September.


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