"Either way the law clerks ended up writing the opinion and the more help we got from the lawyers, the easier it was."

There again, I would hope that lawyers extend their professional performance for the benefit of there client.

"Like Ron says sometimes the judge bases his opinions on matters that are not obvious to the participants (my judge was LBJ's best friend for instance, so certain litigants had certain standing and seemed to always come out ahead LOL)."

You laugh, but some of us out here understand just that.....that type of behavior is not only at that level, it exists at ALL levels......our collective system at its best.

doni