In a recent antitrust suit, attorneys found themselves in hot water with the overseeing federal judge for an alleged misuse of the court’s emergency email system. Late on a Friday night, a “terse” email was sent requesting that a section of an unidentified court filing be placed under protective seal.
The email, however, appeared to lack a compelling argument for such action, and seemed to make light of the emergency nature of the system, prompting the judge to criticize the attorneys involved publicly.
The antitrust suit points fingers at several elite universities, accusing them of conspiring to restrict student aid. It remains unclear, though, how this court filing, subject of the imprudent request, was related to the broader accusations.
As the legal professionals in question continue to grapple with the consequences of this alleged misstep, other law practitioners might consider this incident a cautious tale about proper use of court communication tools.
For more on the antitrust suit and the judge’s criticism, read the full report on Law360.