Brett Kavanaugh was born February 12, 1965

[David Lockmiller]

Who believes in astrology?

[AussieMick]

I could never remember the difference between astrology and astronomy. Then I noticed the 'g' and that is the first letter of 'guess'. Now I have no problems.

[RJNorton]

In watching the hearings I've noticed Judge Kavanaugh's constant empahasis on finding precedents before making decisions in interpreting the law(s). I know this is common practice, but it's been mentioned over and over in these hearings.

As for Lincoln-Herndon:

"Historian Charles Strozier noted: One of Herndon’s important tasks in the partnership was to keep up the ‘Commonplace Book,’ or index to relevant precedents for the cases the firm handled. On one side of a large folio page Herndon listed the kinds of cases handled and then opposite it the relevant precedents and often extensive cross-referencing. “Trusts,” for example, shows six precedents and a cross-reference to “Real Estate.” The types of cases listed are remarkably specific in order to focus the precedent search, that is, “County seat removal,” or “Vagrants,” or “Burial Ground Dead.” It is not an orderly book but it was crucial to the operation of the firm, the heart and soul of the office, and it is all in Herndon’s hand. To keep it up-to-date, he spent many hours poring through texts that were kept in the office and others he read under the whale-oil lamp in the State Law Library. The “Commonplace Book” was one key to the success of Lincoln-Herndon and gave substance to the garrulous and often witty arguments Lincoln presented to juries. Herndon was the reader of the firm, it might be said, and Lincoln the thinker."

http://www.abrahamlincolnsclassroom.org/...d-the-law/

[LincolnMan]

Roger: do you know where the Commonplace Book is kept now?

[RJNorton]

Good question, Bill. I am now wondering...did it really exist?

I just checked Michael Burlingame's Abraham Lincoln: A Life. Burlingame writes:

"Unlike other lawyers, Lincoln kept no commonplace book of reported court decisions and did not read supreme court decisions. Instead, when seeking authorities and precedents, he relied heavily on digests and treatises that summarized cases."

https://books.google.com/books?id=oERgfR...22&f=false

I do not know whether Strozier is correct or Burlingame is correct. They seem to say just the opposite.

Does anyone know which historian is correct? Possibly Burlingame wrote what he did because Herndon was the one who kept the firm's 'Commonplace Book' up-to-date (and the entire book was in Herndon's handwriting)?

[Gene C]

(09-06-2018 08:23 PM)David Lockmiller Wrote:  Who believes in astrology?

According to my astrologist, Madam Grizelda, who is a psychic medium large,
"Taurus is rising in the west which means this is a bunch of bull.
Or maybe I just need to replace the old Ford and buy a Lincoln.
$20 dollars please."


And of course this reminds me of a song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAR_nTbcquc