AF VLC

10/21/2024

Reminder: October is "Civility Month" at the American Inns of Court.

Nathan Freeburg

10/21/2024 19:38:16

That was....strange. And weirdly ungracious.
Joshua Tolin is a class act. I've tried cases against him and with him.

Brian

10/22/2024 12:53:08

What's the lesson in civility we're supposed to take away? That she shouldn't have said what she said, or that he shouldn't have posted her response on this forum? I don't know either of these people, and he very well may be a class act, but posting this here in what I can only assume was an attempt to publicly shame her doesn't strike me as a classy act.

Nathan Freeburg

10/22/2024 13:56:13

Brian, Tolin didn’t post the screenshot on caaflog. But she made her comment on his public LinkedIn profile as a public statement…not in a PM. Her choice.

Philip D. Cave link

10/22/2024 22:13:43

When I first read the post, I thought it had come from an AF blog or something that the public could peruse. As it happens, I had the same thought as Nathan. So I checked LinkedIn, and indeed, that appears to be where the post was scraped from.

LinkedIn is a website for professionals of all stripes--from aspiring students, academe, CEO or executives, and business professionals. There are DoD leaders and members, many active and retired military personnel, and quite a few JAs on LinkedIn. My experience with LinkedIn is that posters and commenters are professional. It's not freewheeling like Facebook, TicToc, or similar social media sites.

"The platform is primarily used for professional networking and career development, and allows jobseekers to post their CVs and employers to post jobs. From 2015, most of the company's revenue came from selling access to information about its members to recruiters and sales professionals.LinkedIn has more than 1 billion registered members from over 200 countries and territories."

Unfortunately, the Chief, Appellate and Outreach, Air Force Victims' Counsel Division commented, giving the appearance of speaking for a component of the Air Force. Further, the comment may also foster the appearance of official disdain for defense counsel. I note that if you go to the commenter's page, you will find a general disclaimer that all posts, comments, etc., are made in a personal capacity.

Josh, I wouldn't get too heated up about the comment.

I'll give you the traditional Navy farewell, "May you have fair winds and following seas." [ https://7esl.com/fair-winds-and-following-seas/ ]

Civility

10/23/2024 10:38:37

That someone would post this on a professional site to a retirement announcement shows that person’s small soul. It also tells us a lot about the toxic culture in VLC offices if this is one of the leaders.

Richard Stevens link

10/23/2024 15:05:32

I think posting this is important to the community, so that it exposes the attitude directed by Ms. Wells toward a member of the defense community. This is not an isolated incident and it is not surprising, unfortunately. If you take a look at Footnote #2 in In re SB and In re SC (writ decisions), you will see AFCCA issue pretty pointed indictments of Ms. Wells' approach to advocacy. We all have our role to play in the system. Her approach to her role speaks for itself.

afcca

10/23/2024 16:42:48

2 We note that at certain points, Petitioner’s supplemental brief contains language that
could be read to imply motives on the part of the military judge other than a good-faith
application of the law, and may be read to disparage “the military justice system.” Such
flourishes have no influence on the court’s resolution of the issues. However, although
the court expects and appreciates robust advocacy on behalf of clients, counsel are reminded of their obligation to “use language that is respectful of courts or tribunals
[and] the system of justice.” Air Force Instruction 51-110, Professional Responsibility
Program, Attachment 2, Air Force Standards for Civility in Professional Conduct, ¶ 24;
see also A.F. CT. CRIM. APP. 10.1 (requiring counsel before this court to comply with Air
Force Standards for Civility in Professional Conduct).

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