Dear Presiding Judge/Justice/Selected Law Firm Managing Partner

March 8, 2018 NOTE: Please comment on at least 1 of the 10 comparisons.
Re: Enclosed California State & Federal Procedure Survey (via USPS mail)

Dear Presiding Judge/Justice/Selected Law Firm Managing Partner:

I seek your valued input on a subject intended to provide useful information to the statewide−and perhaps, nationwide−legal community. Some of my practice, and most of my teaching career, has focused on the intersection between California and federal civil procedure.

I am hereby launching this project, tentatively entitled Contrast Between State and Federal Civil Procedure in California−with no political or other need-to-disclose affiliations. The Harvard Law Review has encouraged me to submit my analysis for possible publication (no review is willing to offer a more robust commitment, sight unseen).

I have authored 5 editions of West’s Nutshell on California Civil Procedure; co-authored 5 editions of West’s Civil Casebook on California Procedure (with Hastings colleagues); and co-edited 5 editions of the Jones-McClure California Civil Practice−Civil Pretrial lawyer’s treatise.

I have attached my “Top-10” list of prominent differences between state and federal procedure in California. I will be assessing an additional two-dozen major differences−which are not included, due to law review space limitations. But please feel free to comment, on any other differences I have omitted from this abbreviated list.

In the enclosed survey, I: (a) briefly summarize my Top-10 state-federal procedural differences; (b) ask for your input on questions about each of the 10 differences; and (c) pray for both your answer to my associated Questions + any comments you are willing to share about your preferred resolution.

When responding, please be sure to let me know if I may provide attribution for any of your comments I might quote or paraphrase. There will be no attribution, unless I specifically get your approval.

Please share this survey within your workplace. If you do, that gesture will yield a more robust response to these practice questions. A copy of the enclosed 2-page survey is also available at: < (which might facilitate its further dissemination.)

Yes−another survey . However, this analysis has the potential for: (a) reducing the number of differences between the two legal systems at work in California; and perhaps (b) yielding a better result for one or both systems−both in California, and for other state procedural systems that differ from the federal approach.

You can e-mail your response, preferably to: <>; or snail-mail it (preferably) to my home address below; or leave a phone message ***. The success of this project depends on your spending the estimated 15 minutes necessary to respond to my plea….

Thank you in advance,

Bill

William Slomanson, Emeritus & Adjunct Professor

Thomas Jefferson School of Law
Home address

Home phone

1155 Island Ave

San Diego, CA 92101

619 961 4309 (work phone)
Last rev: 03/28/18