Karen K. Koehler
READER COMMENTS
See for yourself why Karen Koehler's blog and website continues to attract more followers every month. Her Trial Diaries illuminate while they entertain... Below are just a few readers' comments that we've received in response to Karen's writing.
Hi Karen - I'm one of the huge mass of lawyers across the country who have become hooked on your writings in the past two weeks (so much so that I'm not working my way through your other earlier writings on your blog. I wish I had your gift! ,,,, Thanks for your courtesy and for all the joy and insight you've been sharing! - D.S. (Cheyenne, WY)Karen, I am a slave to my email as I wait for your next teachable moment. - S.D. (Delaware)Karen - Thanks so much for sharing your EXCELLENT book on voir dire with me. It is absolutely fantastic!!! Having tried 64+ trials, I personally understand and appreciate how important voir dire truly is. Your book captures all the important stuff and packages it into an easy and fun to read book. Again, thank you for the book.
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J.M. (Orange County)To paraphrase Jack Nicholson, "you make me want to be a better lawyer."
- T.D. (Spokane, WA)
Can I shadow you on your next trial? You are so cool.
- C.A. (Vancouver, WA)
I forward these to all the attorneys in my office. We are hooked and can’t wait for the next one.
- B.S. (Lawrenceville, NJ)
This has been better than a novel. I hope it has a terrific ending. Thanks for sharing, thanks for all your passion and great work. Let Justice be done.
- L.S. (Seattle, WA)
Great result. You’re our hero.
- T.S. (Waterloo, IA)
Thank you for sharing and caring about others of us who can benefit from your work and wisdom. I hope to get the privilege to try a case with you someday.
- L.Q. (Bellevue, WA)
Your daily notes formed a serialized "best seller", and now with a fantastic result. What a well prepared and executed plan.
- M.M. (Lynnwood, WA)
You brought tears to my eyes when you described the daughter’s dance and the way the jury strained to see her. Wonderful!
- P.W. (Seattle, WA)
I’m dying with suspense. I don’t know what I’ll do when you’re not in trial; these updates have become addictive.
- G.P. (Atlanta, GA)
I may have said this before, but at some point you have to take all these amazing notes and edit them into a book. There are too few views into the mind of a working lawyer in the midst of the process, and what you are writing would be amazing tool for everyone, especially for newbies.
- David Ball
Are you sure that is real life and not a movie? I love all of the characters – perfectly described!
- G.M. (Spokane, Wa)
I have come to the conclusion that I do not want this trial to end! If that should come to pass then you riveting reports will be no longer!
- C.M. (Berkeley,CA)
Damn good Karen. You are, among other things, a born writer. You keep the attention of your readers just like they are your jurors.
I can't wait for you to retire from the law business so I can start reading the books I know you will write in retirement. Good luck in the trial...
- G.B. (Edmonds,WA)
If you ever give up being an attorney. I think you should be a writer. [Your trial diaries] are fabulous.
- S.K. (Longview,TX)
You are an awesome lawyer and a caring and compassionate woman.You are inspiring. I have shared your experience with our newest associate who is waiting to hear whether he passed the bar exam. I want him to grow up in the law to be just like you.
– C.H. (Pullman, WA)
I guess by the time you read this you will already be back in the trenches, but I wanted to write and offer my support and empathy. I always enjoy reading your narratives, and admire your openness. It is always easy to second guess ourselves when things don’t go well, and we have to work at realizing that no matter how long we have been at this, there is always something to learn from. Maybe that’s why we call it the “practice” of law. It goes without saying that we owe it to our clients to anticipate anything we can, but accomplishing that is harder than saying it. I have been trying lawsuits for 36 years and have tried more than some local judges have presided over. I have seen a lot of bad judging. In the early years there was a judge who would not let us call an African-American witness by her last name. There was one judge here who was so biased against plaintiffs that I frankly had to treat him like an opposing lawyer (including very carefully trying to decrease his authority with the jury). I never tried a case in his court in which he did not threaten to throw me in jail for contempt at some point. But I never lost a case in his court, and he never granted a new trial against me. Then one day I was there with a bunch of other lawyers for pre-trial conferences for the next trial docket. He looks out over the pews and says, “I am going to take [my] case first, because I know he is always ready.” Turns out he liked me.
Umpires sometimes call a ball a strike and realizing their mistake, later call a strike a ball to make up for it. Maybe your judge was just having a bad day, and will make up for it today.
- K.A. (Houston,TX)
