Rules and Guidelines

After substantial research on email list ‘best practices,’ we developed these rules and guidelines in order to (a) maximize the benefit of participation here and (b) be respectful of everyone’s time. We ask that you please read and adhere to them as best you can.

1.How to send a question/comment to the list:  

To post to the list, simply send an email to  “alij_criminaldefensecommunity@simplelists.com” and it will be distributed to all list members. 

2. Stay on-topic 

(a). This list is intended for discussing and sharing information related to the practice of local criminal defense – so please keep your questions and comments focused accordingly.

(b). If you want to post something off topic, run it by admin first (email info@ali4j.org).

3. Email subject-line 

(a). Please take a moment and make sure all emails you write and send have a descriptive subject line to help your colleagues out and provide context.

(i)So, for example, if you are sending a question to the list about a new topic, don’t just reply to an old email thread that contains a subject line that is not relevant to your question.

(b). Note that emails sent with no subject line may be perceived as spam by the recipients’ email filter.

4. Recipient information 

(a). Replies to whole group vs. one person

(i). If you wish to transmit something of a more personal or private nature in response to a list question, please send it directly to the intended recipient rather than to the whole group.

(b). Take an extra second to make sure the intended recipient is correct. In other words, if you intend to send your email to only one person and not the entire group, double check yourself before sending (this error has caused some embarrassment on other listservs we’ve participated in). 

5. Avoid repeating questions/topics if possible 

Particularly for common questions (such as, e.g., does anyone have an email address for Judge Howsie’s minute clerk), please search your inbox, or the archives, before posting your question to check whether the question you intend to ask was asked and answered recently. You can access the email list archives here: 

 https://lists.simplelists.com/alij_criminaldefensecommunity/

6. Be brief

Particularly for more complex questions (such as those relating to legal strategy), please make an effort to be concise and keep your messages short and to the point. 

7. Be civil

Please be kind and respectful toward your colleagues, particularly when expressing an opposing viewpoint. Dialogue benefits everyone, and no one should fear that participation will be an unpleasant experience. Remember that people necessarily differ in their experience levels, and even people of the same experience level often differ on issues. 

8. List traffic cannot be used for litigation purposes

All recipients are under an obligation to preserve the applicability of the work product privilege and similar protections. Specifically, there is to be no use of list traffic for litigation purposes (e.g., as exhibits to declarations, or to question witnesses).

9. Things to consider when representing a co-defendant or cooperator

We expect that many lawyers will join this list, and thus there is a possibility that another lawyer on the list represents your client’s co-defendant and/or the person they’ve ‘informed’ on. To safeguard the confidentiality of your legal strategy, and perhaps even to protect your client’s safety, be wary of discussing sensitive matters on this list that could compromise either. If there’s any question in your mind that that is a risk, don’t post your question to the list.

10. Confidentiality

Participants may not forward listserv communications to nonparticipants.

11. There is no such thing as perfect security in an internet environment

(a). So, for example, before sending an email to the entire list, please consider whether it would be best to write it in such a way as to blur case-identifiable details. 

(i). It is also the case that intemperate screeds, or reports of them, may be one means to reach people who were not the intended recipients. Please think and reflect before you send.

12. Routine requests for address changes, account suspensions or deletions, etc.

These should go to info@ali4j.org.

13. Other rules and guidance 

(a).All participants are expected to comport themselves in accordance with professional standards and ethical requirements.

(b). With respect to more in-depth substantive discussions, the default expectation is that most of these will take place offline among those interested once there has been an initial posting raising the subject.