The first post here was a fluke. I had nothing to do one day, and Dr. SJ wanted to get me out of her hair, so she told me, “start a blog.” So I did. That was February 13, 2007. That was 13,414 posts ago, not to mention 300 drafts that never saw daylight.
I have no clue what I thought would happen when I started SJ. I certainly didn’t expect to be here 18 years later, still cranking out posts long after most of the blawgosphere gave it up, moved on, died or got indicted. There was once a thriving blawgosphere, with the practical criminal law blawgosphere one of the most vibrant. Many are still friends. Some are not. Much has changed over the past 18 years.
As I’ve explained before, I write because that’s what I do. I write as a catharsis. I write about whatever I find interesting at the moment. I don’t know what I think until I see what I write. Some of you disagree with me, which is as it should be. Some of you believe I owe you the opportunity to use SJ as your sounding board for whatever you think. I do not.
This is my home and I owe you nothing. You neither get to tell me what I should be writing about nor what I should say if I do write. I allow comments as a courtesy, and sometimes a comment is remarkably illuminating or humorous or interesting. Too often, of late, comments are dumb and offensive, even though commenters think their words are brilliant and I am a terrible person for not posting the comment or bowing to your genius. Tough nuggies. If you don’t like the way I handle comments, go elsewhere. No one forces you to come here, read here, comment here. That’s entirely on you.
Eighteen years ago, I had no idea whether anyone would read what I wrote or care whether my words reflected their thoughts or not. When people did read, and read a lot, I kept a tight lid on comments to keep SJ sane and reasonably accurate. It took far more effort than most of you realize. You don’t see the batshit crazy nonsense people write, which I trash for the sake of keeping you from having to see just how stupid or crazy some people can be.
Part of the problem is that many of you aren’t lawyers, and so lack the education, experience or knowledge to realize that you believe credulous nonsense that supports your partisan bias. You spew the lies you’re told back as if the lies and idiocy that permeate your tribe’s echo chamber without criticism will play here. The woke did it. The MAGA do it. I wouldn’t tolerate it before and I won’t tolerate it now.
For those of you who read and find value here, thank you. For those of you who read to be outraged by how wrong I am, whatever. As long as I wake up in the morning and feel the urge to write, I will write. As long as you wake up in the morning and feel the urge to read what I write, there will be an audience for SJ. At some day in the future, it will come to an end. But today is not that day. Plus, now SJ is old enough to enjoy a crystal tumbler of Bowmore 18, and who am I to deprive SJ of a little joy?
Mazel tov and L’chaim!!
To 18 more!!
Congrats on 18. Sent a minor bday gift to the blog. Hope it keeps the lights on a little longer. Thanks for trying to make people think!
Salut! Tip an 18 for 18.
Scott,
I’m glad you make the effort. I’ve learned a lot from reading here and you’ve changed my mind on a number of occasions…for which, even when it’s been uncomfortable, I’m grateful.
Keep up the good work.
Happy birthday. I hope I’ve contributed to your efforts and have taken some of the load off you. And my tip is in the jar.
Your blog is the only thing on the net I read religiously. Regardless of whether I agree with you or not, you are always thought provoking and very often enlightening. Thank you for being a rare voice of sanity in the cacophony of the internet.
I think I found SJ through a reference by Greg Doucette. I enjoyed whatever post I first encountered and signed up. I recall thinking that this would be cool, reading blogs by other lawyers. Alas, those other blawgs did not materialize, and I now know that many of the blawgers had moved on (although I guess Substack and similar platforms are helping to revitalize the idea).
Anyway, you always remember your first. Thanks Scott. Here’s to many more.
Reading this blog is like watching Loudermilk on Netflix.
Immense appreciation! I don’t know why you write but I know why I read. Even when I don’t agree you NEVER fail to teach me something. And I figure that so long as I’m learning I’m living pretty well. Sincere thanks and best wishes.
p.s. I’m not rich but can scrape up $10 per year for SJ web costs.
Is the drinking age 18 in NY?
Happy birthday SJ!
From a guy who’s blawgging days seem to have ended (though never say never as I keep thinking I’ll get back at it one of these days, and I do have some things I’d like to write about), I have some idea how damned impressive 18 years is:
Happy Blawgiversary!
And thanks to Dr. SJ for getting this ball rolling.
Thank you for writing. I’ll keep reading.
I hate to make a “me too” type of comment, but l’chaim!
With 13,414 I’m wondering if you don’t own the record.. That’s an awful lot of keystrokes and the thought driving them was considerable.
I often wonder how many times you think of the comments I don’t make.
Then the answer comes to me after my second coffee.
Happy birthday, Scott.
Happy Blogging Anniversary.
I think I have been reading it for almost that long.
Thank you, Scott,!
I think the first time I read SJ was in 2011. I was about to start law school and someone at the Volokh Conspiracy mentioned an SJ post. As someone who was interested in becoming a prosecutor, I hadn’t been exposed to the defense perspective in blunt terms and granular detail. Now I’ve been practicing criminal defense for over 10 years. And I think I’ve been doing a minimally competent job too!
Thank you for writing and happy anniversary.
Your blog has always been a grounding touchstone for me.
Happy Anniversary.
Thank you for your years of insights Scott. I have been lurking for quite a few of those years and am grateful that that you chose to devote so much of your time to this project.
Happy birthday, SJ, and congrats, Scott! It’s a good occasion for tummy rubs, I think. Well done, and I’ll keep reading as long as you’d like to write. Thanks for all the words.
I came here in 2018 from Conor Friedersdorf’s interview with you in The Atlantic around 2018, I think–I’m a latecomer for sure here. Your answers to some of his questions, particularly concerning the Harvey Weinstein case really surprised me. It was like getting a glimpse of the way the world really works and not how I’d like to think it works.
As news has become as much narrative as facts, I come here to be refreshed from the partisanship and get that glimpse again of reality.
Congratulations on your 18th anniversary. Thanks for the invaluable work that you do and the people you have helped. Thank you for helping me to be more thoughtful and critical in the way I view everything.
Thank you!
And congratulations!
Especially on the “cathartic” part.
My own blog and dead tree editorial scribblings only tended to wind me up even more, so hat’s off to you!
Mazel tov! And Feliz Cumpleanos to SJ!
My little tip is in the jar, looking for more to drop.
{Ed. Note: For those unaware, Marilou was my wonderful editor years ago. Thank you, again, for all your help.]
Scott – I have happily lurked around your blog for about 15 years – and appreciatively share many of your posts with friends both left and right –
Thanks for the always thoughtful and usually entertaining writing –
Made a first-time donation so you can keep the lights on, enjoy half a bottle of something or maybe a couple dozen eggs…
Congratulations, SHG. I started reading SJ when I was a baby lawyer many years ago and continued even after I moved on to a non-legal field. You were a voice of reason in a sea of noise and continue to be one even as the volume of the noise has continued to be turned up.
I can count on both hands is all the number of times I skipped a post thinking, Who cares, feh. You did for 18 years. A mitzvah!
But please. Those “swallow” comments. Early in the morning, too. Whenever. I’m not likely to ask you to cancel my subscription (inside joke, right?), but please stop. Please.
Valentine hearts to you and Dr. S.J.
[Ed. Note: It’s vulgar, but I’ve yet to come up with something else that makes the point quite so effectively. If you have any idea, let me know.]
Congratulations on your milestone!
PS. I still remember that excellent steak when we met at Rothmann’s a little over a year ago.