THE ROBING ROOM

Judge Dorsey is one of the most procedurally-savvy judges I've encountered. He has a finely nuanced understanding of both the authority and practicality of complex litigation, particularly class litigation. He gives the lawyers the best possible chance to make their positions clear, both on paper (he's generous in granting permission for enlarged briefs on complex or novel issues) and in person. One tip for counsel: Although he has no problem granting permission for an enlarged brief, make sure you actually need it -- he will comment (sometimes in the decision for all to see) if he thinks you're just padding things, and that won't do your position much good (as an opponent of mine found out to his chagrin).