It's A Small State After All

One of the things they tried to drill into our heads in the bar review and professional responsibility classes last summer and fall, is that Delaware is a small state, so an attorney must always be on guard to protect his professional reputation. No matter where you are, the panelists scolded, you never know what judge, politician, or fellow attorney may also be in attendance, so one should always be on his/her best behavior when in public in the state.

Never was this advice more apparent than yesterday. All by chance, I: 1) walked out of St. Patrick's Day mass a step in front of US Senator Joe Biden, 2) ate breakfast at the same table as US Senator Tom Carper, and 3) walked past Delaware Supreme Court Justice Randy Holland as I returned from lunch. Last week I just happened to walk past the mayor of Wilmington on the way to work. None of these things ever came close to happening when I lived or worked in Maryland, Illinois or DC.

It's a small state. I'm now convinced.