It Reminds All Attorneys, Even Younger Ones, To Safeguard Their Reputations—You Have To Preserve Them!
No need to post on the specifics of Marriage of Alexander, Case No. A172184 (1st Dist., Div. 2 Jan. 27, 2026, posted on Jan. 28, 2026) (unpublished), which affirmed discovery sanctions imposed in a very contentious family law case. However, at the end of the opinion, the appellate court reminded practitioners of all ages about two observations of note: (1) attorneys should not generally make ad hominem character attacks on parties, opposing counsel, or trial judges; and (2) attorneys should guard their reputation, especially younger attorneys, because that is all they really have when it comes to persuasiveness. (“We are occasionally called on to swear in new lawyers, offering advice when we do. We also talk to groups of young lawyers. And the advice we give is some version of this: ‘You have only one reputation. Guard it zealously.’”.)