Partner quoted in ‘ABA Journal’ on first Supreme Court argument

BCLP Partner Jean-Claude (JC) André, co-chair of the firm’s Appellate & Supreme Court Group, was quoted April 1 in ABA Journal on his experience arguing before the Supreme Court for the first time in October 2006. He won a unanimous ruling in the consolidated cases Jones v. Bock and Williams v.Overton after urging the court to find that prisoners bringing civil rights lawsuits do not have to show they already have exhausted all administrative remedies. In addition to noting some aspects of his preparation, JC observed that advocates should take some comfort in knowing at least some justices are probably on their side. “Usually, you’ve got at least one friend up there,” he said.

JC has personally briefed or argued hundreds of distinct appeals before the U.S. Supreme Court, various U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals, the California Supreme Court and the California Court of Appeal, including dozens of briefs and three arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court and over 100 briefs and 45 arguments before the Ninth Circuit. He regularly writes, speaks and teaches about the Supreme Court, Ninth Circuit and California appellate practice, and appellate advocacy generally.