“We’ll begin with motion number one on the docket.”

A senior corporate litigator from a downtown law firm stood up right away and straightened his tie.

“May it please the court,” he began, resting his palms flat on the wooden lectern.

I listened to his opening argument about a commercial contract dispute for six minutes without interrupting.

When he was done, I turned two pages in the motion binder and asked one pointed question about the statutory filing deadline.

The attorney paused, looked down at his yellow legal pad, and admitted he didn’t have the exact date written down.