We all know litigating a case is a Very Important and Serious Business.

But sometimes, what matters more is sharing the starry-eyed dream of your 9-year-old son. And baseball. 

My friend and former colleague Zoe Tillman, now a reporter at BuzzFeed, flagged an extraordinary motion by William "Jay" Friedman, an Alexandria, Virginia-based lawyer who represents the Organic Trade Association in an Administration Procedure Act suit against the Department of Agriculture. 

On Tuesday, Friedman asked U.S. District Judge Rosemary M. Collyer of the District of Columbia for a two-day extension to file his motion for summary judgment. 

Because baseball. 

Jenna GreeneBut I'll stand aside. This is the motion.

CONSENT MOTION TO RESET DEADLINES BY TWO DAYS 

Plaintiff respectfully submits the following unopposed request to reset the present briefing deadlines by two days. 

As grounds counsel states: 

  1. Washington D.C.'s professional baseball team, the Nationals ("Nats"), began this baseball season by losing 31 of its first 50 games. 
  2. Since that time, due in part to the unflagging support of a certain nine-year old boy closely associated with undersigned counsel, the wheels of justice have turned and the team has rightfully advanced deep in the baseball playoffs. 
  3. The nine-year old and counsel wish to continue to stay up late watching baseball and to attend tomorrow's game, if it is necessary. Counsel's attendance at each is required for supervision. 
  4. A respectful request is submitted to reset the Plaintiff's date for filing summary judgment from October 18, 2019 to October 21, 2019 and to reset Defendants' Answer and CrossMotion from November 22, 2019 to November 25, 2019. 

No other date needs resetting. 

  1. With the consent of the parents and baseball fans at the Department of Justice, this request is unopposed. 

Respectfully Submitted: /s/ William J. Friedman

I'm sure some of you humbugs will say he shouldn't made the request, because deadlines are sacrosanct and professional obligations should come first. But in the scheme of things, what matters more—filing the motion (with permission) two days late, or sharing a once-in-a-lifetime memory with your child? 

I speak from experience. They don't stay 9 years old nearly long enough.

In an email, Friedman said he "was not apprehensive about [making] the request. Honestly, I try not to litigate like its World War III all the time and I have a good rapport with my DOJ counterpart."

He continued, "Judge Collyer has always been respectful and prompt when we reach agreement on procedural matters. I figured this might be the only chance I get to do this with my son and our system is not so frail or rigid that such requests are out of bounds.  That said, when I was a younger lawyer I probably would not have thought I could ask."

In a minute order, Collyer approved the request. Which meant Friedman and his son were free to cheer on the Nats last night during game 4 against the Cardinals. 

Let's hope he doesn't have anything due next week when the World Series kicks off. (Go Nats!)