Morgan Ratner, a partner in S&C’s Litigation Group and a member of the Firm’s Supreme Court and Appellate Practice, spoke to The National Law Journal about recent developments for lawyers practicing before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Morgan emphasized the enormous value to clients of winning in the courts of appeals, especially in light of the Supreme Court’s shrinking docket. Getting high-quality wins at other stages of litigation may be far more important for clients than being stuck “on the constant hunt for even the most obscure circuit split,” she said. “[T]hat is not the value proposition for our clients that we’ve been focused on at this point.”
Looking to 2024, she emphasized strategic thinking and deep knowledge of the Court over sheer numbers. “You can be a successful Supreme Court practitioner without piling on dozens of arguments.”
Morgan also noted the persistent gender gap amongst Supreme Court practitioners, noting “there are so many talented women in law firms with lots of Supreme Court experience that I find it really hard to explain… I hope we can continue to improve on that front.”
Read “How Supreme Court Practice Has Changed (And Stayed the Same) Heading Into 2024.”