I would starve as an appellate lawyer in Hungary. The constitutional court, which decides matters akin to its title, does not involve lawyers, briefs, or oral arguments. A petition is presented and the court decides it. There is no stare decisis or defining precedent, and decisions are not published in official publications, but on the internet. The court views lawyer ghostwritten petitions as too indirect and theoretical. All you need to do in a petition is state the specific provision you believe is unconstitutional and list the “reasons why”.

Today I learned not to count on presenting the topic agreed upon by Herzen U (I already knew I was lucky to have had contact with the university). The participant speaker described this morning how, 3 days before he was to depart for Lithuania (the Friday before the Monday), he received an email changing his topic from white collar crime. The students wanted him to teach (in five 2 hour sessions), real estate, banking, contract, intellectual property and international trade. Good thing his son is a first year law student. He scrapped his syllabus and had his son obtain course outlines in all of these subjects. Daria (my Herzen student) told me this might happen., but not to worry.

Daria is very interesting. Looking like a young Jessica Lange (WRS take note), she is at the end of a five year management degree. After that, she is going to Germany for two years for a masters in organizational management. She could have obtained her education in public schools, some of which are difficult to get into, or private schools, which are easy to get into if one pays. The public schools are easier once you get in, and the private schools are notoriously difficult. Her masters degree will be private.

I am starting to break down day by day. At first I could not sleep at night due to the time change. Now I could sleep all the time (I did stay awake for the Florida primary results, which we received at 3 a.m.). I have nose bleeds, maybe because of the mountains. And, since speakers and attendees dine together, it would be inappropriate to ditch a session.

Actually, tonight a group of us are ditching dinner to go to a farmhouse recommended by Carola, who is the Center’s maven and go-to-person. I broached the idea in emails to a few participants before we left, and I’m happy that we will get out of the Schloss for a meal.