Third Circuit Federal Courts 2023

Continuing our review of the Federal Circuit Courts: 

The Third Circuit Federal Court is comprised of six districts covering three states and one territory.  New Jersey is the largest District Court with 17 judges to serve an undivided state.  

Based on the population to judge ratio it would seem that the U.S. Virgin Islands is a hotbed of Federal criminality!  In general, the ratios and therefore the workloads across these Districts vary widely.  The average number of judges in District Courts is just north of 4.  Eastern Pennsylvania, with 22 seats is the 4th largest District after: 1) Central California (Los Angeles), Southern New York (New York City), and Northern Illinois (Chicago).  Eastern Pennsylvania is anchored by Philadelphia.

I know--we ALL know--judges are supposed to be impartial; and yet, this very day, we learn of how the wife of our United States Supreme Court Chief Justice earned hundreds of thousands of dollars pushing lawyers toward firms that would later argue cases before her husband--and we are to believe that there was NEVER a conversation between them about any of these people?  Connecting the dots, their success before the court directly impacted her financial gain.  

So now that we've dispelled that old chestnut, it is in the third circuit that you see the lingering effects of President Trumps appointees.  Most specifically in Western Pennsylvania; however, this is tempered by the fact that the first to T's are judges that were actually nominated by President Obama, and then had their nomination returned by Mitch McConnell -- oops, I mean Donald Trump at the beginning of his first year in office.  This brief moment of detente included a nominee for the District Court of Rhode Island and a nominee for the District Court of Maryland--ALL women.

New Jersey is another story.  For the 4 years of the Trump administration, not a single nominee was proposed.  None of the candidates offered by the states senators: Menendez and Booker were deemed acceptable.

Gender parity in the Third Circuit still favors men 58% to 42%.  Even if President Biden were to fill the three empty seats with women, the ratio would only shift 56% to 44%.

When you breakdown the Racial/Ethnic demographics, it looks like this:  1) The White population in general in the circuit is 72% and on the courts it's 66%, 2) The Black population in general in the circuit is 13% and on the courts it's 19%, 2) The Hispanic population in general in the circuit is 9% and on the courts it's 13%, 2) The Asian population in general in the circuit is 6% and on the courts it's 3%.  The percentage of Black Judges is a bit elevated by the inclusion of the Unites States Virgin Islands.

 

Second Circuit Federal Courts 2023

 The Second Circuit has six Districts covering three states: Vermont, New York, and Connecticut.  Arguably the most famous of all Districts is the District of Southern New York which serves the heart of New York City (New York and Manhattan Counties), and 6 northern adjacent counties.  It has 28 judges and one of the lowest ratios of judge to citizenry in the entire system.  Among that states, only Wyoming has a smaller ratio.  Why Federal criminal activity in Wyoming is greater than that of New York City is a mystery.

The Second Federal Circuit hosts 63 District seats and 13 Appellate seats.  By and large like the first circuit, the majority of seats are occupied by judges appointed by Democratic President.

The Second Circuit is also majority female justice with 59% women over men.  This is entirely the result of President Biden's aggressive nomination of women.  For over 30 years, the District of Eastern New York has been a majority Female Judge District.  

Racially the number of White and Black judges are in parity with the population, while the Asian and Hispanic judges are roughly reversed.

First Circuit Federal Courts 2023

 A new year, a new congress, the 118th: seems like a good time to assess the state of the third branch of government--the Federal Courts.

Lets take this on one Circuit at a time beginning with the FIRST.  

The First Circuit is the smallest by Appellate numbers with only 6 seats on that level.  Covering the states and territory of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Puerto Rico, the entire circuit is made up of 34 judges.  6 at the Appellate level and 28 among the state/territorial jurisdictions. 

Subsequent graphs will show the demographics of the seats broken down by Presidential Appointment, Gender, and Race/Ethnicity.

This graph shows the ratio between the population and the judiciary.  In other words, the number of people expected to be served by each judge at the District level.

 This suggests that in the First Circuit the most dangerous places to live are in descending order:

1. Rhode Island
2. Puerto Rico
3. Maine
4. New Hampshire
5. Massachusetts

Breaking the data down.  

The First Circuit is clearly influenced by Democratic ideals.  By percentage, President Biden has had the greatest impact on this Circuit in his first two years in office.

Thanks to Biden's appointment, the First Circuit has gender parity.  And 2 of the 5 Districts are majority female.

What stands out most is the lack of a single Black judge.

Lego City Celebrates the Lunar New Year!

 The good and kind folk of Lego City wish to dedicate this year's celebrations to the Dignity and Resilience of the East Asian diaspora in the United States.  Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Filipino, Laotian, Tibetan, and Mongolian--in all of their amazing cultural diversity and incalculable contributions to the fabric of the place called America, Lego City says, "THANK YOU!"

And since when have the inhabitants of Lego City ever needed an excuse to host a celebration?!

A Chinese Gate of Heaven is constructed to close off Justice Street (renamed for the duration of the celebrations Bao Zheng Street) from Eastside Avenue.  The Festival wraps around to block Westside Avenue and cup the edges of Rachel Carson Park.

Inside the Festival visitors discover a range of booths and experiences from Cuisine to Crafts to Shadow Theatre--a favorite with the children.

There's even a giant rabbit to take pics with--a reminder of this auspicious New Year marked by calm and wisdom.

But what's a Festival without a Parade?

To the delight of lovers of noise!  The parade is lead by a firecracker major--warding off all the mischievous spirits and clearing the way for a NEW year!

The crowds delight in the floats as the parade passes Broadway Avenue on its way up Main Street.

A crowd pleasure features traditional music with an expert Tycho Drummer.

Like Santa Claus at Macy's Holiday Parade, it is the Rabbit that everyone looks forward to seeing!

From Lego City--a Happy and Auspicious New Year to you and all whom you love!

Federal Judge Candidates Announced

 

Signature Theatre: Which Way To The Stage?

 It wasn't that long ago, the late summer of 2016, that I began to take attending live theatre seriously.  It quickly became addictive, and while the period between March 2020 and October 2021 was pretty restrictive thanks to the Pandemic, I have seen 163 productions in that time frame.  It's given me a very good perspective on the theatre scene in the greater DMV.  And it's amazing.  But I've already told you that a dozen times before.

This to say, that I see a lot of new works.  Along with a smattering of contemporary classics.  There are certain names of playwright that I don't question: Athol Fugard, Paula Vogel, August Wilson; and there are others whose works don't get nominated for Tony's, but are solid like Lauren Gunderson and Ken Ludwig.  They know their craft, and weave something well constructed and reliably entertaining.  This season, I've come to add Lynn Nottage to the list.

Yet, generally speaking, when I go to see a new work, my expectations are around the B - to C+ report card range.  This is emphatically NOT based on the staging or acting--a new playwright couldn't ask for a better incubator wherein to see their work staged or re-staged.  It's just that the writing isn't very...(so many words to choose from)...Tight.  Intelligent.  Compelling.  On the other side of things, I have attended a couple of plays that were just too Esoteric, but that's another story.

Specific to Signature Theatre, I've attended 5 new works previously over these years, 3 of which I'd grade in the C/C+ range, 1 I'd give a B - to, and one was an A+!  All based on the writing.  This show would definitely get an A!--for the writing.  And upon more reflection, I might even add the "+".  

"Which Way To The Stage?" is about a pair of friends in New York City who obsess on their theatre trivia knowledge and opinions.  They both collect signatures on playbills and are currently obsessed with getting Idina Menzel's.  They also both attend auditions, but neither has landed a role.  Judy sidelines as a real estate broker, and Jeff performs as a drag queen at a local gay bar.  Enter into their world Mark.  Mark is handsome, sincere, in some ways naive...and bi-sexual.  You can see where this is going, but if you thought that this is where the story will end, you'd be wrong.  The writing is funny, witty, intelligent, complex.  The dialogue is rich with story and ideas and often spoken by the actors in moments of obsessive excitement where lines roll over on top of one another--with lesser faire this could be supremely annoying, but here it just feels real.  

My first sign that this was going to be a show to engage in fully came within the first 10 minutes when I realized that I wasn't waiting for the story to begin.  You know what I mean?  Many plays just don't know how to get the ball rolling.  Not a problem with "Which Way To The Stage?".  And here's where the actors come in.  They, to a person, took the words that Ana Nogueira composed and made them their own in a way that I've rarely witnessed from an entire cast.  The chemistry all around was good.  

The setting was threefold starting with the back stage door at a theatre where Ms. Menzel was performing, to a waiting room at a casting agency, to the stage of the drag bar--and then back and forth as needed.  In turns the principles Judy (Leah Platt) and Jeff (Mike Millan) found themselves in conversations that were written like roller coaster rides.  Dialogue that not only spanned the range of emotions, but exposed their love for one another peeling back the deeper truths each held in their hearts about one another and themselves.  The interlocutor, Mark, was the perfect catalyst.  Natural, easy, contagiously candid at times, and impishly enigmatic at others, but always charming and handsome.  The forth actor, Nina-Sophia Pacheco pulled off being three other people with great alacrity creating distinctively different characters: a blitzed Bachelorette, a Casting Director, and an aspiring Actress.  

This was just a wonderful, highly accomplished production that took strong writing and exploited it to the max with an equally talented cast.  Okay, I give--I just talked myself into it:  A+!

Judy (Leah Platt) and Jeff (Mike Millan) at the back stage door waiting for the elusive Idina Menzel's departure.

Judy and Mark (Michael Tocconi) meeting for the first time at an audition for Avenue Q, while another would be actress (Nina-Sophia Pacheco) looks on.

At a later audition, Mark hits on the other Actress.

While attending one of Jeff's Drag Performances, Mark and Judy encounter an inebriated Bachelorette.

Jeff in a drag performance of his new show, an homage to Idina Menzel in a mashup feature songs from "Rent" and "Wicked".

Everyman Theatre: Baskerville--A Sherlock Holmes Mystery

Started off the new year by seeing a play.  Let this be a good omen for 2023!

Ken Ludwig is among an elite club of contemporary playwrights who's works are not only prolific, but produced!  I've seen a couple of his works before and he not only tackles plays, but he also dabbled in the genre of musical compilations with the show, "Crazy for You," that infuses the songs of the Gershwin's.  He is also known for his comedic treatment of his subjects.  In this play, there was plenty of slapstick, physical humor, and some of it played in full view of the audience with awkward costume changes and 3 supporting actors playing over 40 other roles. It was like a step-sibling to the play "39 Steps".

Everyman is a repertoire company.  Meaning that it employs a specific group of actors and uses them to stage their productions.  The actors from play to play are not exclusively members of the company, but most are.  And this also means that in considering works form any season, all of the actors in the company play a crucial role in determining not only what will be produced, but what their part in those productions might, could, will be.  It's a very interesting model, and not a common one in regional theatre companies.  

For the patron, this also means that you know who the players are.  In the same way that they develop an intimacy with one another, you feel a certain closeness to them, too.  To this end I have scene amazing performances from Danny as Stanley Kowalsky in "A Street Car Named Desire" opposite Megan's Stella.  Bruce's performance as Rene Gallimard in "M. Butterfly" left me in tears.  Both Tony and Drew (not a member, but seen before) are gifted and committed actors.  In this play Danny played Holmes to Tony's Watson.  Both strong and well played.  

But the award for best performances goes to Bruce, Megan and Drew in that order.  They held the show together by being chameleons and gymnasts--masters of contortionist as the circumstances required.  All around a delightful romp.  Look at the many faces of Drew, Bruce and Megan--and there were MANY more!

Sherlock Holmes (Danny Gavigan) and Dr. Watson (Tony Nam)

Drew Kopas and Bruce Randolph Nelson

Bruce Randolph Nelson and Megan Anderson

Megan Anderson

Bruce, Danny and Megan

Bruce

The moment of the "Hound" attacks!  Drew on the floor.

National Gallery of Art: Vittore Carpaccio

 Also at the National Gallery of Art is a retrospective of the works of the Venetian Renaissance artist Vittore Carpaccio.  A contemporary of Leonardo da Vinci, Carpaccio's paintings and idea did not give the Vatican a headache or cause for concern.  To the contrary his portrayals of saints, and Biblical, as well as, classical allegory  were received and were seen as promoting virtue and the status quo.  To the degree that Carpaccio wanted to explore new territory, his experiments were with artistic technique and not theological or humanistic paradigms. 

Early on in the exhibit you encounter two relatively small paintings that are absolutely charming.  One is of a male figure and the other a female.  The idea is that there were originally three works and that they were embedded in a piece of furniture, a cabinet.  The figure of the man represents the classic Hercules, and on either side was this and another woman.  The surviving female figure represents virtue, while the missing one would have been vice, and in the middle was Hercules choosing virtue over vice.

Allegorical Figure (Virtue?), circa 1498

private collection

Youth (Hercules?) in a Landscape, circa 1498

Accademia Carrara, Bergamo, Italy

Another early work that I found interesting is a work depicted a group of men in various dress.  One figure is seated, and his proportions are, to put it simple, off.  Painted in the early/mid 1490's what you see in this painting that you soon no longer see is this sort of miscalculation in proportions.  But what you also see are the amazing a subtle depictions of countenance that express a profound sense of the humanity of the subject.

Group of Soldiers and Foreigners, circa 1493

Gallerie degli Uffizi, Florence, Italy

detail of seating figure in foreground

Included among the paintings are also some intricate and gorgeous drawings.  I was immediately reminded of the works of a pair of artist friends of mine who spent a semester living in northern Italy during Jennifer's grad school experience at American University here in DC.  While Jennifer worked on her senior thesis, Andy made with amazing little mono-type prints inspired by the Renaissance city-scapes of the villages in the region.  I am blessed to have one of Jennifer's large works from the experience and one of Andy's intimate prints in my home as part of my personal collection.

Fortified Harbor with Shipping, 1495

British Museum, London, United Kingdom

Two Groups of Monks, circa 1502

The Syndics of the Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom

It is in the third gallery that you begin to encounter larger works, and you can see in these two how Carpaccio's technique is growing along with the size of the paintings.

Saint Augustine in his Study, shortly after 1502

Scuola Dalmata dei Santi Giorgia e Trifone, Venice, Italy

Saint George and the Dragon, circa 1504-1507

Scuola Dalmata dei Santi Giorgia e Trifone, Venice, Italy

The fourth gallery is lined with major works executed in a mature style.  Delightful compositions full of details and commerce and social intercourse.

Ordination of Saint Stephen, 1511

Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Gemaldegalerie, Berlin, Germany

You entered the fifth gallery to the stunning master work of the ten thousand martyrs.  All the confusion over foreshortening and perspective of the human form long overcome.  This work a repudiation of the artists who painted the earlier work.  Around it are images of saints and God, himself.  An artist at the top of the game and supremely confident his abilities to represent the divine.

The Martyrdom of the Ten Thousand Christians on Mount Ararat, 1515

Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice, Italy

This one cracked me up a bit, I must admit to having chuckled aloud.  Not painted to be displayed in the context of one another, it still felt like three contestants on some divine game show like "Which Martyr Is Worthy?"  And there you have poor old St. Roch with a booboo on his thigh, while while St. Peter Martyr looks on with a freaking machete bisecting his tincture-doo! 

L-R:

St. Peter Martyr, 1514

Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia, Museo Correr, Italy

Saint Sebastian, 1514

Strossmeyer Gallery, Zagreb, Croatia

Saint Roch with Antonio (?) Lippomano as Donor, 1514

Accademia Carrara, Bergamo, Italy

God the Father, circa 1518 - 1520

Perish Church of Santi Nabore e Falice, Sirtori Comune (Lecco province) Italy

The final room features one monumental work among several mid-sized and smaller paintings.  The artists career ended on a humbler note by virtue of size, but no less ambitious or refined in technique.  I did not expect to see this show when I went to the National Gallery of Art on Saturday, but I am so glad that I did.

CODA:  You know, I don't claim to be an expert on Art History.  If anything I subscribe to the Sister Wendy school of art criticism: "Let your heart lead you, learn what can, and then trust what you see."  

When leaving the gallery I visited the gift shop.  I was interested in the catalogs for both the Sargent in Spain and the Carpaccio exhibits.  They were conveniently stacked near the cashier.  Neither had any indication of price on them.  I've a collect of nearly 100 art catalogs from shows that I've seen over the years, so I do know what to expect generally.  I waited for the cashier, a pretty, plump-ish young woman to finish with a customer making a purchase and then I inquired.  

I said, "Can you tell me the price of the Sargent and Carpaccio exhibit catalogs?"

She replied, "The Sargent catalog is $--- and the Car-a-paccio catalog is $----"

Hmm... I thought, "Kaar-AH-pach-e-o"?  She emphasized the second syllable.  I glanced at the spelling once again.  C-a-r-p-a-c-c-i-o.  I don't pretend to speak Italian.  The one time I was stranded (on Christmas Eve, mind you) on a train just north of Florence--standing room only, packed in like sardines--I relied on the assistance of another young man from the Dominican Republic who could speak Italian and my half-assed Spanish to carry on a conversation and speculate on the cause of our delay!  I do; however, eat Italian, and even humbly cook Italian.  I am familiar with the Italian appetizer/dish called Carpaccio.  AND I understand the rudimentary rules for pronouncing Italian words.  

On the other hand, I am not an under-graduate student majoring in Art History at American University living away from home for the first time in my life and working at the National Gallery of Art's gift shop over Christmas break with dreams of one day owning the place.  Car-a-paccio...if you say so.