There was no talk in the chamber about energy, Social Security, Iraq or anything except judges and the rules that govern the Senate.
The committee cites rules that judges may hold outside positions including gigs as musicians, as long as they don't get paid, or play at casinos, political events or in scenarios that could present a conflict of interest.
When federal and state judges are willing to strictly enforce the rules, abuse of the discovery process can lead to punishing consequences.
This week a freedom-of-information request showed 22 judges in Ohio are trying to have such rules relaxed.
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None of them, of course, will put an end to all Scream-inducing discovery nightmares, but the judges and others responsible for amending the federal rules should give them serious consideration.
These judges are far from being humble umpires applying simple rules.
Feder says the rules were drawn up in a time when judges and legal scholars didn't think lawyers would file baseless claims just to wangle a settlement.
They don't want MPs intervening in active court cases or clashing with the judges every five minutes - and so there are detailed rules about what can and can't be done.
Last February, Home Secretary Theresa May wrote an article for the Mail on Sunday expressing her fury at the way some judges were ignoring changes she had made to the Immigration Rules.
He worked with the Nevada State Athletic Commission to get UFC sanctioned in Nevada after adopting some rules: There would be weight classes, judges, point systems and a limited number of rounds.
The law came into being before Gmail, iPhones, and Facebook, and judges have struggled at times in figuring out how to apply rules set in 1986 to rapidly evolving technology.
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Judges in that county have developed a reputation for certifying class actions and enforcing rules of discovery that heavily favor plaintiff lawyers.
Mr Powell, who, in this instance, had voted against his own commission's rules (they were made following a rebellion by other commissioners), cheered the judges on.
States have leeway to decide how to implement the rules: ministers could stipulate a tariff above which prisoners forfeit voting rights, or allow judges to remove them as part of their sentences.
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