San Francisco

Dave had the opportunity to argue a case in front of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals last month. He has had a couple of cases that have gone before the court-1 that had oral arguments, and 1 that was just decided with out hearing arguments. The one that had oral arguments was argued by his boss, and those arguments were heard at ASU, but later had an "en bunk" (sp) where they got to go to San Francisco to argue. Still, this was a really big deal because Dave got to present the case and make the argument. He did a great job, despite 2nd guessing himself the whole way home. He was well prepared and it showed. I went with him for the quick trip. We were only there for a couple of days, and Dave spent the whole time preparing. I had planned to spend most of the time quietly reading in the hotel room, but actually we were staying right in the center of Union Square and I would stand at the window and look at our amazing view and see all the places I would love to go shopping...so that's what I did.

Our first night, there was a game Giant's game. Those bright lights are the stadium. It was really fun to sit and look at our view.

This picture should be funny to anyone who has ever watched "What's Up Doc" with Barbara Striesand (namely, my sisters)

Trolley car...

Dave wanted to go down to the courthouse the day before. It really was an amazing building. The details and workmanship were amazing. This building is more than 100 years old. We ran into a lady who worked there and she said that during the 1989 earthquake, some of the plaster from the ceiling fell down so it had to be replaced, but no one was complaining because it had gotten really gross and dirty since people had once been allowed to smoke inside.

I really like this picture because you can see this long hallway and all the little archways. Each arch in the ceiling had the same detail as the picture above.

A closer look at the ceiling detail.

This is inside the courtroom that Dave and his boss argued in the first time they were there.

The 2nd courtroom. (there are 3 total. We didn't get to take a picture of the one he argued in because that is the one that was in session when we were there.)

Each of the doors (and there were literally hundreds of them) had this level of detail

All 3 floors had these mosaic tiles. They were all hand placed. I really can't imagine how long it must have taken. The previously mentioned lady who we talked to who worked there said these were the original floors.

A little bi closer look. You can see a crack in the floor. There were a few of these (from the earthquakes?) but it was still so beautiful.

While I did spend a lot of the time out walking around (and going shopping since we were right in the center of Union Square), Dave spent nearly all of his time here--in the room at the desk working.

The morning of the argument...

Outside the courtroom just after his argument

Inside a little office/library they have for attorney's arguing at court.

They had this amazing mosaic on the ceiling of the attorney's room.

Outside the Courthouse.
(it really did strike me how small the entrance was for such an amazing building. It just looks like a door over on the corner of the building.)

At the Port of San Francisco. We had a couple of hours after the argument before we had to leave for the airport, so we decide to take a quick ride down to the water for lunch. This is the only sightseeing that Dave got to do. :)

It was a fun quick trip and I was glad I was able to go watch my man shine. Also... Happy Birthday, Dave! You are wonderful and I love you!