It might seem counterintuitive to begin posting updates on a trial once the thing is practically over. But such is the reality of working in a small, public interest law firm that challenges Goliath-esque opponents in court. Resources and workers are limited. Time rushes by. Workdays get longer, sleep gets shorter. You prioritize the urgent-needed-it-yesterday tasks, and put off the slightly-less-urgent-need-it-tonight ones. This has been the lifestyle for several of us in the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic (ENRLC) for the last month or so.

Yesterday, July 12, 2007, marked the end of the presentation of evidence in the case of In re Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee. Although the matter has not been completely submitted for the Judge’s consideration and much remains to be done, most of us feel that the minute-by-minute pressure has broken. So over the coming days and weeks, the Student Clinicians assigned to the case – James Garrett, Nate Jenkins, and Conor Brockett – will spend some time recapping the trial, discussing some of the procedural and substantive issues, and sharing favorite moments from the case and the Vermont Environmental Court. Better late than never, right? And who knows -perhaps we’ll even get a post or two out of Pat Parenteau (the lead attorney on the case and ENRLC Director), David Mears (ENRLC Assistant Director), and Justin Kolber (the Clinic Fellow). So stay tuned for more from the ENRLC’s “Summer ‘07 Vermont Yankee team.”

Do it for the Shad!

-WCB