“William, give me some good news,” Sage said. “I only have good news to share,” William said. “Passed with flying colors - 98th percentile.” “As if there was any doubt. Congratulations, welcome to the club, Attorney Blake.” “Thank you, Sage. I couldn’t have done it without you.” “Nonsense. It was all you. The ink isn’t even dry on your law license and already you’ve been handed one of the most important cases in Virginia. You better get ready; the progressives you’re up against are pit bulls. They’ll be backed by the full weight of the Office of Civil Rights. You win this one, and you’re going to cut the heart out of Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act.” “I’ll be ready.” “I know you will,” Sage said. “You earned this, William. …show more content…
The case was red meat for liberal activists, those few remaining progressives in Virginia who would like nothing more than to stem the libertarian tsunami that engulfed the state and was gaining momentum across the nation. Conservative Republicans swept into office after the dark years of the Obama Administration had taken a hard-right turn, and with the help of The Movement, and unshakable charm of Edward Birch, had morphed into full-fledged libertarians. The Democratic Party was nearly defunct. Progressives were against the ropes; the Gellibrand Case was one of their last toeholds in power. William knew that if he could use a states’ rights argument to win the Gellibrand Case, the reach of federal authority would be stricken with one more nail in the coffin. A second email from Sage interrupted William’s meditations. He opened the message. Sage wrote, ‘Once again, congratulations, William. Now that you’re a full-fledged attorney, it’s time to revisit your compensation package. Look over the attached contract. I’m sure you’ll find it acceptable. Take that lovely wife and unborn child of yours out to celebrate. I’ll see you at mass tomorrow. …show more content…
The foyer was crowded. Mary leaned in close to William as they stepped through the crowd. A soft whisper ran through the room as William made his way towards the steps leading to the basement. Men and women tripped over themselves to shake his hand, congratulate him on passing the bar, and ask after Mary and the baby. William was surprised that word of his appointment to the Virginia Bar had travelled so quickly. As a naturally humble person, he failed to recognize his place as a fixture in The Movement’s inner circle. Without a law license, he was regarded as a man of stature; becoming an attorney elevated his standing even