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The First Annual Bloggers’ Best Awards [Categories Added]
The ABA Journal’s popularity contest for the best law blogs in ten categories is a joke. It was a joke last year too, when my Defending People won “best” blog in the category of crime, and I treated it as such, tub-thumping for Scott Greenfield’s Simple Justice even as Scott electioneered for Defending People (that Defending People won is a testament to the power of Scott’s blog over mine).
In 2009, Simple Justice rightfully owns the category of “Criminal Justice.” Here, though, are the five latest posts from the frontrunner in that category, which is shamelessly begging for votes from its readers:
- Baucus Gave Girlfriend Raise:
At the least, a serious ethics investigation is in order.
- E For Effort:
Right now I am prepared to give the Democrats in Congress an E for Effort on their Health Insurance Premium Assistance Bill, but I still want a favor — forget the pipe dream of 60 votes in the Senate and figure out what you can pass through R for Reconciliation.
- The “Reform” In the Health Bill: If Only It Were So:
In the real world, one program HAS worked. Only one. Medicare.
- The World’s Worst “Greatest Deliberative Body”:
A couple of days ago, I asked Senator Spector about our dysfunctional Senate:
- Quote of the Day:
Wow. People should not care about issues because that might hurt someone’s electoral chances? Wow.
TalkLeft is not a bad blog; it is, I’m sure, the sort of thing I would enjoy if I enjoyed that sort of thing. It’s just not (despite its subtitle, “the politics of crime”) a criminal justice blog; it is, instead, a political blog (or, in the ABA’s taxonomy, maybe a News Blog). The problem with it being in the same category as Simple Justice is that as a news/politics blog TalkLeft has thousands of news/politics readers who know nothing, and care less, about criminal justice blogs. It would make as much sense to put Above The Law in some category other than News—it will kill in whatever category it’s in.
But the ABA Journal’s voting would be a joke even without its slaphappy categorization of blogs. The ABA Journal’s process is designed to determine nothing more than which blog has the most readers who are willing to register with the ABA Journal to vote for it.
Popularity is no indicator of quality. If you want to find the best law blogs, you don’t ask the masses. You ask the people who have given some thought to what makes a good blog: you ask bloggers.
So here’s the First Annual Social Media Tyro Best Law Blogs Contest.
If you blog regularly (at least once a week), even outside the field of law, you are entitled to vote. To vote, write a post listing what you think is the best blog in each of these categories:
- Best Personal Injury Law Blog:
- Best Business Law Blog:
- Best Criminal Law Blog:
- Best Family Law Blog:
- Best General Law Blog:
- Best Intellectual Property Law Blog
- Best Legal News or Politics Blog:
- Best Legal Humor Blog:
- Best Legal Criticism or Opinion Blog:
- Best Law Practice Management Blog:
- Best Legal Tech Blog:
- Best Courtwatching Blog:
- Best Law Prof Blog:
- Best Law Blog Based Outside the U.S.
- Best Law Blog in a Category SMT forgot:
Post before the end of this year, with a link to this post so I’ll be sure to see your post.
Each blog gets one ballot. If you don’t have an opinion in any category, feel free to leave it blank. Please don’t try to game the voting (koff koff Lexblog koff)—it will backfire.
On the first of the year I will collate and report the results.
13 responses to “The First Annual Bloggers’ Best Awards [Categories Added]”
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I enjoyed this post very much. I will bookmark it for later use.
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Is it too late for you to add a category for Intellectual Property Law blogs? There appear to be many more great blawgs in that category than in Personal Injury, Criminal, or Family law.
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You didn’t put my favorite category in here Mark (legal tech), but I may participate anyway. And I enjoyed this post very much. I will bookmark it for later use.
Martha
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okay,, I don’t see my category,, but maybe someone will read it,,, thousands do a day,, so here goes.
truthfully,, I’m one of the most read legal blogs in the country and maybe even overseas.
http://www.pauljsmith.wordpress.com
sometimes, you just gotta feel your way through law.
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I vote for
Defending People for best criminal law blog.
Turkewitz for Best PI blog.
What about Clients? for best business law blog.
Balko for best legal news or politics blog.
Popehat for best legal humor blog.
Volokh for best law prof blog.
Charon for best Brit blog.
Randazza for best legal opinion blog.
Gideon for best PD blog.
SJ for best social media law blog.
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Mark Bennett December 13th, 2009 at 17:07
Thanks, but read the instructions. Vote by writing a post. Not a comment, a post.
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I don’t follow instructions well. It’s a personal shortcoming of mine.
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# Best Personal Injury Law Blog: Simple Justice
# Best Business Law Blog: Simple Justice
# Best Criminal Law Blog: Simple Justice
# Best Family Law Blog: Simple Justice
# Best General Law Blog: Simple Justice
# Best Intellectual Property Law Blog: Simple Justice
# Best Legal News or Politics Blog: Simple Justice
# Best Legal Humor Blog: Simple Justice
# Best Legal Criticism or Opinion Blog: Simple Justice
# Best Law Practice Management Blog: Simple Justice
# Best Legal Tech Blog: Simple Justice
# Best Courtwatching Blog: Simple Justice
# Best Law Prof Blog: Simple Justice
# Best Law Blog Based Outside the U.S.: Simple Justice
# Best Law Blog in a Category SMT forgot: Simple Justice -
2 Trackbacks / Pingbacks
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[...] a blog and agree that blog popularity contest are jokes, please join me at Social Media Tyro in choosing the best law blogs of 2009, and spread the [...]
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The First Annual Social Media Tyro Best Law Blogs Contest « Law and Baseball December 31st, 2009 at 21:37
[...] Bennett is hosting the First Annual Best Law Blogs Contest. I think it is a great idea. I also think that I am not qualified to offer an opinion. I have, [...]
Gideon December 11th, 2009 at 12:53