Live from Charlotte: The 2012 Democratic National Convention
Yesterday, September 4, 2012, the Democratic National Convention began here in Charlotte, North Carolina. You have have seen the opening speeches on television last night. Really, the convention is all anyone in Charlotte is talking about this week, and if you’re on Twitter, good luck finding a non-DNC related tweet in the Charlotte Twitter community. (In fact, you can monitor all of the celebrity sightings in Charlotte by following this Twitter account). So, we feel obligated to dedicate at least one post to the event which has overtaken our city this fateful week. So, let’s talk about the most exciting component of the convention: its effect on the local court system.
Yes, some – but not all – courts are closed this week. Click here to see the “Mecklenburg County Courts Operational Schedule During Democratic National Convention,” a new release issued by the 26th Judicial District of North Carolina, which encompasses the Charlotte area. As the news release indicates, the courts here in Mecklenburg County “will operate on a limited basis.” If you’re interested, that news release includes additional details about the types of hearings and proceedings that will be ongoing this week. Good luck finding parking, though, as downtown Charlotte will be packed.
Some law firms are closed, as well (but not us). In fact, yesterday, in response to an email we sent to a colleague at another firm, we received the following Microsoft Outlook “out of office” message:
Due to plans for heightened security and limited traffic in out of the city during the 2012 Democratic National Convention, our office will be closed Monday September 3 through Friday September 7. Consequently, I will be out of town on vacation during those dates. I will have periodic access to email and voicemail during that time. I will return to the office and normal operations will resume in our office on September 10.
Indeed.
In sum, Charlotte is a very different place this week – and not just because of the many members of the national media and the Democratic delegates.
