Montague International Holding (MIHL)

[teddibear]

MIHL 'In-House' Attorney Grier

How does someone who graduated 1 1/2 years ago end up with the 'Esq' appended to her name? This only appears in the MIHL press release and once again it is an obvious ploy to artificially inflate someone's standing in society....like 'Dr.' e.g

Attached below is from a ‘recognized’ law firm:

http://www.buteralaw.com/newsletters.asp?c=47&id=335

So What's An Esquire?

With the explosion of legal advertising in recent years, we are witnessing an increasing use of the term "Esquire" on billboards, television, in the newspaper and in the telephone directory. "If you are hurt on the job, call David Fastbucks, Esquire." Big deal, eh?

Few in our profession realize that the term is both overused and not nearly as significant as some might think. In English law, Esquire was a title of dignity, falling somewhere between a gentleman (toward the lower end of the titular spectrum) and a knight (about middling on the scale). If you were an Esquire, you certainly weren't a pauper, but you weren't exactly the Grand Duke of Fenwick either.

According to Black's Law Dictionary, the term as used in American law typically denotes "inferior judicial officers" such as justices of the peace, and of course, attorneys.

So next time you see lawyers referring to themselves proudly using the title Esquire, you have our permission to chuckle (quietly) to yourself.

Another misused moniker is that of judge - at least with former members of the bench. Kenneth Starr, once a circuit court judge, is a prime example. When a judge steps down, however, he is no longer a judge and no longer merits being referred to as "your honor", "the honorable", or "judge". (Sorry Mr. Starr.) In fact, it is arguably improper from an ethical standpoint to allow others to refer to you as such, since you are in effect holding yourself out as having power or influence which you no longer have. Former judges seem to enjoy the notoriety, however, and few do anything to discourage the practice.

- Kevin Palmer