The Federal Civil Rules After Half a Century

The name Gignoux is not exactly a household word among the lay citizens of this country and would not qualify as one even if we count all the varied pronunciations people choose to accord it. Indeed, there are probably quite a few members of the bar who do not recognize the name or know anything about its bearer's works. That is their loss. Edward T. Gignoux has been doing so much for the betterment of justice in this country in so many ways and for so many years that he has clearly earned a place of high honor in the field.

Both the profession and the public should be made more aware of his achievements. This issue of the Maine Law Review will help do that by providing a lasting well-merited recognition of his extraordinary contributions which are all the more pleasant to acknowledge because they bear the stamp of his own grace, intelligence, good humor, and modesty. This Article addresses the problem of improving the civil litigation process, a subject near to Judge Gignoux's interests by virtue of his service as Chairman of the Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure of the United States Judicial Conference.