By Jacqueline Palef and Jason Squire ( November 22, 2019, 1:56 PM EST) -- From time to time, the court, in a class proceeding, has appointed counsel as amicus curiae. Amicus curiae, is Latin for “friend of the court.” This is someone not already counsel for a party in the proceeding. In the class proceedings context, an amicus appointment may be particularly helpful at points in the proceeding where the reasonableness of a step has to be considered by the court in a non-adversarial setting, including at the settlement approval stage of the litigation and on a motion to approve class counsel’s legal fees....