In his article (with Samuel Clark), Legal Theory and Real Property Mortgages, 37 Yale L. J.
[2] From 22 Oct 1938, Sturges fulfilled the role of Executive Director of the Distilled Spirits Institute and gave evidence to the US Congress Investigation of Concentration of Economic Power (Parts 6-8 Liquor Industry) between 14 and 17 March 1939.
As 'czar' of the nation's distilled liquor industry, Sturges drew up a code of practice to reform commercial practices, maintain an open competitive market, to end the system of secret rebates and other corner-cutting dodges, and to balance the field between larger and smaller operations.
Using an advanced form of the Socratic method, he sought in these courses to teach students rhetoric and advocacy rather than substantive law—what he termed "learning to stand up on your hind legs and make noises like a lawyer."
The point was to teach students both how to make noises like a lawyer and not to get led down the primrose path by an adversary.