November 2006

Celebrities

Naomi Campbell: Supermodel or “Superbigot”?

How do you solve a problem like Naomi — besides deporting her skinny black ass? Repeated brushes with the law have not deterred the British-born beauty from beating the crap out of the hired help. Here’s the latest: Naomi Campbell might be spending more time in courtrooms than on catwalks these days. The supermodel was […]

Bar Exams

Political Kids and the Bar Exam: What Gives?

The late JFK Jr. failed the New York State bar exam twice, before passing it on the third try. And now Emily Pataki, the highly attractive daughter of outgoing New York governor George Pataki, is halfway towards matching that feat. Here’s the email message that Emily, an associate a supervised legal intern at White & […]

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Crime

Morning Docket: 11.15.06

* When committing a robbery, try not to target a master of illusion. [CNN] * Another legal show goes the way of “The Law Firm.” [CNN] * Dahlia Lithwick begins this article, “Chief Justice John Roberts is the Dr. McDreamy of the federal bench.” [Slate] * Dismissal sought in the CIA leak case. [AP] * […]

Crime

This Must Have Smelled Awful

Clearly there are some very sick people out there: A man pleaded guilty in the deaths of his ex-girlfriend’s four small kittens, which were tossed into a fire pit after the couple argued. Robert Tomlin, 22, of Smithsburg was sentenced Monday to 1 1/2 years in jail for aggravated animal cruelty. Washington County Circuit Judge […]

9th Circuit

Ayers v. Belmontes: Behind the Scenes

We meant to write about this yesterday: Ayers v. Belmontes, the death penalty case in which a closely divided Supreme Court reversed the Ninth Circuit. The opinion was handed down on Monday. It was the first opinion of the Term, and it was an unusual first opinion. The typical first opinion of the Term is […]

Bonuses

Non-Sequiturs: 11.14.06

* In the 7th grade, we abided by the “one best friend” law, so we could totally pledge our loyalty to just one dog who also definitely wouldn’t steal our boyfriend. [New York Times] * German Chancellor Angela Merkel admits to an incident of youthful “corruption,” but would you have rather she bartered sexual favors […]

Announcements

ATL Public Service Announcement: Better Get a Prenup

To any single celebrities out there who happen to frequent legal gossip blogs, we offer you this piece of friendly advice: Before getting hitched, make your future spouse sign a prenup. Sounds pretty obvious, right? But consider this, from Forbes’s Prenup Primer: Last week, Britney Spears filed for divorce from her two-year marriage to Kevin […]

5th Circuit

Some Fifth Circuit Scuttlebutt

Thanks to everyone who responded to our request for gossip about possible Fifth Circuit judicial nominations. Your tips were very helpful to us, as was this piece in the Texas Lawyer. (And thanks to Peter Harrell, a current law student and former political reporter for Congressional Quarterly, for this insightful comment. A good point. With […]

Biglaw

Musical Chairs: 11.14.06

Lateral Moves: * Bankruptcy and restructuring lawyer Adrian Harris, to Chadbourne & Parke (London), from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (where he headed their European insolvency and restructuring practice). Could his departure be related to the law firm merger that will give rise to Dewy Orifice? New Partners: * Paul Hastings (New York): corporate lawyer Richard […]

Crime

An Update on Andrew Gardner

Last week we wrote about Andrew Gardner, the Fried Frank litigation partner who was accused of rape (although never indicted), and recently found dead (presumably of suicide). We now have an update to offer. Yesterday’s New York Post carried a long and detailed article about Gardner. And blogger Ron Coleman, who knew Gardner, had these […]

Dan Markel

Supreme Court Justices: “They’re Going to Miami”

We’d pay a king’s ransom for an update of the music video for “Miami.” Instead of showing Will Smith frolicking with bikini-clad beauties, the new version would feature Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito, shaking their bon-bons with surgically-enhanced sirens. If this sounds unlikely, consider: Winter is still weeks away, but Supreme Court justices are […]

Food

ATL Reader Poll: Is a Burrito a Sandwich?

We seem to be on a Mexican food kick here at Above the Law. Our first post of the day was about Taco Bell. And now, just in time for lunch, we bring you this weighty legal issue: Is a burrito a sandwich? For explanation, check out this AP article (which Stella Q linked to […]

9th Circuit

Still More About Borat

On Friday night, we saw Borat at our local movie theater. We found it hilarious for the first fifteen minutes, before it turned repetitive. That said, there were some impressive set pieces in the second half of the film, such as the hotel room wrestling match. (We viewed Borat on the recommendation of one of […]

Celebrities

Morning Docket: 11.14.06

* If a tree falls and there is no one around to see it, who’s liable? [Random Local News] * Griffith v. Griffith is sure to make it into your IP casebook in no time. [MSNBC] * Who knew Robin of Locksley was as good with partnership law as he was with a bow and […]