Contests, Law Schools, Reader Polls, Sports

ATL March Madness: 24 Hours Left for Voting

By David Lat

Things are getting a little heavy around here, with heated discussion of this morning’s decision in Gonzales v. Carhart (PDF). So it’s time to mix up the programming a little. Let’s turn our attention from stuff that matters a lot to stuff that matters, well, not terribly much. ATL’s March Madness competition — our quest […]

Abortion, Anthony Kennedy, John Roberts, Politics, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Samuel Alito, Sandra Day O'Connor, SCOTUS, Supreme Court

Breaking: Supreme Court Upholds Constitutionality of Partial Birth Abortion Act

By David Lat

This just in from One First Street. The Associated Press reports: The Supreme Court upheld the nationwide ban on a controversial abortion procedure Wednesday, handing abortion opponents the long- awaited victory they expected from a more conservative bench. The 5-4 ruling said the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act that Congress passed and President Bush signed […]

Banking Law, Education / Schools, Money, Morning Docket, Politics, Supreme Court, Violence

Morning Docket: 04.18.07

By Billy Merck

* The National Bank Act preempts state regulation of mortgage lenders, even those that are operating subsidiaries of banks and not banks themselves. [U.S. Supreme Court (PDF)] * Payphone operators can sue for compensation from long-distance carriers. [U.S. Supreme Court (PDF)] * Department of Education can use number of pupils rather than number of school […]

Department of Justice, Law Schools, Monica Goodling, Rudeness, U.S. Attorneys Offices

Wherein Bill Maher Speaks Rudely of Our Girl Monica

By David Lat

Viewer discretion advised. This video clip is very elitist (or “tierist,” as some of you might say, referring to the U.S. News system of ranking law schools in tiers): Bill Maher New Rule – From Elites to Jesus [YouTube]

Breasts, Drinking, Drugs, Kids, Non-Sequiturs, Old People, Perverts, Politics, Sex, Technology

Non-Sequiturs: 04.17.07

By Stella Q

* This is what will happen if we don’t reform the Social Security system. [Decatur Daily News] * There’s a reason this, like the mainstream dairy industry, is regulated. Plus, it’s not exactly suitable for dunking oreos. [Inside Bay Area] * If you need a break from US politics, then check out the other presidential […]

Department of Justice, Job Searches, Paul McNulty, U.S. Attorneys Offices

Paul McNulty: On His Way Out?

By David Lat

We had previously suggested that Deputy Attorney General Paul J. McNulty — who by some accounts is the one who REALLY screwed up in the U.S. Attorneys firing fiasco — might be leaving the Justice Department. It looks like our prediction may come to pass. Rule No. 1 inside the Beltway: “If they don’t deny […]

Antitrust, Biglaw, Chadbourne & Parke, Eliot Spitzer, LeBoeuf Lamb, Musical Chairs, Politics, Thelen Reid & Priest, U.S. Attorneys Offices

Musical Chairs: 04.17.07

By David Lat

Some notable moves within the legal profession: Government to Private Sector: * Former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele, to LeBoeuf Lamb in DC. Last November, Steele lost his bid to represent Maryland in the U.S. Senate. * Michele Hirshman, who served as Eliot Spitzer’s top deputy at the Attorney General’s office before he became Governor, […]

Crime, Department of Justice, Fabulosity, John Conyers, Monica Goodling, Politics, U.S. Attorneys Offices, You Go Girl

House Judiciary Committee: Please Approve Immunity for Monica Goodling

By David Lat

We are very, very excited. The magnificent Monica Goodling, the former Justice Department lawyer involved in the controverisal U.S. Attorney firings, may be coming to our living room! Alas, Goodling won’t be visiting us in person (although we hereby issue her a standing invitation). But we’re hopeful that she’ll be appearing on our television, via […]

Biglaw, Clerkships, Money, Skaddenfreude

Skaddenfreude: A Clerkship Bonus Special Report

By David Lat

This is the rather belated update to our earlier report on the clerkship bonus policies of large law firms. We apologize for the delay, and we thank you for your patience and your tips. A summary of our findings: 1. No large law firm has matched the new Sullivan & Cromwell clerkship bonus of $50,000 […]

Asians, Crime, Deaths, Education / Schools, Guns / Firearms, Murder, Suicide, Violence

More About the Virginia Tech Shootings

By David Lat

We’ve learned more about the tragic killings at Virginia Tech since our brief post from yesterday. We’re guessing you’re following the case as closely as we are. But in case you’re not, here are some new facts: 1. The final death toll — at the time of our last post, it was over 20 — […]

Bad Ideas, Drugs, Lawyer of the Day

Lawyer of the Day: Robert Liptak

By David Lat

Robert Liptak is a lawyer in Livingston Parish, Louisiana. And he knows how to arrive at the courthouse in style. From WAFB 9NEWS: Sheriff’s deputies tell WAFB 9NEWS Robert Liptak arrived for court on his motorcycle and fell off it. Deputies took him in to the courthouse, where they say he then passed out in […]

Law Schools, Running, Sports

Congratulations to the Boston Marathon Finishers

By David Lat

The news cycle yesterday was dominated in the morning by coverage of the northeastern storm. In the afternoon, and continuing into today, the tragic events at Virginia Tech took center stage. (We’ll soon be setting up a new thread to discuss the VT shootings, which are dominating the morning headlines But there was some happier […]

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 04.17.07

By Billy Merck

* VT shooting moves Gonzales hearing to Thursday. [Washington Post via How Appealing] * Spector jurors asked how they feel about O.J., or something like that. [CNN] * Another hurricane-force verdict: $2.8 million for homeowner in second Katrina trial. [Jurist] * Good lawyer? Uncle Sam, specifically the IRS, needs you. [WSJ Law Blog] * I […]

Aaron Charney, Biglaw, Daniel Alterman, Gay, Pictures, Zachary Fasman

Brokeback Lawfirm: A Few More Photos

By David Lat

Leaving New York Supreme Court after last week’s hearing in Aaron Charney v. Sullivan & Cromwell: Paul Caminiti of Sard Verbinnen, a former lawyer turned public relations guru, retained by S&C for the Charney matter; Vivia Chen of The American Lawyer, as stylish as ever; and Dan Alterman of Alterman & Boop, counsel to Aaron […]

Cars, Crime, Drinking, Intellectual Property, Kids, Music, Non-Sequiturs, White-Collar Crime

Non-Sequiturs: 04.16.07

By Stella Q

* Jerry Maguire is chockful of memorable quotations and yet I cannot think of a single relevant one. [Reuters] * Cuba Libre! Each student, however, faces a potential $65,000 fine. [New York Post] * A 7-year-old public enemy #1? Maybe on The Wire. [Racialicious] * I love all of David Bowie’s past and present personas, […]

Food, Jews, Law Schools, Music, Videos

The Columbia Law Revue Redeems Itself

By David Lat

Congratulations to the Columbia Law Revue crew for putting on a great show, which we attended on Thursday night. We were lukewarm about some of their prior efforts, but our opinion has changed entirely. Check out this great clip, a parody of this SNL video, which is currently #61 on YouTube in today’s Top Favorites […]

Admin

Programming Note: On the Road Again

By David Lat

We’re heading back to D.C. now. It seems that the spring northeaster has abated, so it’s time for us to make our move. We’ve arranged for some content to be posted while we’re gone; but obviously it won’t be responsive to any breaking news developments. So if anything big happens while we’re gone, this is […]

Crime, Deaths, Education / Schools, Guns / Firearms, Murder, Violence

Breaking: Gunman Kills At Least 20 at Virginia Tech

By David Lat

From the AP: A gunman opened fire in a dorm and classroom at Virginia Tech on Monday, killing 21 people and wounding another 21 before he was killed, police said. From the New York Times: At least 20 people were killed today, some of them students, and more were injured during shootings at Virginian Tech […]