"As law students left Koh's address, they lingered in small groups and hugged one another in the corridors of the Sterling Law Building."

rofl, what a bunch of pansies. If a student died in Harvard they'd linger in small groups debating who should get his callback slots.

That's great 7:31. Well, now that the xo pricks have come to this board, I guess I'll be getting my law gossip somewhere else. It was fun while it lasted Lat.

Just don't read the comments. I read the comments, but among my friends who read ATL, probably about 2/3s skip the comments (unless the topic really interests them, like it's about their firm).

Sad and tragic, but not newsworthy.

Kudos to Dean Koh for handling this tragedy with professionalism and compassion. When a University of Chicago Law School classmate of mine died, we were notified via email -- an impersonal, three-sentence email.

Lat has made several "reforms." E.g., not naming summer associates who do dumb things.

As for judges who do dumb things, they're public figures, and their names are already out there (in the news articles he links to).

Thoughts and prayers with the family and friends of the student. RIP.

A private matter, seemingly well-handled. I recall similar events occuring elsewhere without any official notification whatsoever.

One minute you're eagerly making this front-page news, hinting something dire must have happened, and insisting it's a huge story--milking it for all the hits it's worth--and the next you're all sober and full of condolences?

Lat, you're really not fooling anyone. You're a muckraker. That's fine. There's room for muckrakers. But then own it. Stirring up sensationalism and then attempting to act above it all is just chickenshit.

Lat, these people are pricks. Don't listen to them.

Many kudos to Koh for his handling of the tragedy, and many condolences to the poor kid's family and friends.

"We need to draw on our sense of community."

What, because someone died? That happens all the time and the world ticks along just fine.

I first read about this story early this morning. Like most news I just thought to myself that it was awful and quickly moved on. Now I come to find out its someone I've known since I was 12. He was truly an amazing person, the kind that was loved by everyone he met.

I'm fighting my desire to write a long drawn out profile about how much he'll be missed, I won't, but please keep in mind how real this is to so many people.

I am the parent of a 1L at Yale Law. A few weeks ago, I helped with moving furniture into an apartment to get ready for the year.

This evening, my spouse received a call. A classmate had died. Nobody really knew what had happened. It was early in the year yet, but people already knew that student not just as someone whose ideas were worth hearing and considering, but also as someone personable and engaging who was liked by others.

Somewhere tonight, a man and a woman are on their way to New Haven. Two days ago, they were proud of their child who had made it to being a 1L at Yale. Now they will have to make arrangements for a funeral, and to dispose of clothing, books and furniture no longer needed. So much intelligence, so much ability, so much promise, and not even the chance to say goodbye...

I hope that the members of the Yale Law Class of 2010 will let this student's parents know the esteem with which he was viewed, even among a highly capable group of peers. It may be premature to think of such things, but in the days ahead, they might consider establishing an academic prize or scholarship in the name of the classmate they have lost. From what I understand, this person was someone memorable, and worth remembering.

11:45: Lat explained the reason for the change in tone of his coverage in one of the updates to an earlier post.

At first it looked like a murder, which would merit dramatic treatment. Then it became clear that it wasn't. Hence the removal of the Drudge siren.

8:50, at no point did this ever look like a murder. If there's one lesson learned from the Virginia Tech incident, it's that calling a "community meeting" is not the way you deal with a known homicide. I do not believe that any sensible person would have suspected that this was a public safety issue.

As for Dean Koh's cryptic email? I'm sure he just wanted a way to let students know without having the information end up in the hands of filth-mongers like this website first. No one needs to hear that their friend or relative has died from someone who read about it on an anonymous blog.

This entire incident was poorly handled, and I'm not sure why this utterly un-newsworthy event is being covered again today.

The whole thing is in incredibly poor taste.

He died of "natural cases"? What, like while reading Pierson v. Post?

Har har.

I'm incredulous that some of you think this incident was well-handled. The only reason this story even made it to ATL was because of that cryptic email.

A competent dean would have at least said in the email that a 1L had died. How could he not have realized that what he sent would only set the "roomer mill" off?

9:05: When I hear that a 1L (presumably young and in good health) has been found dead - in New Haven, of all places - I think "murder."

It sounds like you have some inside information that is clouding your ability to be objective about how this looked to the outside world.

lat, how about reporting about the suicide of a student at Widener University School of Law...oh yea, that's right its isnt Yale

I'm quite sorry for the loss suffered by this individual's family, friends, and Yale.

That said, this was handled amazingly poorly. The initial email should have said what had happened and then announced the meeting to discuss the matter further. As tragic and unexpected as it was, most of the people assembled likely did not know who the individual was.

My condolences to the student's family, friends and colleagues.

Regarding Koh's handling of this... I'd say he handled it strangely. Koh's cryptic email sensationalized the issue. But what's done is done. In the grand scheme, Koh's missteps here are pretty insignificant. There's a much more significant story here -- the death of a student. Based on your posts, it appears none of those bashing Koh and Lat actually know the student. So your outrage at Koh and Lat over how they handled this seems pretty manufactured.

The natural passing of a young student is highly unusual. I was at Yale when Suzanne Jovin was murdered and this meeting (and the way that it was called) is reminiscent of that very sad and emotional time. It is thus not out of line to initially fear foul play.

That being said, I think the focus here should be on sending our well wishes to the family and friends of Joseph. He sounds like an extraordinary person who was not just talented and gifted, but was also genuine and well-liked.

I didn't know Joseph, but my thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and classmates. May he rest in peace and may those grieving for him find some small amount of solace and comfort in knowing that many others are sending our best their way.

Joey worked for me a few years ago. He was so smart, so driven, and yet such a kind and sweet kid.

How sad. My thoughts and sympathies to his family and friends.

Joey worked for me a few years ago. He was so smart, so driven, and yet such a kind and sweet kid.

How sad. My thoughts and sympathies to his family and friends.

I am deeply troubled by the death of a Yale 1L as well; Joseph appears by all accounts to have been an exceptional individual who was tremendously accomplised.

One question though: Why has nothing be said about the cause of death? "Natural causes" is not nearly enough; when there is a death at such a young age i would expect to hear more.

It's really a matter of privacy for the family to decide if they want to reveal the cause of death.

This poster hit the nail on the head:

"One minute you're eagerly making this front-page news, hinting something dire must have happened, and insisting it's a huge story--milking it for all the hits it's worth--and the next you're all sober and full of condolences?

Lat, you're really not fooling anyone. You're a muckraker. That's fine. There's room for muckrakers. But then own it. Stirring up sensationalism and then attempting to act above it all is just chickenshit."

A student died in a non-violent manner. That's sad. But it happens. Now, the entire student body is being directed to the university's "psychological resources"? I mean, really...!?!? When did everyone in this country lose their ability to deal with life's sadnesses?