Morning Docket 08.10.09
* An Illinois judge sentenced Clifton Williams to six months in prison for yawning. Good thing Williams didn’t set off a yawn waterfall. [Chicago Tribune]
* Second Circuit reverses Judge Jed Rakoff’s decision to grant New York Times access to the Emperor’s Club wiretaps. Further embarrassment of Eliot Spitzer is not sufficient “good cause.” Here’s the decision. [Courthouse News Service]
* Layoff litigation for Linklaters? [Legal Week]
* Where the work is: practice areas that are still booming. [ABA Journal]
* Lawsuits say smartphones force hourly employees to work off the clock. [Wall Street Journal (subscription)]
* Hot recession trend: Pro se. [Los Angeles Times]
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Anyone know what the Van Winkle law firm in Asheville, NC pays its starting 1st years?
The six month sentence for yawning seems light considering that in the past, any associate or summer associate that yawned in my presence was either terminated or not offered employment. Here is a tip for you plebes that want to succeed at a peer firm: Learn how to control your body. Flatulence, burping, putrid body odor or yawning will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Consider this your first and final warning.
No MysTTTal all week! ATL be saved!
Partner Emeritus = 11 year old boy, and not even a funny one.
Retired partner here: I can't begin to remember the number of times I've seen judges fall asleep while in court during a jury trial. I know I've had judges fall asleep at least a couple dozen times. Jurors falling asleep is a normal thing. Hell, I have had trouble staying awake sometimes during long and boring trials. It's particularly tough after lunch. In short, yawning is as common in court as pissing is in the men's room.