Morning Docket: 05.12.10

* Are we witnessing the start of an M&A boom? Here’s a round-up of the firms that have snagged the latest work. [Am Law Daily]

* BP wants the Gulf of Mexico oil spill cases to be consolidated and heard in federal court in Houston (S.D. Tex.). [Bloomberg via WSJ Law Blog]

* The U.S. Chamber of Commerce weighs in against the nomination of John J. “Jack” McConnell — the prominent plaintiffs’ attorney who has donated hundreds of thousands to Democratic candidates’ campaigns, and who will earn between $2.5 million and $3.1 million every year though 2024, in deferred pay — to the federal bench in Rhode Island. [Providence Journal]

* A Louisiana politician is suing anonymous blog commenters. If you go into politics, you ought to have a thicker skin. (In fact, in the internet age, we should all have thicker skins.) [New Orleans Times-Picayune]

* If Elena Kagan is confirmed to the Supreme Court, Ivy League domination of SCOTUS will be complete. [Washington Post]

* Meanwhile, the Kagan nomination has created a headache for Sen. Arlen Specter (R D whatever-PA) — he voted against her as Solicitor General, but now he might support her for SCOTUS. Nice. [New York Times]

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