Morning Docket: 05.20.16

* Donald Trump is expected to announce his choice for Vice President at the Republican National Convention in July, and he's turned to former longtime O'Melveny chair A.B. Culvahouse Jr. to vet his potential running mates. The last VP Culvahouse vetted was Sarah Palin, and look how well that turned out. [Big Law Business] * Uh-oh... Revenue may be up, but demand is way down, and there's no longer enough work to go around. According to a recent report from Altman Weil, "[f]jrms are having trouble keeping their lawyers utilized." Will layoffs follow thanks to Biglaw's overcapacity problems? We'll have more on this later today. [Philadelphia Inquirer] * Back in March, 53% of Americans polled said the Senate should vote on whether to confirm SCOTUS nominee Chief Judge Merrick Garland now, instead of waiting for the next president. Last week, only 48% of Americans polled felt the same. Quick! Somebody get Taylor Swift to endorse this man to hold the public's interest! [New York Times] * In the meantime, Senate Democrats held a mock confirmation hearing for the would-be SCOTUS justice this week, but Judge Garland didn't attend. It's too bad, because at this point in the game, thanks to the political wrangling that's been going on, it may have been his only chance to attend a hearing held in his honor. [The Guardian] * From the "abortion of taxpayer dollars" file: Oklahoma legislators passed a bill that would make abortion a felony punishable by up to three years in prison. Per the Center for Reproductive Rights, the proposed law is "harmful, discriminatory, clearly unconstitutional, and insulting to Oklahoma women and their families." [Reuters]

Donald Trump

President Donald Trump?

* Donald Trump is expected to announce his choice for Vice President at the Republican National Convention in July, and he’s turned to former longtime O’Melveny chair A.B. Culvahouse Jr. to vet his potential running mates. The last VP Culvahouse vetted was Sarah Palin, and look how well that turned out. [Big Law Business]

* Uh-oh… Revenue may be up, but demand is way down, and there’s no longer enough work to go around. According to a recent report from Altman Weil, “[f]jrms are having trouble keeping their lawyers utilized.” Will layoffs follow thanks to Biglaw’s overcapacity problems? We’ll have more on this later today. [Philadelphia Inquirer]

* Back in March, 53% of Americans polled said the Senate should vote on whether to confirm SCOTUS nominee Chief Judge Merrick Garland now, instead of waiting for the next president. Last week, only 48% of Americans polled felt the same. Quick! Somebody get Taylor Swift to endorse this man to hold the public’s interest! [New York Times]

* In the meantime, Senate Democrats held a mock confirmation hearing for the would-be SCOTUS justice this week, but Judge Garland didn’t attend. It’s too bad, because at this point in the game, thanks to the political wrangling that’s been going on, it may have been his only chance to attend a hearing held in his honor. [The Guardian]

* From the “abortion of taxpayer dollars” file: Oklahoma legislators passed a bill that would make abortion a felony punishable by up to three years in prison. Per the Center for Reproductive Rights, the proposed law is “harmful, discriminatory, clearly unconstitutional, and insulting to Oklahoma women and their families.” [Reuters]

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Staci Zaretsky is an editor at Above the Law. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments. Follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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