Morning Docket: 04.10.19
* Tired of remaining silent, Jones Day is now defending itself against a $200 million gender bias class-action lawsuit, saying that the firm is "proud of its success in promoting a diverse group of outstanding lawyers." [Law.com] * Meanwhile, MoFo is seeking sanctions against the attorneys at Sanford Heisler Sharp who filed the "mommy track" lawsuit against the firm, as well as against one of the anonymous plaintiffs, alleging that the claims made were "knowingly baseless." [American Lawyer] * As it turns out, during his testimony yesterday before the House Financial Services Committee, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin acknowledged that his legal department had already been in touch with the White House Counsel’s Office over the release of President Trump’s tax returns — an exchange that’s “deeply troubling and certainly violates the spirit of the law” meant to prevent such communications. [Washington Post] * In case you missed it, Michael Cohen is no longer as useful to the House Intelligence Committee as he once thought. Chairman Adam Schiff seems to have no interest in helping Cohen to delay his upcoming prison sentence. [CNN] * Senator Lindsey Graham has once again again introduced the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, a bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks. He’s proposed this bill since 2013 and it gets slapped down each time, but this time... things could change. [CBS News] * Two Wisconsin lawyers claim that being required to pay bar dues to practice in the state is unconstitutional because it requires them to participate in the state bar’s advocacy. You can look forward to more lawsuits like this thanks to the Janus ruling. [Big Law Business]
Jones Day (Photo by David Lat)
* Tired of remaining silent, Jones Day is now defending itself against a $200 million gender bias class-action lawsuit, saying that the firm is “proud of its success in promoting a diverse group of outstanding lawyers.” [Law.com]
* Meanwhile, MoFo is seeking sanctions against the attorneys at Sanford Heisler Sharp who filed the “mommy track” lawsuit against the firm, as well as against one of the anonymous plaintiffs, alleging that the claims made were “knowingly baseless.” [American Lawyer]
* As it turns out, during his testimony yesterday before the House Financial Services Committee, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin acknowledged that his legal department had already been in touch with the White House Counsel’s Office over the release of President Trump’s tax returns — an exchange that’s “deeply troubling and certainly violates the spirit of the law” meant to prevent such communications. [Washington Post]
* In case you missed it, Michael Cohen is no longer as useful to the House Intelligence Committee as he once thought. Chairman Adam Schiff seems to have no interest in helping Cohen to delay his upcoming prison sentence. [CNN]
* Senator Lindsey Graham has once again again introduced the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, a bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks. He’s proposed this bill since 2013 and it gets slapped down each time, but this time… things could change. [CBS News]
* Two Wisconsin lawyers claim that being required to pay bar dues to practice in the state is unconstitutional because it requires them to participate in the state bar’s advocacy. You can look forward to more lawsuits like this thanks to the Janus ruling. [Big Law Business]
Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.</strong
