Above the Law

Chief Justice Roberts Stares Into The Abyss — See Generally

Chief Justice Roberts Relishes Role As President’s Favorite Doormat: John Roberts traded his credibility so Trump could hold press conferences calling the Chief “very unpatriotic.”

But Don’t Call It A Comeback: And don’t mistake his tariffs opinion — or those of Barrett and Gorsuch either — as a redemption arc. They only put their foot down when Trump’s actions started hurting their buddies.

New York Bar Examiners Tell Blizzard-Stranded Applicants To Show Up Or Else: Over 10,000 flights canceled? Travel bans across multiple states? Bar examiners remained unmoved.

Judge Cannon Sides With Trump, And In Other News, Water Is Wet: Judge buries report detailing the evidence of Trump’s criminal charges because she knows where her bread is buttered.

Ninth Circuit Says Size Doesn’t Matter: Appeals court smacks down fee-shaming of small law firms.

Your AI Prompts May… Or May Not… Be Privileged: Competing decisions over AI and privilege mean your legal brainstorming sessions with a chatbot might end up in discovery. Welcome to the future.

Maurene Comey Lands Partner Gig: James Comey’s daughter makes partner at a law firm after being unceremoniously drummed out of the DOJ by a vindictive administration.

Lying Has Consequences, Feds — See Also

Liars Keep Losing In Court: Judges keep catching federal officers with their pants on fire.

These Aren’t The Lawyers You’ve Been Looking For: OpenAI helps shut down fake law empire.

When Mardi Gras Turns Violent: Shia LeBeouf gets hit with two charges of battery and a rehab stint.

This Should Scratch Your Law Porn Itch: Dean’s List is the novel you didn’t know you needed.

Need Some Help Finding Loans For School?: AccessLex Institute is here to help!

Once, Twice, Three Times The Contempt: The government has had enough of the government!

Lawyers Usually Should Not Open Their Own Practices Right After Graduating From Law School

Law school does a poor job of teaching students the practical information they need to be practicing lawyers.

Judge Orders Shia LaBeouf To Rehab After Mardi Gras Brawl

'No, No, No' isn't an option here.

Legal AI: What Government Agencies Need To Consider

Once in a generation, a new technology comes on the scene that radically transforms how government work happens. Here’s what government lawyers need to know.

ChatGPT Helped Build A Fake Law Firm Empire — Now OpenAI Is Shutting Them Down

Fake lawyers used the AI to scam 'clients' into parting ways with their money.

How Appealing Weekly Roundup

The week in appellate news.

Anatomy Of A Modern Merger: A Step-By-Step Guide For GCs

This road map will take you from due diligence to company integration. 

DOJ’s Losing Streak Continues Because Federal Officers Just Can’t Stop Lying

From the snot-nosed-punks dept

Morning Docket: 02.27.26

* Anthropic rejects Defense Department ultimatum to rewrite their contract and remove guardrails or face potentially devastating retaliation. [Axios]

* Bill Clinton due to testify about Epstein after Hillary’s deposition devolved into Pizzagate and UFOs. [Reuters]

* NYPD perp walked suspect from Washington Square snowball fight. DA’s office rejects assault charge because the cops were being actual snowflakes. [NY Times]

* DOJ supoosedly investigating why it just happened to withhold multiple FBI interview statements where a witness talked about Donald Trump raping a child. [Washington Post]

* Homeland Security prison camp stealing crayons from children. [Pro Publica]

* Kobre & Kim lawyer carried on business relationship with Epstein having, “intentionally waited being introduced to you… until your sentence was fully served to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.” Not sure how successful that proved, but all right. [American Lawyer]

* Netflix drops out of Warner Bros. deal virtually guaranteeing Paramount will acquire the company and manage to merge the two worst studios into a giant ball of dreck. [Law360]

Too Good To Be True — See Also

William Christopher Swett Gets Charged With A Lot Of Fraud: No relation, of course.

Maurene Comey Makes Partner: The administration’s brain drain lets Biglaw snag major talent!

Tom Goldstein Convicted On 12 Of 16 Counts: Can’t win ’em all.

Abrego Garcia Still Getting Harassed By The DOJ: His legal team want the charges dismissed for being vindictive.

There’s No Privilege Protecting AI Searches: But should there be? Carolyn Elefant argues in favor.

JFK Conspiracy Goes All The Way To Biglaw

The Warren Commission brought together a number of prominent lawyers– from Chief Justice Earl Warren to Covington alum Senator John Sherman Cooper — to investigate the Kennedy assassination, but who would be the only one enshrined in the name of a current elite Biglaw firm? Hint: One member, Representative Hale Boggs, does not have a […]

The Quiet Edge: How Real Confidence Is Built In The Dark, Not On Display

Confidence is not a lightning strike. It is a byproduct of sustained effort.

Gimme An ‘A’! Gimme An ‘I’!

Signs point to: Panicking about our demise is premature. For now.

Fifth Circuit Judges Begin Erasing Dissenting Opinions They Don’t Like

November dissent from Democratic appointee deleted after he retired this week.