DOJ Drops Defense Of Biglaw Executive Orders, Leaving Capitulating Firms Holding $940 Million Bag
Turns out the Executive Orders Biglaw feared aren’t worth defending after all.
Morning Docket: 03.01.26
* Biglaw drafts plans to protect staff in its Middle East offices. [Law.com International]
* As “Operation Epstein Fury,” continues in the Middle East, it appears Trump administration insiders are cashing in, making big prediction market bets on military timing. [NOTUS]
* West Virginia’s federal judges have become some of the most active voices pushing back against the Trump administration’s rule of law abuses. [Politico]
* Maduro’s lawyers claims the Trump administration is blocking payment, frustrating the Venezuelan president’s right to counsel. [New York Law Journal]
* A deep dive into why the Epstein investigation took so long and included so many missed opportunities. [NY Times]
* Election deniers hold conference calling for Trump to “take over” the midterms. Trump officials charged with election integrity showed up. [ProPublica]
* OpenAI raises another $110 billion as it falls further and further behind its rivals. [Law360]
* Fight over California’s fee-sharing ban dropped. [Reuters]
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.
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Once, Twice, Three Times The Contempt: The government has had enough of the government!
Oliver Wendell Holmes Sure Knew How To Turn A Phrase
His impact even extends to pop culture.
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.