How Appealing Weekly Roundup
The week in appellate news.
Morning Docket: 01.30.26
* Trump suing the IRS for $10 billion over leaking of the tax documents that he promised repeatedly he was going to release and never did. Surely Pam Bondi will fight this case zealously to protect taxpayers! [CNN]
* Someone tried to free Luigi using a pizza cutter. [Reuters]
* Deputy AG Todd Blanche apparently held six figures worth of crypto investments while using his job to shut down crypto investigations. [ProPublica]
* California Chief Justice wants limits on ICE presence in courthouses. [The Recorder]
* Proposed judiciary AI rule may come away from criticism stronger than ever. [Law360]
* Study finds jurors perform just as well in person as they do online. [ABA Journal]
* Senate may repeal law that allowed colleagues to sue the government over federal investigations. [Politico]
AI Is Reshaping Legal Practice—But Tools Aren’t The Real Differentiator.
Explore the mindset, cultural shifts, and training strategies that define the AI‑savvy lawyer, revealing why human judgment, standardized competence, and integrated learning—not technology alone—will shape the future of the profession.
Morning Docket: 01.29.26
* Trump accuses Minneapolis mayor of "very serious violation of the law" because the mayor is obeying a Supreme Court precedent written by well-known leftist... Antonin Scalia. [Time]
* Meanwhile, a Minnesota federal judge blocked Homeland Security's current indiscriminate sweep and ordered the release of those recently detained. [Courthouse News Service]
* Seventh Circuit digs into AI privacy settlement that gave plaintiffs a cut of the defendant. [National Law Journal]
* Judges will come together to better understand AI and its implications for the justice system. [Legaltech News]
* Spider-Man testifies in Goldstein trial. [Law360]
* Lawsuit hopes to block FEMA staffing cuts. [Reuters]
* Inter American back in ABA compliance. Congrats. [ABA Journal]
How Cleary Gottlieb Created A Virtuous Cycle With Tech
Litera recently celebrated a group of innovative customers that are utilizing their Foundation platform in transformative and unique ways. Here, we’re profiling how an elite firm is staying on the cutting edge.
Morning Docket: 01.28.26
* Kirkland drama reveals that when the bell rings, private equity clients trump litigation clients. [Financial Times]
* Lawyer representing the agent who killed Renee Good drops out of GOP race for governor, says ICE has gone too far. [WSJ]
* ABA convenes with a hefty agenda. [ABA Journal]
* A look at how Minnesota firms are dealing with the disruption brought on by ICE's operation. [American Lawyer]
* As Minnesota situation worsens, congresswoman attacked at town hall meeting, sprayed with unknown substance. [CSPAN]
* State lawmakers look for avenues to bring local charges against federal agents who commit crimes. [Reuters]
* New York considers legalizing dancing. [Lowering the Bar]
Morning Docket: 01.27.26
* The $4000 billable hour has arrived. [Reuters]
* Motorcycle gangs and pending domestic violence charges may be behind the plot to kill an Indiana judge. [ABA Journal]
* Remember when Foley & Lardner fired a new associate after she expressed support for the citizens of Gaza? After winning a preliminary battle over certain claims, the firm will have to go to court. [Reuters]
* This will totally shock you, but big banks may still be loaded with misogyny. [Law360]
* Former Biglaw partner returns to the U.S. from Asia transformed as a poet. Isn't that the Colonel Kurtz story arc? [Law.com International]
* Media begins to worry about law students when AI fully arrives. Maybe ask more questions about how AI is supposed to fully arrive when the biggest AI company is teetering on collapse? [NY Times]
* The Atlantic invites torture enthusiast John Yoo to write an article explaining why we shouldn't have international law. [The Atlantic]
AI Is Killing Legal’s Billable Hour. It’s Also Repeating Its Worst Mistake
Law firms and legal departments are writing the future of the profession in separate rooms. What happens when they actually work together?
Morning Docket: 01.26.26
* Prime suspect in massive jewelry heist takes advantage of ICE and gets himself deported... to escape trial! Get ready with that Ocean's 11 sequel script. [The Guardian]
* Minnesota District Chief Judge delivers blistering response after Eighth Circuit allows DOJ to file end run mandamus over insufficient arrest warrant. [One First]
* More voices calling for local prosecutions against ICE agents. [NY Times]
* Should California create its own bar exam? Despite the real risk that the state's professional leaders would throw the baby out with the bath water following last year's disastrous experiment, it seems the majority still understand it's the right path forward. [ABA Journal]
* Retired NY Supreme Justice Arthur Engoron reflects on his career. [New York Law Journal]
* Disgraced former administration lawyer Jenna Ellis criticizes White House for public relations screening First Lady's documentary immediately after ICE murdered a man in Minnesota. [Daily Beast]
* Kyle Cheney of Politico collected over 2300 cases of federal judges growing increasingly frustrated at the lawlessness from the Department of Homeland Security. [Twitter]
Firm Finds Itself In Middle Of Fraud Suit — See Generally
The big stories of last week.
How Artificial Intelligence Is Quickly Changing Case Strategy Development
Findings from a new study by Ari Kaplan Advisors and Opus 2.
How Appealing Weekly Roundup
The week in appellate news.
Filevine’s New Legal AI Platform LOIS Turns AI Into A True Legal Coworker
Legal work isn’t slowing down, and the firms that win won’t be the ones working harder — they’ll be the ones working smarter.
Morning Docket: 01.23.26
* Federal judge may block Trump's ballroom. Just because presidents don't have any legal authority to unilaterally decide to destroy and rebuild government buildings. [CNN]
* Reed Smith lawyer who pretended to have cancer loses license to practice in UK. [Roll on Friday]
* Meanwhile, Florida bar authorities let Matt Gaetz keeps law license because they didn't think statutory rape should get in the way of a law practice. [Florida Bulldog]
* Trump files $5B lawsuit against JP Morgan for turning away his business after January 6. Is anyone else old enough to remember when Republicans believed in the free market? [Law360]
* Yes, why did a state AG use MLK Day to publish an attack on laws against racial discrimination? [Miami Herald]
* Biglaw fights over office space in New York. So much for working from home. [New York Law Journal]
* Jack Smith testified before Congress and Trump supporters probably wish he hadn't. [Reuters]
Morning Docket: 01.22.26
* ICE instructed its agents that they don't need warrants to bust into houses. These Crim Pro issue spotters are just getting lazy. [Civil Discourse]
* Meanwhile, Eighth Circuit lifts restriction against ICE pepper spraying random protesters. [The Guardian]
* Elizabeth Holmes looking for Trump to offer clemency. Maybe she should offer to cut him in on her next company. [Law360]
* The conservatives on the Supreme Court will quickly trade in their contrived, ahistorical "philosophy" to save their personal stock portfolios. [Balls and Strikes]
* Biglaw made big bucks off of lobbying. [National Law Journal]
* Judge blocks government from searching materials seized from Post reporter. [Washington Post]
* Law firm hosted its annual MLK Day oratory competition for fourth- and fifth-graders. [Foley & Lardner]
Morning Docket: 01.21.26
* DOGE took Social Security data apparently in an effort to assist group seeking to overturn election results. [Politico]
* Lindsey Halligan departs job she never held after brutal benchslapping. [Washington Post]
* Eastern District of Virginia now accepting applications for U.S. Attorney. The good news is that you're already a better candidate than the last one. [National Law Journal]
* ABA issues statement following weekend judge shooting [ABA Journal]
* South Korea sentences former leader to 23 years for attempting to seize power. [NY Times]
* DOJ continues to press birthright citizenship interpretation supported by neither text, precedent, or history. So they're in good shape with this Court. [Law360]
* Judge raises fear that immigration courts will not comply with legal requirements. [Reuters]
‘Adventures In Legal Tech’: Efficiency, AI, And Business Planning For The Solo Practitioner
We explore the most transformative AI applications for lawyers in this episode of the ‘Adventures in Legal Tech’ podcast.
Morning Docket: 01.20.26
* ICE refusing to grant detainees access to legal counsel. "Imagine the chaos," one agent said, describing the bare minimum of a constitutional society. [ABC News]
* DOJ Civil Rights chief threatens to charge Don Lemon under the KKK Act. [NBC News]
* After state defections, ABA's law school accreditation council reminds everyone that it's independent of the ABA. [ABA Journal]
* "What Happened To Pam Bondi?" asks this deep dive about a woman who fought hurricane victims because she wanted to take away their dog for herself. [The Atlantic]
* Former judges announce new initiative to save the leal profession's dignity. Looking through this roundup, it's possible the damage is already done. [NY Times]
* In-house counsel expect cybersecurity suits. [Corporate Counsel]
* Supreme Court will take up Roundup verdict. [Law360]