Benchslaps
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Benchslaps, Facebook, In-House Counsel, Non-Sequiturs, Politics, Sports, Susman Godfrey, Tax Law, Technology, Videos, Women's Issues
Non-Sequiturs: 04.22.13
* Forget playing with Wade. LeBron took his talents to South Beach to avoid tons of state taxes. [The Legal Blitz] * Steve Susman of Susman Godfrey just completed the 180-mile trek from Houston to Austin by bike. Susman took part in this MS fundraiser with his grown kids and 35 other Susman Godfrey team members. Kudos. [National MS Society] * The Obama administration is entering a showdown over its use of the “state secrets” privilege. The government is concerned that if it cannot shield “no-fly list” paperwork, it might chill their frank discussion of racial profiling. [Politico] * A new in-house tool to replace outside counsel? Sure it may be cheaper, but can a computer get you playoff tickets? [Associate's Mind] * Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s new book, Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead (affiliate link), received a good deal of praise, but her model of “trickle-down feminism” is a tad suspect. [JDs Rising / Minnesota Lawyer] * We have a follow-up to the earlier Nevada benchslap. Now we have video of the judge handing out contempt charges for no reason. Wow. That’s some hardcore abused discretion. [Las Vegas Law Blog] * Remember the L.A. Law puppets video from a couple weeks ago? Well, it’s now a series. Watch Episode 1 after the jump…. -
Benchslaps, Bernie Madoff, Federal Judges, Jed Rakoff, Quote of the Day, S.D.N.Y.
When Judge Rakoff Tells You to STFU, You Listen
Judge Jed Rakoff thinks this litigant has officially "lost the right to complain" in his courtroom. - Sponsored
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Benchslaps, Breasts, Copyright, Federalist Society, Intellectual Property, Law Schools, Music, Non-Sequiturs, Pets, Running, Tax Law, Texas, Violence
Non-Sequiturs: 04.15.13
* Thoughts go out to all those in Boston. [CNN] * I hope you’ve all got your taxes finished. Here’s a fun fact: most tax cheats live in the South and the West. The two areas of the country filled with people who think taxes are evil cheat more? Go figure. [NBC News] * Remember, it’s not polite to say “thank you.” [Las Vegas Law Blog] * And now the rare, “self-benchslap.” [Associated Press] * A detailed look at how the Federalist Society became so powerful in American law schools. Unfortunately, it neglects the “they tend to order better pizzas for their events” gambit. [Chronicle of Higher Education] * Remember the new, depressing, public domain Happy Birthday song? The sponsor of that contest, WFMU, is at it again with a new contest to create modern, entertaining covers of public domain ditties. Despite my ragging on the birthday song, this is a pretty cool idea. [Free Music Archive] * Are you a young lawyer complaining about your lot in life? You’re at this site, so statistically you are. Well, quit your bitchin’! [Associate's Mind] * The Texas Supreme Court does not value emotional attachments to dogs. This is surprising because I can think of at least 10 country songs on this very point. [Law and More] * Mocking law school couples with a GIF from Veep? Get out of my head, UChiLawGo! [UChiLawGo] * Boob-induced failure. [Legal Juice]
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Antonin Scalia, Benchslaps, California, Constitutional Law, Gay, Gay Marriage, Quote of the Day, SCOTUS, Supreme Court, Ted Olson
One Supreme Benchslap, Coming Right Up!
Did you seriously think you could get away with asking Justice Scalia a rhetorical question during oral arguments? -
Benchslaps, Federal Circuit, Federal Government, Federal Judges
Benchslap of the Day: The VA Needs To Do Better By Veterans
The Federal Circuit doesn't look kindly upon counsel failing to abide by commitments made to the court. -
9th Circuit, Alex Kozinski, Benchslaps, Crime, Death Penalty, Deaths, Federal Judges, Murder, Police, SCOTUS, State Judges, Supreme Court
Reverse Benchslap of the Day: Arizona Attorney General Predicts SCOTUS Smackdown of Ninth Circuit
Who is Debra Milke, and why is she sometimes called "Casey Anthony's Arizona sister"? -
9th Circuit, Alex Kozinski, Benchslaps, Crime, Death Penalty, Deaths, Federal Judges, Murder, Police, Videos
Benchslap of the Day: Kozinski & Co. Overturn a Murder Conviction
Can you believe the egregious Brady violations in this case? The Ninth Circuit barely could, it seems.... -
9/11, American Bar Association / ABA, Anthony Kennedy, Benchslaps, Biglaw, Football, Law Professors, Law Schools, Morning Docket, Privacy, SCOTUS, Sports, Supreme Court, Technology, Trademarks
Morning Docket: 03.08.13
* In case you didn’t catch this yesterday when it was announced, Osama bin Laden’s son-in-law, Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, is currently being held for trial in New York City. This will be the most unbiased jury in the world. /sarcasm [New York Times]
* According to Justice Anthony Kennedy, democracies shouldn’t depend “on what nine unelected people from a narrow legal background have to say.” Well then! I suppose we should look forward to the uprising. [The Big Story / Associated Press]
* Cooley and Winston & Strawn are working on the $600 million sale of everyone’s favorite store for slutty Halloween costumes, Hot Topic. Apparently that store still exists. I had no idea. Good to know! [Am Law Daily]
* Proskauer Rose is now the most powerful Biglaw firm in the sports world. It just goes to show that even if you’re too awkward to play ball, it doesn’t mean you can’t hit it out of the park in court. [Sports Illustrated]
* “I would love to blink and wake up in 10 years and see where all this ends.” Unemployed law grads are probably saying the same thing, but hopefully these law school law firms will be beneficial. [New York Times]
* A group of legal heavy hitters — “The Coalition of Concerned Colleagues” — submitted a cutting letter to the Task ABA Force on Legal Education. Next time, try “The Law School Avengers.” [WSJ Law Blog (sub. req.)]
* If it’s proven that enough Native Americans find the Redskins team name offensive, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board may cancel the mark. Would it be offensive to call the TTAB Indian givers? [National Law Journal]
* An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but benchslaps are another thing entirely. Sorry, Gibson Dunn, but your document production “mistake” was “unacceptable” in Judge Paul Grewal’s courtroom. [Bloomberg]
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Benchslaps, State Judges
Slow-Played Benchslap Order Just Keeps Getting Better
Judge recuses himself so he never has to see a specific lawyer again, and then rips the lawyer in an order. -
9th Circuit, Alex Kozinski, Benchslaps
Avast Ye Maties! Kozinski Benchslap Ho!
Judge Kozinski loves whaling. Well, maybe not, but he thinks the whalers have a better case and yanks a district judge off his own case for initially siding for the hippies. -
Attorney Misconduct, Benchslaps, Drugs, Minority Issues, Racism, SCOTUS, Screw-Ups, Sonia Sotomayor, Stephen Breyer, Texas, Trials, U.S. Attorneys Offices
Benchslap of the Day: Justice Sotomayor Thinks You Should Turn Off Your Racist Light Bulb
Justice Sotomayor is generally very nice, but don't get her angry. A federal prosecutor in Texas who made improper, racially charged remarks during a trial learned this the hard way. -
10th Circuit, Benchslaps, Biglaw, Confirmations, Constitutional Law, Guns / Firearms, McCarter & English, Mergers and Acquisitions, Minority Issues, Money, Morning Docket, Musical Chairs, Politics, Racism, SCOTUS, Securities and Exchange Commission, Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court
Morning Docket: 02.26.13
* Our own Elie Mystal isn’t the only one who’s capable of fanning the flames of race baiting — it seems that Supreme Court justices can do it, too! We’ll probably have more on Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s benchslap later today. [The Two-Way / NPR]
* Patience is obviously one of this judge’s virtues, because this took a looooong time. After waiting more than a year for people to put their petty political pandering aside, the Senate confirmed Robert Bacharach to the Tenth Circuit. [Blog of Legal Times]
* Mary Jo White, the nominee to lead the SEC, will probably face her confirmation hearing in March. Her legal wranglings at Debevoise may be of interest to some, but really, who cares? She’s so cute and tiny! [Reuters]
* Mayer Brown and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year: gross revenue is up overall at most Biglaw firms, but not this one. In 2012, Mayer Brown’s revenue dipped 3.7 percent for a six-year low. [Am Law Daily]
* Kirkland & Ellis, now the fifth-largest Biglaw firm in the nation, is leading the market in terms of top dollar merger-and-acquisition deals. Now, if only the firm could get some bananas. [Crain’s Chicago Business]
* Orderly liquidation authority may be a legitimate exercise of power under the Bankruptcy Clause, but as far as these states are concerned, it’s just another reason to hate the Dodd-Frank Act. [DealBook / New York Times]
* Remember Peggy Ableman, the judge who ordered lawyers to attend a course on remedial civility in their “jammies”? She’s now at McCarter & English, so mind your manners. [Thomson Reuters News & Insight]
* An “astronomically stupid” legal loophole? Unpossible! Gun trusts are seeing the limelight because Chris Dorner claims he used one to purchase his paraphernalia without a background check. [New York Times]
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Benchslaps, California, Copyright, Intellectual Property, Pornography
Judge Threatens Alleged Copyright Troll With Jail Over Porn Complaints
A federal judge thinks lawyers might have produced porn to troll for copyright violators. He's not happy.
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Attorney Misconduct, Benchslaps, Federal Judges, Legal Ethics, Litigators, Partner Issues, Screw-Ups
Benchslap Update: Skadden Partners Learn Their Fates
Remember the two Skadden partners who got hit with a big benchslap, an order to show cause why they shouldn't be sanctioned? What punishment did they get from the court? -
Attorney Misconduct, Benchslaps, Federal Judges, Legal Ethics, Litigators, Partner Issues, Screw-Ups, Sheila Birnbaum
Benchslap of the Day: Skadden, Smacked, Eats Crow
Responding to a big-time benchslap by a federal judge, a high-profile Skadden partner issues a giant mea culpa. -
5th Circuit, Benchslaps, Fast Food, Federal Judges, Food, Minority Issues, Racism
Professional Benchslapper Gets Admonished By Fifth Circuit Over His Own Racial Insensitivity
A judge doesn't understand a fried chicken insult, so he blames the black guy for being oversensitive. Of course this happened in Texas... -
Benchslaps, Constitutional Law, Disability Law, Police
Cops' Fear Of Handcuffed Paraplegic Turns Out To Be Unreasonable
Please stop tackling and handcuffing the Fourth Amendment.... -
Ask the Experts, Benchslaps, Books, Career Center, Career Files, Lawyers, Legal Ethics, Rudeness
From the Career Files: The Perils of Advocacy
A member of the ATL Career Center's team of expert contributors offers a look at lawyers' ethical breaches and their consequences. -
Benchslaps, Blogging, Edith Jones, Federal Judges, Holidays and Seasons, Intellectual Property, Non-Sequiturs
Non-Sequiturs: 12.18.12
* Professor Josh Blackman has a Christmas gift for you: “The 8 Best Benchslaps of 2012.” See if you can guess who wins the award for lifetime achievement. [Josh Blackman's Blog] * Speaking of unorthodox law school classes, how would you like to take a course on “Understanding Obama”? [Althouse] * And speaking of the Instagram controversy, what might happen if the intellectual property issues wind up in the courts? [Associate's Mind] * The deadline for our holiday card competition has passed; our write-up of the finalists will appear shortly. While you wait, check out this cute non-electronic law firm holiday card. [Ross Fishman] * Time is running out! We’d love your votes in the ABA Journal’s Blawg 100 (under “News/Analysis”). Thanks, and Happy Holidays! [ABA Journal] If you are not a fan of Westboro Baptist Church, check out Anonymous’s declaration of cyber-war against them…. The following declaration of cyber-war was provoked by Westboro Baptist Church’s plan to picket a vigil for victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting: -
Benchslaps, Contests, Contracts, Elena Kagan, Job Searches, Non-Sequiturs, SCOTUS, Student Loans, Supreme Court
Non-Sequiturs: 12.11.12
* Kagan, J., benchslapping. [Josh Blackman's Blog] * I think I’d get this if I understood gymnastics. [Associate's Mind] * Some people think IBR is pointless, but if you disagree, check out this petition. [We the People: Your Voice in Government] * Partner readers, check out this new podcast (featuring law firm consultant Ed Wesemann and yours truly). [Attorney Search Group] * Our annual Law Revue Video Contest is still a few months away, but if you like making legally themed videos, keep an eye on this contest (more details forthcoming, including info on the prizes). [Federal Bar Association] * Speaking of contests, we welcome your votes in the ABA Journal’s Blawg 100 (under “News/Analysis”). [ABA Journal] * And speaking of Above the Law, the deadline for applying for our writer/editor position and our internship is tomorrow — so act now if interested! [Above the Law]