* Prosecutors prevail at the polls: former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie (pictured) wins the gubernatorial race in New Jersey, and former state attorney general Robert McDonnell seizes victory in Virginia. Both are Republicans. [New York Times]

* Meanwhile, Maine voters reject a state law that would have allowed same-sex marriage. [Associated Press]

* Lawyers for John Allen Muhammad, the “D.C. Sniper” behind random shootings that killed 10 people, want the Supreme Court to stop his execution. [Washington Post]

* Former Day Casebeer lawyers, embroiled in messy disciplinary proceedings over discovery problems, claim their ex-client Qualcomm misled them. [WSJ Law Blog]

* Which three law firms are involved in the gigantic, $34 billion Berkshire Hathaway / Burlington Northern deal? [Am Law Daily]

* Police recover loot from the infamous celebrity-targeting burglary ring. [Popsquire]

* An Italian judge will soon issue his ruling in a trial over the CIA’s extraordinary rendition program. [Associated Press]

* Have we learned nothing from the unfortunate tale of Adam “Bulletproof” Reposa? Don’t make an obscene gesture in front of a judge. [Chicago Sun-Times]

P.S. We worked for Chris Christie in the U.S. Attorney’s Office from 2003 until 2006. Congratulations on your hard-won victory, Chris!

* Former Lawyer of the Day Adam Reposa, who was held in contempt for making the ‘jerk off’ gesture in sight of a judge, is still contemptible. [Texas Lawyer via Blogonaut]

* The first openly gay U.S. attorney gets to work in Washington State. [Associated Press]

* Kwame Kilpatrick is suing the attorney who turned the former Detroit mayor’s sext messages over to the Detroit Free Press. [Detroit News]

* Fresno judge forces nine pot shops to shutter pending the outcome of a zoning law court battle. [Associated Press]

* Former Judge of the Day Robert “Don’t-Park-in-My-Spot” Nalley pleads guilty to taking the air out of a court cleaner’s tire. [Washington Post]

* Are judges cracking down on data breaches? [Storefront Backtalk]

* Tim Russert, host of NBC’s Meet the Press and one of Time’s most influential people in the world, has died of a heart attack. Though better known as a journalist, Russert was a Cleveland State University law grad and admitted to the bar in New York and D.C. [NBC News]

* R. Kelly won’t have to sing from behind bars. R&B singer is acquitted in child pornography trial. [Chicago Tribune]

* Utah folk may be able to wear bikinis this summer. [Boston Globe]

* Former Lawyer of the Day Adam “Bulletproof” Reposa is fighting the jail time he received for an obscene gesture in court. He may not have manners, but he has a lot of fight in him. [Law.com]

* Democrats change their tune on SCOTUS after the Gitmo ruling. [Washington Briefs]

* This judge offered the parent of a teenage delinquent the “choice of paying a $500 fine for the girl’s truancy or whacking her in open court with a paddle.” [Houston Chronicle]

* Can you blame a man for harboring a fugitive, when the fugitive’s his son? [PrawfsBlog]

* Egypt invokes law that says age gap between spouses cannot exceed 25 years, to prevent a 92-year-old from marrying a 17-year-old. Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones would just make the cut-off. [BBC]

* Hiring Yalies as clerks = recipe for reversal? [Volokh Conspiracy]

* Adam “Bulletproof” Reposa speaks — or maybe comments on a blog? [Fagistan]

* Professor Kaimipono Wenger wonders: “How should the law deal with the end of the world?” [Concurring Opinions]

* John McCain releases his 2006 and 2007 tax returns. [TaxProf Blog]

Last month, Texan attorney Adam “Bulletproof” Reposa was honored as an ATL Lawyer of the Day, for making the “jerk-off” gesture in court while making eye contact with Travis County Judge Jan Breland. Though he says the gesture was actually intended for opposing counsel, today he was found guilty of contempt of court:

From the witness stand, Judge Breland relayed to the court how Reposa continuously whispered in his client’s ear while the Travis County prosecutor offered a plea bargain agreement for probation. Reposa apparently wished to continue to trial.

After being admonished by Judge Breland to stop, Reposa allegedly made the offending motion.

It’s “what boys do to insult one another,” Judge Breland told Judge Davis.

So if a female attorney simulated masturbating in court, would that be okay?

Update: As Keye TV reports, Reposa was just sentenced to 90 days in jail.

‘Bulletproof’ Reposa has his day in court [Keye TV]
Judge rules defense lawyer in contempt of court [Austin American-Statesman]
Lawyer Found Guilty of Contempt for Lewd Courtroom Gesture [ABA Journal]
Austin judge throws lawyer in jail for obscene gesture [Keye TV]

Earlier: Lawyer of the Day: Adam Reposa

Some ATL readers may find our Lawyer of the Day posts frivolous, but there are valuable lessons in each one. Texan lawyer Adam “Bulletproof” Reposa has many lessons to impart.

Lesson one: how not to show one’s displeasure with a judge’s ruling. From the Austin American-Statesman:

Adam Reposa, 33, was held in contempt of court by County-Court-at-Law Judge Jan Breland for his “intentional and contumacious conduct during the court’s review of the plea bargain offer to his client before jury trial.”

Reposa, who could not be reached for comment, “made a simulated masturbatory gesture with his hand while making eye contact with the court in response to an objection by the state to his interference with the court plea bargain inquiry,” Breland wrote in a judgment of criminal contempt of court filed March 11.

While we may understand the desire to use the “jerk-off” gesture with a judge who uses the word “contumacious,” we strongly advise against it.

Lesson two: how not to manage your media relations, as reported by a local broadcaster.

When Reposa’s law office was contacted by phone, the person answering said she was instructed by Reposa to tell the media a vulgarity, which won’t be printed here.

We advise “no comment at this time” as a much more respectable way of saying f**k off.

Lesson three: how not to market your legal services. First, do not register with your state bar as “Bulletproof.” Second, do not make terrible YouTube videos.

While we are tempted to make the “jerk-off” gesture, instead we will end with “no comment at this time.”

Austin attorney put in jail after “obscene gesture” in court [KeyeTV.com]
Defense lawyer held in contempt for lewd gesture at judge [Austin American Statesman]