Morning Docket

* The media talk about Obama and the expected clean sweep of the government has pumped up Democratic tires so much that they think they can do the impossible: appoint two Democrats to the Texas Supreme Court. [Dallas Morning News] * The McCain-Palin efforts to recreate Florida 2000 in every state failed in Wisconsin. It’s […]

* Lehman’s lawyer fees “could reach a record $1.4 billion.”[Bloomberg] * The RNC spent more than a first-year associate’s salary on clothes for Sarah Palin. So, when you are reading mind-numbing legal documents at midnight tonight and your friends are out partying, just dream of all the snappy red jackets you can buy. [Los Angeles […]

[Ed. Note: Eliza Gray is a new writer for Above the Law. She graduated from Harvard and after a six-month stint in Brussels covering European Union politics at the European Voice, she moved back to New York to pursue a journalism career. She and Kash will be alternating Morning Docket responsibilities.] * Chief Judge ‘Naughty’ […]

* Citigroup wins … milk! [American Lawyer] * Brits can still beat-up their kids. [BBC] * AOL can’t put ads in personal emails, we hope. [Courthouse News] * Drive-through voting. [Associated Press] * … which of course should lead to drinking and driving and voting. Only in America! [Time]

[Ed. Note: Eliza Gray is a new writer for Above the Law. She graduated from Harvard and after a six month stint in Brussels covering European Union politics at the European Voice, she moved back to New York to pursue a journalism career. She and Kash will be alternating Morning Docket responsibilities.] * Hit my […]

* Fired U.S. Attorney David Iglesias speaks out against the DOJ’s ACORN probe. [Talking Points Memo] * Judges in China refuse to take lawsuits over tainted milk. [Associated Press] * They may cause rashes. And brain cancer. But we still love them. [Reuters] * Grand jury investigations for Lehman, in New York and New Jersey. […]

* “Barack Obama looked like a prosecutor delivering a polished summation in a long civil case, Joe the Plumber v. George W. Bush. John McCain was closer to a personal injury lawyer, staring into the camera to address ‘Joe the Plumber’ as if he were standing by with an 800 number.” [New York Times] * […]

* Simpson Thacher chosen as the legal advisers on the $700 billion bail-out. [The Lawyer] * Google and Yahoo are in talks with the Justice Department to avoid an antitrust suit. [CNet] * Pet owners whose furry little friends were sickened by contaminated pet food traced to China expected to get a settlement as high […]

[Ed. note: Happy Columbus Day. And to the Canadians, happy Thanksgiving. Our publisher Breaking Media has encouraged us to embrace the holiday spirit on this second Monday of October, so we will not be publishing today. We’ll see you tomorrow.] * “Experts call 5 ongoing probes of federal jurists unprecedented.” [Houston Chronicle] * Arizona bar […]

* A federal judge orders Syria to pay $400 million to the families of American military contractors killed in Iraq. [Associated Press] * If you like podcasts, these are ten of the “can’t miss” legal ones. [Law Technology News] * National Security Agency officers may have used relaxed eavesdropping rules to listen in on soldiers’ […]

[Ed. Note: We apologize for the late start to the day. Obviously, we were suffering from some technical difficulties. However the “blackout” conditions gave us an opportunity to reflect on the strength and support of our readers. We appreciate all of the support and encourage you to keep pushing us to stay on top of […]

* One of the first big decisions to result from the Supreme Court’s Boumediene ruling. Judge Ricardo M. Urbina orders that 17 Uighur detainees be released by next week. [New York Times] * California has had a Gold Ring Rush. Over 11,000 couples have married since the state Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in May, […]

* Senators Obama and McCain head to Nashville for a town hall style face-off tonight. [CNN] * More thoughts on Obama, McCain, and SCOTUS. A look at the judicial philosophies of the presidential candidates based on pivotal campaign speeches. [Wall Street Journal (subscription)] * D.C. Circuit rules against forcing testimony from Harriet Miers, Joshua Bolten, […]

* Citigroup convinced Justice Charles E. Ramos of the New York State Supreme Court to issue an emergency order this weekend blocking Wachovia’s sale to Wells Fargo. “The litigation could be a blockbuster, pitting some of the nation’s largest surviving financial institutions against one another and giving work to the most expensive legal talent money […]

* Senator Biden and Governor Palin had their cage match last night in St. Louis. If you played a drinking game around the word “maverick,” you may have a hangover today. The New York Times lets you relive the magic and review the transcript. [New York Times] * Sandra Day O’Connor addresses the economic crisis, […]

* The Senate is ready to bail out. Senate-approved rescue plan will go to the House on Friday. [Washington Post] * SCOTUS will not revisit its decision on the death penalty for child rapists. Still unconstitutional. [Washington Post] * “How would you like to be Osama Bin Laden’s lawyer?” [Doyle Reports] * Two Neiman Marcus […]

* Alaskan Republicans think Sarah Palin has enough on her plate preparing for Thursday’s debate. They’ve filed a proposed order to stop the Troopergate investigation and a motion for a new judge. [Courthouse News Service] * The Ninth Circuit rules that San Francisco can make employers contribute to a fund for universal health care. This […]

* Alberto Gonzales and pals cannot rest easy just yet. AG Michael Mukasey has chosen Nora Dannehy, acting U.S. Attorney for Connecticut, as special prosecutor to determine whether criminal charges should be brought in the firings of nine U.S. attorneys. [Associated Press] * Many of us are tempted away from work during the day by […]

*The bailout plan was hammered out this weekend, and will be voted on this week. Lawmakers will give Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson a bunch of money to clean up the mess that is our economy. Hopefully, Pennsylvania Avenue fares better than Wall Street. [Washington Post] *No criminal charges expected in DOJ attorney firings. [New York […]

* The bailout is not on. Talks imploded at 10:30 p.m. last night. Congress is back at it today. [New York Times] * Two-time ATL Lawyer of the Day Jack Thompson, the crazy controversial video game crusader, has been permanently disbarred. [Crave / CNET News] * Words to live by: Don’t make sex videos. And […]