Recent Headlines from Above the Law

  • Morning Docket: 10.29.18
    Morning Docket

    Morning Docket: 10.29.18

    * Robert Bowers, the suspect in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting that left 11 dead and six wounded, has been charged with 29 federal criminal counts including hate crimes and using a firearm to commit murder and 36 state criminal counts including homicide and ethnic intimidation. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those who lost their lives this weekend. [New York Times]

    * According to the criminal complaint filed against Cesar Sayoc, the pipe bomb he allegedly tried to mail to former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was addressed to his office at a “certain law firm” — a certain law firm that’s better known as Covington & Burling. Good thing the package never made it there. [National Law Journal]

    * When asked to reflect on the misconduct allegations against Yale Law School Professor Jed Rubenfeld, alumni from the school are not the least bit shocked. “It was not a surprise to basically any woman in my class that this investigation is going on,” said one 2015 graduate. Will the school take appropriate action? [Yale Daily News]

    * Partners from Allen & Overy and O’Melveny & Myers are cozying up to each other as merger talks between the two firms continue, but there may be trouble in paradise. “There is some opposition in London,” said a former A&O partner, “but it’s fairly disorganised—there’s a lot of moaning but nobody leading a charge.” [International]

    * In case you missed it, after the involuntary revocation of its accreditation, Arizona Summit Law School will eventually close its doors. But first, the school must finalize a teach-out plan for its remaining students, and when it’s all over, “that would be the life of the school.” What a sad little life. Farewell to AZ Summit Law. [Arizona Republic]

    * You might not have known it, but the Michigan State University College of Law has been operating as a private school for all these years. Soon, the school will be fully integrated into the university, and you know what that means: in-state tuition costs will be coming to the MSU Law. Congratulations! [Lansing State Journal]

    * RBG is my Patronus, and a course on Harry Potter and the Law is coming to a law school near you — if you live in India, that is. The National University of Juridical Sciences will be teaching the class, and muggles students are “expected [to] have already read all the books at least twice, if not more.” [The Guardian]

  • Morning Docket: 06.14.18
    Morning Docket

    Morning Docket: 06.14.18

    * The New York American Inn of Court presents, “Fast Times at Ruth Bader Ginsburg High.” You’ll never think of Phoebe Cates the same way again. [New York Law Journal]

    * In the wake of decades of sexual abuse, Michigan State turned to former Republican governor John Engler to serve as interim president and steer the school back from this tragedy. His response is to smear the victims. The only shocking thing about this is that anyone expected a different result. [Detroit Free Press]

    * Apple is making it harder for law enforcement to crack into your phone. If they can follow this up with a longer lasting battery, we might forgive them for removing the headphone jack. [CNN]

    * A reminder that the next shoe in the Supreme Court’s attempt to resuscitate Lochner is about to drop. [Vox]

    * United Lex and LeClairRyan’s new deal has the legal technology community buzzing. But banking on law firms to embrace change hasn’t always panned out. [American Lawyer]

    * When the revolution comes, they’ll point to our highly developed law of golf balls as proof of our decadence. [Law.com]

    * Due process suit brought by journalists on the infamous United States kill list will go forward. [Courthouse News Service]

  • Morning Docket: 05.24.18
    Morning Docket

    Morning Docket: 05.24.18

    * For Tex McIver, love means never having to say you’re sorry… for shooting your wife in the back. [Daily Report Online]

    * Vivia Chen wonders if my personal trolling that finally convinced Aaron Schlossberg to release a statement distancing himself from his racist tirade. The answer is yes. [American Lawyer]

    * Michael Avenatti got some bad news in court the other day when a judge ordered his firm to pay $10 million to a lawyer who used to work with them and alleged the firm shorted him on his share of the profits. [NY Post]

    * Ben Brafman’s working overtime to convince federal prosecutors to stay out of the Harvey Weinstein matter. If successful, Brafman would just have to tell Cy Vance that Weinstein is rich and that should shut down the whole inquiry. [New York Law Journal]

    * Trump’s continued attacks on federal law enforcement are… bad. Thankfully, trickster god Rod Rosenstein has a plan. [Atlantic]

    * The appeals court upheld the ruling striking down California’s assisted suicide law. That’s probably the right result in this case. [NPR]

    * AI is changing the legal sector. Especially when you realize that AI isn’t what its hype men were selling a couple years ago. [Forbes]

    * MSU has a new lawyer and he’ll have his hands full. [Corporate Counsel]

  • Morning Docket: 04.20.18
    Morning Docket

    Morning Docket: 04.20.18

    * Welcome Rudy Giuliani to the Trump legal team. Reminder that the last time he offered Trump legal advice he inadvertently built the strongest case against the travel ban, so this should go well. [CNN]

    * Overshadowed by the Rudy announcement, Trump also hired married Miami duo Marty and Jane Serene Raskin. They’re actually competent criminal defense attorneys, so I don’t expect them to last long. [McClatchy]

    * Alexander Hamilton earns honorary degree from Albany Law School. Upon learning he’ll have the same degree as Megyn Kelly, Hamilton decided Aaron Burr might have done him a favor. [Law.com]

    * Officials have moved the “Fearless Girl” statue citing “safety” though the fear of a completely frivolous lawsuit from the sculptor of “Charging Bull” may be the real culprit. So a woman took a bold stand and will therefore be shuffled off to another office out of the way… that may be the most iconic depiction of Wall Street yet. [Dealbreaker]

    * In the wake of the horrific Larry Nassar cover up, Michigan State’s GC Robert Noto nabbed $436000 in severance pay. Because accountability is important. [Corporate Counsel]

    * James Comey keeps receipts. [Huffington Post]

    * If you’re looking for your daily dose of wackiness, here’s a $100M lawsuit from Jason Lee Van Dyke against the man trying to get him disbarred. [Daily Beast]

    * Chuck Schumer’s going to introduce a bill to decriminalize marijuana. Because it’s 4/20. Chuck Schumer is making 4/20 jokes now. [NPR]

  • Non-Sequiturs

    Non-Sequiturs: 12.07.15

    * Bonus season has officially arrived in Biglaw-land. But what does it all mean? [ATL Redline]

    * Sure, it may be cuffing season, but if you don’t get divorced before January 23rd it could cost you. [New York Post]

    * Will Generation Z destroys law schools? [Law and More]

    * What is beneath the crusty exterior of hardened partners? [Daily Lawyer Tips]

    * Can the Republicans’ Southern Strategy be classified as a success? [Lawyers, Guns and Money]

    * Michigan State is tops in football, basketball, and, oh yeah, debate. [SB Nation]

  • Morning Docket

    Morning Docket: 01.30.15

    * Next time on Nancy Grace: A recent graduate of Michigan State Law allegedly got a master’s degree student from the school pregnant twice before he left the country. The woman allegedly murdered one of the babies, and the other is now missing. [Detroit Free Press]

    * I’ll just leave this right here so I won’t get fined. It looks like a partner from Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton helped Marshawn Lynch trademark his nickname “Beast Mode” — a trademark that may lead to Lynch getting a $100,000 fine from the NFL. [Am Law Daily]

    * In other trademark news, Taylor Swift got approval for catchphrases from her album. “Nice to Meet You, Where You Been?” Her IP lawyers “Could Show You Incredible Things,” but you could’ve been getting down to “This Sick Beat.” [WSJ Law Blog]

    * Gibson Dunn earned $459,000 for successfully challenging Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage, which was apparently a “sharp cut” in the fees the firm initially requested for star litigator Ted Olson’s time. Poor Teddy. [National Law Journal]

    * According to Am Law’s latest Lateral Partners Survey, there was a 7 percent increase in lateral moves — 2,736, to be precise — between Oct. 1, 2013 and Sept. 30, 2014. Guaranteed pay packages, though, seem to be a thing of the past. [American Lawyer]

    * The K&L Gates Cyber Civil Rights Legal Project, a clinic that’s perhaps better known as the firm’s revenge porn project, is assisting a California law student whose nude pictures and videos were allegedly put online by an ex. [DealBook / New York Times]

  • Animal Law, Bankruptcy, Football, Free Speech, Gay Marriage, Guns / Firearms, Legal Ethics, Non-Sequiturs, Videos

    Non-Sequiturs: 12.10.13

    * Remember the chimps seeking habeas? Well, bad news: they’re staying in custody, per an order from Judge Ralph A. Boniello III. Now their freedom is up to the Army of the 12 Monkeys. [Wired] * Elizabeth Coker has announced she is seeking the office of Polk County Criminal District Attorney. While some may disagree, I think this is a great idea. She’s been directing the litigation strategies of prosecutors for some time now. So why does a judge drummed out of office for texting prosecutors think she should go back into public service? Prayer. Of course. [Polk County Today] * Judge Steven Rhodes is overseeing the Detroit bankruptcy. He’s not taking any guff off anyone, including an investment banker who pledged that it was “very important” that his firm help the city, prompting Judge Rhodes to point out, “What’s very important to you is to make money.” He’s also a badass rhythm guitarist. [Associated Press via Yahoo!] * A Colorado judge has declared that a discriminating baker can no longer prevent gay couples from buying wedding cakes. It’s unclear if he’s ordering the baker to stock those stupid plastic cake toppers in groom & groom format. [Consumerist] * Proofreading law school exams. This article is aimed at law students, but maybe it should be directed toward a certain St. John’s professor… [Law School Toolbox] * George Zimmerman’s girlfriend wants him out of jail. She originally told police that Zimmerman pointed a shotgun in her face. That’s Princess Bride-level true love s**t right there. [Slate] * Michigan State celebrated putting Ohio State in its place by setting “at least 57 fires.” Can someone holding a sign encouraging people to “Burn the Couch” be held liable? A better question is whether West Virginia can sue Michigan State for stealing their hillbilly intellectual property? [PrawfsBlawg] * Sadly, Akerman partner Richard Sharpstein was found dead in his home today. He was 63. [Daily Business Review] * A few tipsters sent this one in. They claim it’s a law student acting like a jerk trying to buy cigarettes in a drug store. The sound is spotty, so none of us could figure out exactly what was going on, but it’s worth it for the guy who yells: “Yeah, tell him! Tell him when you were born!” Video after the jump….
  • Death Penalty, Defamation, Fashion, Non-Sequiturs, Rape, Real Estate, State Judges, Technology

    Non-Sequiturs: 11.25.13

    * At MSU Law, a couple of law professors are getting serious about figuring out how to leverage technology in the profession. They envision making legal hiring into “Moneyball” with MSU Law representing Oakland. So they plan to raise false hopes and ultimately fail too? [Lansing State Journal] * A real estate attorney is hosting a boot camp to train slumlords. Yay? [SF Gate] * If you never thought electing state judges was a matter of life and death, read this. [Huffington Post] * Here’s a fun one: Should TheDirty.com be liable for encouraging readers to submit gossip? Our old friend Sarah Jones hopes so. [Forbes] * The Steubenville rape case is back in the news after a grand jury has indicted four school officials for covering up the school’s infamous rape. [Jezebel] * A couple of former Harvard Law roommates have a fashion startup called ShopRagHouse that allows customers to design their own clothes. They’re seeking some additional funding for their next collection with a Kickstarter campaign now. [Kickstarter] * If you’re in New York and interested about legal careers in banking, swing by the Fordham Law amphitheater tonight from 6 to 8 for a free panel discussion featuring representatives from some of the largest banks in the world hosted by the Chinese Business Lawyers Association. [Eventbrite]
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