California Supreme Court
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Legal Ethics
California's State Bar Is Trying To Save Face By Mandating Attorneys Snitch On Each Other
Tom Girardi had to ruin it for everybody. -
Courts
Fish Of The Air? An Update On An Oddly Textual Californian Bee Suit
Personally, I think this is all part of a long con to justify a Bee Movie x Jaws crossover. - Sponsored
Profit Powerhouse: Elevating Law Firm Financial Performance
In this CLE-eligible webinar on April 10th, we’ll explore the most common accounting pitfalls and how to avoid them for your firm. -
Government
Can A State Legally Force Presidential Candidates To Disclose Their Tax Returns And Impose Other Requirements?
Can the holding in Thornton apply to any state that seeks a candidate's tax returns before allowing that candidate to appear on the state's ballot?
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Bar Exams, California
California State Bar Politely Declines To Issue Decision On Bar Exam Cut Score
Will we EVER find out if there's a new cut score for this test? -
Bar Exams, California
California Bar Examiners Stripped Of Authority To Determine Passing Score On State Bar Exam
This is completely unprecedented. -
Non-Sequiturs
Non-Sequiturs: 06.07.17
* Ben Wittes on James Comey’s prepared testimony (which he’ll deliver tomorrow): “the most shocking single document compiled about the official conduct of the public duties of any President since the release of the Watergate tapes.” [Lawfare]
* Could the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program be eliminated — retroactively? Thoughts from Professor Gregory Crespi. [SSRN]
* The California Supreme Court appears less than enthused about a ballot measure that would compel the courts to decide death penalty cases more quickly. [How Appealing]
* Behind every great bestseller is… a tiger mother? How Amy Chua mentored J.D. Vance, author of Hillbilly Elegy (affiliate link). [The Atlantic]
* Picking up on Shannon Achimalbe’s post from earlier today, here’s additional financial advice for young lawyers. [SoFi]
* Legal technology is a godsend — but what do you do when problems arise? [Reboot Your Law Practice]
* Mark your calendars: one week from today, on June 14 in San Francisco, it’s the Battle of the (Law Firm) Bands! [Family Violence Appellate Project]
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Art, Boutique Law Firms, Lawyerly Lairs, Litigators, Small Law Firms
Lawyerly Lairs: At The Intersection Of Appellate Advocacy And Artwork
This law firm's office art is pretty neat! -
California, SCOTUS, Supreme Court
Could A Legal Love Triangle Scuttle SCOTUS Hopes For This Leading Jurist?
He's dating a former student of his -- and separated from his wife, a top adviser to Hillary Clinton. - Sponsored
Document Automation For Law Firms: The Definitive Guide
Legal document automation is no longer only for the exclusive few. -
Morning Docket
Morning Docket: 03.17.16
* Been there, done that: The political standoff having to do with Chief Judge Merrick Garland’s nomination to the Supreme Court is nothing new. When he was nominated to the D.C. Circuit by President Bill Clinton in September 1995, Senate Republicans refused to hold a confirmation vote for him until March 1997. If patience is a virtue, then Garland has got to be the most virtuous judge of them all. [WSJ Law Blog]
* Is he the “most anti-gun Supreme Court nomination in decades”? Conservative group Judicial Crisis Network plans to spend $2 million on an ad campaign in opposition to Chief Judge Merrick Garland’s SCOTUS nod, calling attention to his “history of general hostility to the Second Amendment,” as well as his vote in the Heller case. [POLITICO]
* Greenberg Traurig has called off its merger talks with London-based Berwin Leighton Paisner, citing the firm’s “conservative approach to financial risk.” Executive chair Richard Rosenbaum penned a 540-word break-up letter announcing the bad news. The combined firm would’ve had more than 2,500 lawyers. [Big Law Businness / Bloomberg]
* Finally! The California Supreme Court approved of changing the state’s grueling three-day bar exam to a two-day exam, effective 2017. The first test day will consist of five essays and a performance test, and the second day will be the MBE. Both days will be weighted equally, and test takers will surely be less stressed. [State Bar of California]
* If you’ve started receiving law school admission offers, now is a great time to consider weighing your options for merit-based financial aid — carefully. If you wind up with a conditional scholarship offer, you better make sure to read all of the fine print, because if you don’t, you could wind up screwing yourself. [Law Admissions Lowdown / U.S. News]
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Non-Sequiturs
Non-Sequiturs: 12.15.14
* Allegations abound that Tori Spelling’s signature was forged on a bunch of settlement documents. But she says it’s hers. What wacky adventures will Donna Martin get into next? [National Enquirer]
* A reminder to send in those holiday card contest submissions by Wednesday! We’ve seen some fun ones so far, but don’t let your firm be left out. [Above the Law]
* The 11th Circuit’s ECF system appears to be infected with a virus. Crackerjack technology work there. [South Florida Lawyers]
* Nothing really new here, but it’s a very specific, personal account of the broken law school model. [The Gazette (Cedar Rapids)]
* Meanwhile, Dean Daniel Hamilton of UNLV Law joins the chorus of deans pitching the “because everyone’s figured out law school’s a bad deal it’s suddenly become a good deal.” [Vegas Seven]
* Aaron Sorkin stands up for his Hollywood buddies and that means he’s fig leafing rampant racism and sexism. [Redline]
* Former SF mayor Willie Brown is confused by the nomination of Leondra Kruger to the California Supreme Court because she lives in D.C. He asks whether “there [were] no qualified African Americans in California?” Perhaps, but as a former SCOTUS clerk, Chicago Law instructor, U.S. deputy assistant attorney general, and assistant to the solicitor general there are few more qualified people anywhere for this job. [SF Gate]
* There’s been a void in all our hearts since we lost the genius UChiLawGo Tumblr. Hopefully its intellectual successor can fill that void. [UChiLawls]
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California, Legal Ethics, Media and Journalism, Paralegals
Stephen Glass Isn't A Lawyer Just Because Of The Whole 'Serial Lying' Thing
California refused to admit Stephen Glass. Were they right? -
California, Department of Justice, Immigration, Reader Polls
Can Illegal Aliens Be Lawyers in America? NOPE
The Department of Justice is not sympathetic to one illegal alien's attempt to practice law.… -
Bar Exams, California, Immigration, Job Searches, Quote of the Day
Quote of the Day: Undocumented Immigrants Are Now Totally Indistinguishable from the Class of 2011
Should undocumented immigrants be allowed to practice law if they've passed the bar exam?
Sponsored
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How AI Is The Catalyst For Reshaping Every Aspect Of Legal Work
Are Small Firms Going Big On Legal Tech?
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Document Automation For Law Firms: The Definitive Guide
Profit Powerhouse: Elevating Law Firm Financial Performance
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9th Circuit, Anthony Kennedy, California, David Boies, Gay, Gay Marriage, Stephen Reinhardt, Ted Olson
Breaking: Ninth Circuit Issues Landmark Ruling on Gay Marriage
The Ninth Circuit has issued a landmark ruling on gay marriage. Or, if you prefer, a ruling on marriage equality. We knew this ruling was coming because the Ninth Circuit kindly informed us in advance that its opinion would be issued. Now, let's find out how the three-judge panel ruled in Perry v. Brown (formerly known as Perry v. Schwarzenegger).... -
California, Deaths, Gay, Immigration, Law Schools, Morning Docket, Paul Clement, SCOTUS, Supreme Court, Texas, UVA Law, White-Collar Crime
Morning Docket: 12.27.11
Just in case you weren’t able to get your fill of legal news in your Christmas stocking this year, here’s a news round-up from the long, holiday weekend….
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Books, California, Deaths, Defamation, Family Law, Gay, Gay Marriage, Holidays and Seasons, Money, Non-Sequiturs, Partner Issues, Technology, Utah
Non-Sequiturs: 09.06.11
* Prop 8 made an appearance today at the California Supreme Court before newly seated Justice Goodwin Liu. As suspected, the liberal Liu immediately made the proponents have sex with each other as he cackled “I hate families.” [Poliglot / Metro Weekly] * Next time a TSA agent sticks her hand down your pants and […] -
Asians, Boalt Hall, California, Gay, Gay Marriage, Judicial Nominations, Law Professors, Politics, State Judges
Congratulations to Justice Goodwin Liu!
Congratulations to Goodwin Liu — until today Professor Liu, but after today, Justice Liu. In July, California Governor Jerry Brown nominated the 40-year-old Liu, a law professor at Boalt Hall, to serve on the California Supreme Court. The nomination was subject to the approval of a three-member state commission. What did the commission have to […] -
Asians, Boalt Hall, California, Judicial Nominations, Law Professors, Politics, State Judges
A Conservative's Worst Nightmare: Justice Goodwin Liu?
Goodwin Liu, the Berkeley law professor whose nomination to the Ninth Circuit fell victim to a filibuster, is getting a nice consolation prize. Governor Jerry Brown just nominated Professor Liu to the California Supreme Court. -
Non-Sequiturs
Non-Sequiturs: 06.03.11
* It’s official: John Edwards has been indicted. Which leading law firm is he turning to for help? [Am Law Daily] * Paul Clement v. Ted Olson: Professor Matt Bodie’s firsthand account of the Eighth Circuit oral argument in the NFL lockout case. [PrawfsBlawg] * In fairness to Assemblyman Charles Calderon, Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye […]