Federal Government

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 03.31.15

* Reunited and it feels so good... to have more tuition money in our pockets: following more than 40 years apart, Rutgers-Camden Law and Rutgers-Newark Law may merge to create the Rutgers School of Law, one of the largest law schools in the country. [NJ.com] * In case you missed it, the courtroom erupted into chaos in the final moments of the Ellen Pao v. Kleiner Perkins trial because a juror "made a mistake" and decided to change his vote mid-verdict. Come on, give the guy a break -- he's almost 90. [WSJ Law Blog] * Lawmakers are awfully interested in the way that the SEC is doing its job, and they're drafting new laws in the hope of helping the agency out. We'll let you know how helpful this was in a few years if those bills are ever passed. [DealBook / New York Times] * After an incredibly unsuccessful defense of its ban on same-sex marriage, Wisconsin is going to have to shell out more than $1 million in legal fees to the ACLU -- the largest single payout yet by a state in the history of cases of this kind. [National Law Journal] * If you're looking to transfer to another law school after your first year in the trenches, here are three things that you absolutely, positively must do to ensure your chances of being accepted elsewhere. [Law Admissions Lowdown / U.S. News & World Report]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 01.26.15

* Senate Republicans are contemplating abolishing filibusters for SCOTUS nominees. This could go one of two ways: it could work out nicely for them, or explode in their faces. It's like a choose your own adventure game. [POLITICO] * When it comes to the upcoming gay marriage cases before SCOTUS, "[e]very lawyer involved will want to argue." Remember, when you're given the chance to make history, you better hope that you're on the right side of it. [National Law Journal] * "[I]f there is one decision I would overrule, it is Citizens United." Even RBG thinks this campaign finance decision is one of the Supreme Court's "darkest hour[s]." [Salon] * SCOTUS refused to stay Charles Warner's execution, but it agreed to grant cert on his lethal injection case days after his death. Better late than never? [New York Times] * The NFL has drafted Ted Wells of Paul Weiss to blow up the absurd controversy that is "Deflategate." Come on, who cares if the Patriots cheated again? [WSJ Law Blog] * Do you know any chronic Biglaw firm-hoppers? How many firms are too many to lateral to? Three? Five? Seven? Jesus Christ, for this guy, try 10 firms. [Am Law Daily]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 12.15.14

* Thanks to a former Skadden attorney's failed attempt to kill himself, police were able to retrieve a suicide note -- entitled "A Sad Ending to My Life" -- that revealed the lawyer's $5M Ponzi scheme. We may have more on this later. [Am Law Daily] * "I’m not one who believes there are too many lawyers in the country," says Dean Thomas Guernsey of Thomas Jefferson Law. Conveniently, only 29% of TJSL's '13 grads are working in full-time, long-term jobs as lawyers. Kudos! [U-T San Diego] * The government just paid the least amount of money to legal services contractors since 2008. As far as Biglaw firms are concerned, Curtis Mallet-Prevost posted "significant losses," receiving $2M less than it did in 2013. [National Law Journal] * Because not everyone wears gas masks, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order to keep police from using tear gas on peaceful protestors in Ferguson without first issuing "clear and unambiguous warnings." [WSJ Law Blog] * Ladies and gentlemen, this is the main event of the evening! IT'S TIME! FIGHTING out of the blue corner, angry UFC combatants who are planning to use "renowned" antitrust firms to secure "hundreds of millions of dollars"! [Bloody Elbow / SB Nation]

By Staci Zaretsky