Mississippi

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 12.03.20

The Ohio Supreme Court said a lawyer's "pants are charred" by lies, and disbarred the attorney for allegedly practicing law while suspended and other misconduct. That's quite a "burn"... [Columbus Dispatch] * A new lawsuit alleges that a well-known Los Angeles attorney stole from clients to finance “a public image of obscene wealth” for himself and his wife, singer and “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Erika Jayne. [Los Angeles Times] * Ivanka Trump was deposed on Tuesday in a lawsuit alleging misuse of funds designated for the Trump Inauguration. [CNN] * A 37-year-old attorney has been confirmed as a federal judge in Mississippi. [Jackson Free Press] * Joe Exotic's lawyer claims that the former zookeeper is close to receiving a presidential pardon. Maybe President Trump wants another season of Tiger King... [Business Insider]

By Jordan Rothman
Morning Docket

Morning Docket 11.21.2019

* Since ATL hasn't had a Lawyerly Lairs segment in a while, just wanted to point out that an attorney involved with the Madoff case just put his NYC apartment back on the market. [New York Post] * An MSU sorority has settled a lawsuit involving the banishment of a therapy rabbit from a sorority house. Hopefully the rabbit doesn't have to be hazed. [Detroit Free Press] * A disbarred attorney has been charged with leaving threatening voicemails for a judge. Way to add insult to injury. [The Monitor] * Google and other companies are implementing changes to adapt to a new California law involving data privacy. [Reuters] * It looks like Elon Musk will face a trial next month over his "pedo guy" tweets after a judge denied his motion to dismiss the case. The good news is, in a few decades, Musk will be able to write the defamation laws on Mars. [NBC] * A Mississippi district attorney has been accused of turning away black jurors over a 25-year period. [CNN] * A Utah woman could be forced to register as a sex offender for being topless in her own home even though her topless husband was not charged. Can't wait for the Supreme Court to weigh in on this. [Newsweek]

By Jordan Rothman
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 03.21.18

* The President apparently got around? Former Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal has filed suit against American Media, Inc., owner of The National Enquirer, to get out of an agreement that's preventing her from discussing her alleged affair with Donald Trump, which reportedly occurred around the same time as the Stormy Daniels affair. [CBS News] * What's going on at Latham & Watkins in the wake its former chairman Lathaming himself over inappropriate conduct involving "communications of a sexual nature"? According to a source at the firm, "[e]veryone is shocked" and no one has any idea who will replace Bill Voge as chair. [American Lawyer] * "This is not what the impeachment power is for...." Pennsylvania GOP lawmakers are moving to impeach the Democratic state Supreme Court justices who ruled the state’s congressional map was unconstitutionally gerrymandered. [Huffington Post] * Dechert has settled an age and sex discrimination case filed by female staff members. There are no details of the settlement available, but if you recall, the firm countered the ex-staffers' claims by saying that technological advances had made their jobs redundant. [Legal Intelligencer] * On Monday, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant signed the most restrictive abortion bill in the country, banning abortion after 15 weeks of gestation. Less than 24 hours later, Judge Carlton Reeves granted a temporary restraining order in favor of the state's lone abortion clinic. [Associated Press]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 06.23.17

* Federal investigators are delving into multimillion-dollar deals involving former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and his son-in-law, Jeffrey Yohai. [New York Times] * The Fifth Circuit lifts the injunction against H.B. 1523, Mississippi's notorious "religious freedom" law that many regard as antigay (but the court ruled on jurisdictional rather than gay-hating grounds). [Texas Lawyer] * In the wake of a mistrial in the criminal case against him, Bill Cosby plans to educate young men on how to avoid accusations of sexual assault. (My advice: don't commit sexual assault.) [New York Times] * The Fourth Circuit affirms almost all the convictions of ex-CIA officer in a leak case -- a potentially significant ruling if the Trump administration follows through on its threats to prosecute leakers. [How Appealing] * The Seventh Circuit declines to reinstate the conviction of Brendan Dassey, the defendant made famous by Making A Murderer. [ABA Journal] * Martin Shkreli, aka "Pharma Bro," is gearing up for trial -- and, for the record, he is "so innocent." [New York Times] * More disturbing news from my ancestral homeland of the Philippines, involving accusations that the police are shaking down families in distress as part of President Rodrigo Duterte's "war on drugs." [Washington Post]

By David Lat
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 05.03.17

* The Jeff Sessions Justice Department will decline to bring charges against Baton Rogue police officers involved in the death of Alton Sterling. The shooting of Sterling was caught on videotape and led to protests last summer. [Washington Post] * A new lawsuit alleges a funeral home in Mississippi refused to cremate a man's husband because he was gay. [CNN] * Is Apple prepping for a massive acquisition? Let the guessing game begin. [LA Times] * A judge has ruled that a defamation suit against CNN will go forward. The allegations surround a story about infant mortality at a Florida hospital. [Law.com] * The machinations behind the latest push to repeal and replace Obamacare have hit a snag over preexisting conditions. [New York Times] * The United States may pull out of the climate change Paris Agreement as early as next week. [Huffington Post]

By Kathryn Rubino
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 07.01.16

Ed. note: In observance of the Fourth of July, Above the Law will not be publishing on Monday. Have a great weekend! * The little known religious history behind America's seal. Separation of church and state be damned. [Wall Street Journal] * Fireworks are super pretty to look at, but dangerous. So be careful out there. [Southeast Missourian] * 5 prosecutors are responsible for 440 death sentences. That is incredibly disturbing. [The Guardian] * U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves blocked a Mississippi law that would allow those with religious objections to deny wedding services to gay couples. Good to see the concept of precedent in action. [Reuters] * Republican delegates can do... pretty much whatever they want to. It is a political issue, not a legal one. [Huffington Post] * It is shockingly easy for the government to spy on journalists. [The Intercept] * Lawyer that sued Led Zeppelin is suspended. [MSN] * Donald Trump is definitely coming to Pennsylvania Avenue (he's building a hotel there). [Denver Channel]

By Kathryn Rubino