Morning Docket

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 02.15.22

* Hard to Barrett times: Supreme Court justice goes back to alma mater to speak on the tensions between precedent and equity. [NDSMC Observer] * Virginia just passed a law that will ban open air burning before 4 p.m. to help stave off forest fires.  If a mnemonic helps, say no to Sean Paul till 4! [WDBJ 7] * The ABA makes it a requirement for law schools to require anti-bias training. Yes, I will be keeping eyes on Twitter for the people outraged over this. Something about enabling equity really gets under people's skin. [Reuters] *  Well-behaved women seldom got hired: American Freight Management Company settles hiring discrimination lawsuit for $5M. Does this mean now is a good time to apply or that you wouldn't want to work here anyway? Let us know! [HR Drive] * About two thirds of Kentuckians are okay with legal sports betting. May the odds be ever in their favor. [WSN]

By Chris Williams
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 02.14.22

* Missouri's “Make Murder Legal Act” was kind enough to not actually become a law. Had us worried there for a bit. [USA Today] * Prescriptive law is just what the doctor ordered: Utah has lower rate of crashes after setting a more restrictive blood alcohol limit. [CNN] * A new Frontier: word of a big airline merger dropped and law firms are jumping at their cut. [Law.com] * Justice pending: A Florida civil rights case hinges on if trasngender folks should be allowed to use the bathrooms they want to. [WUSF] * Those who can do, dean: Case Western's Michael Scharf will be arguing about presumption shifts in insanity defense cases before the International Criminal Court. If TiVo is still a thing, can you record this for me? [News 5 Cleveland]

By Chris Williams
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 02.11.22

* The 5th Circuit effectively ruled that the Constitution is unconstitutional. Calling balls and strikes is one thing, but I think they just tackled the team mascot. [Slate] * The Senate just passed a bill ending forced arbitration for workplace sexual assault claims. Hurry up with that signature, Biden! [CNN] * Utah just made it a lot easier for about half a million folks with non-violent criminal records to move on with their lives. First Pennsylvania, now Utah. Who’s next? [Salt Lake Tribune] * Penn Law is having a conference discussing pre-textual traffic stops and searches. Drop in — it’s virtual and you might be able to catch it live! [Penn Live] * Been looking for something to bore your friends with the next time they try to bring up watching Euphoria? I'm sure they'll love to hear about a review of last year's developments in antitrust. [WSGR]

By Chris Williams
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 02.10.22

* No faux zone: Hawaii 5-0 are cracking down on bootleg Super Bowl gear. [Hawaii News Now] * A celebrity with a cause: Senators agree to revive law that boosts domestic violence protections after Angelina Jolie scolds them. [Reuters] * Cali makes it easier for farmers to crop out their crops. [KSBY] * Why did the mountain lion cross the road? Well, it's not like there was an overpass! Some new Cali infrastructure aims to change that. [NPR] * Looking for love this February? Protect your heart and pockets: money scams on Tinder are up. [MyPanHandle]

By Chris Williams
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 02.09.22

* We all know about pleading the 5th, but the 14th might keep Trump out of office. [Denver Gazette] * Big Family is watching — because they care: Esther's Law will make it easier for families to put cameras in nursing homes to make sure their family is safe. [Cleveland 19] * New JD advantage job just dropped: helping clients confront their mortality. No, it doesn't involve being a criminal defense attorney. [Insider] * Doing the rights thing: New York's Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities is back. Get the word out! [Chronicle Newspaper] * Pot of Avarice is back on the ban list: NY regulators say "gifting" weed doesn't make it any more legal. [Law360.com]

By Chris Williams
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 02.08.22

* Scaredy cats in Cali decide to not use the mountain lion excuse for not wanting poor people living next to them. [Fox] * Legislators! Mount up: Pennsylvania is figuring out how to regulate legal weed. [WFMZ] * All Dogs Go to Hospital: Massachusetts law now lets K-9s in need of medical aid ride in an ambulance. [Boston] * Kansas City is cracking down on human trafficking. Good on them. [Fox 4 KC] * We all know its LSAT über alles, but have you wondered where  the GRE will fit in? [Law.com]

By Chris Williams
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 02.07.22

* If each person is a militia wasn’t enough, now every person with a gun license is a law enforcement officer? [WSMW] * It’s only illegal federally: St. Louis law to prevent cops from enforcing federal gun laws. [ABC News] * We don’t hate the poor, we just love cats! Silicon Valley’s mountain lions trade off with affordable housing. [Yahoo] * A challenger approaches! West Virginia may be getting a law school soon. [Herald Dispatch] * Free speech and a shovel: Trump’s most recent talk might have dug him into some trouble. [The Guardian]

By Chris Williams
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 02.04.22

* Not on my watch! Montana judge rules that last minute changes to a law were unconstitutional. [Billings Gazette] * Deal with it: Despite Republican frustrations, New Jersey’s Supreme Court finds no issue with their congressional map. [Politico] * Broken clocks need an attorney at least twice a day: Guy committing identify fraud is arrested because the dude he’s frauding also had a warrant. [Richmond Register] * Utah bill is set to give parents full reign over what teachers are able to teach children. Helicopter mommy and daddy better be chipping in on school supplies too! [Salt Lake Tribune] * A bill just got introduced in Oklahoma that would let you sue teachers for $10k if they teach something against your religion. The biggest display of faith here is the thought that teachers could make good on that judgment. [Independent]

By Chris Williams
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 02.03.22

* Teamwork makes the dream work! Small firms are merging together in New Jersey. [Law.com] * Mississippi has legalized medical marijuana for debilitating conditions. Think it’s about time for it to be taken off the Schedule I list yet? [AP News] * Requiem for a career: Controversy arises as a proponent of election fraud tries to rebrand as a crooner. [Bleeding Cool] * Record keeping you down? Utah's clean slate law might be a bit of help. Tell a friend! Who lives in Utah, of course. [At The U] * You've hakuna'd your last matata! Californians look to legal solutions to deal with their feral hog problem. [Eater]

By Chris Williams
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 02.02.22

* Umm. St. Louis might be bringing back trial by combat? Dead men tell no tales, I suppose. [STL Today] * People are still couching casual racism as a 1st Amendment issue, despite the key examples occurring at private institutions that aren't bound by it. [Reuters] * The Judicial Big 4: Here are some key SCOTUS jurisprudence areas you should be paying attention to. May the retention of your rights be ever in your favor. [NLR] * Breaking: Brilliant legal minds exist outside of HYS apparently. Might be something President Biden (and people looking over summer applicant resumes) ought keep in mind. [WaPo] * No shot, no problem: Virginia universities drop vaccine requirements. [The Hill]

By Chris Williams
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 02.01.22

* Hit the road Jack, but know you can't track no more. If you're an employer in New Jersey and don't have permission, that is. [NLR] * Don't like having money? Check out this list to see if your school is one of the most expensive to attend for that JD! [News-Daily] * A judge recently decided that two students suing Yale Law school won't be granted anonymity. Hope the news doesn't get out too bad. [Yale Daily News] * A Jersey firm is suing TD bank for allegedly letting people steal $200k+ from the firm's account. Talk about overdraft fees. [Law360] * Know anybody in Philly that could be facing eviction? They might be able to get the pro bono help they need. Spread the word! [Inquirer]

By Chris Williams
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 01.31.22

* GULC's Black Law Student Association wants Ilya Shapiro's teaching contract revoked. My only question is, how do you get fired on your day off? [Newsone] * Swiper, No Swiping! Jersey has new heavy penalties for porch thieves. [UPI] * Another gun rights case could be headed to the Supreme Court soon if these 25 states get their way. [The Center Square] * Is recording officer arrests speech? The legality of a law meant to prevent interference with Miami officer's arrests may be unconstitutional. [Miami Herald] * An Arizona senator wants to make the state more crypto-friendly by recognizing Bitcoin as legal tender. I'll give it two weeks before an employee who makes $1500 a week sues for receiving a paycheck below the federal minimum wage because  the crypto-market tanks after a spicy Elon tweet. [CryptoPotato]

By Chris Williams
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 01.28.22

* Biden's announcement of his SCOTUS nominee could take until the end of Black History Month. Hold on to your butts! [NYT] * SCOTUS gave the green light for Alabama to kill a man overnight. [CBS News] * Slow down, Florida Man! If passed, a Florida law might net you a $158 dollar speeding ticket. Looks like they're taking a page out of Alabama's ticket trap book. [FOX] * Think all the hubbub around Justice Breyer's retirement means nothing if the Court remains 6-3? See what these legal minds think — it might change your own. [Politico] * "Stop recording!" An Arizona bill wants to restrict how citizens can record on-the-clock cops. Hey, somebody's gotta have video evidence for when the body cams mysteriously turn off. [12news]

By Chris Williams
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 01.27.22

* To the windows, to the wall, Biden's infrastructure bill will help keep families’ homes the right temperature. [WXFRTV] * Been having Rockwell flashbacks ever since Apple dropped those AirTags? Pennsylvania's got your back. [iMore] * Has the recent flood of old Pyrex in thrift stores made you think about estate planning? Here are a few tips from an elder law attorney for getting your affairs in order. [WGN Radio] * Biden's executive order just made it easier to punish sexual assault in the military. About damn time. [WSJ] * Virginia just passed Adam's Law, which will require colleges and universities to publicly post hazing incidents in student organizations. Three cheers for informed decisions! [NBC]

By Chris Williams
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 01.25.22

* If corporations are people, what's next, rivers? Well actually... [NCRonline] * Alabama's attempt at redistricting was thrown out. Does the Voting Right Act still have some teeth left after all? [Reuters] * The use of affirmative action in college admissions is probably next up on the Supreme Court’s chopping block. [USA Today] * Woman is arrested in Texas after trying to buy someone's child at a Wal-Mart for $500k. There are some things you just can't roll back prices on, libertarians. [NBC News] * Police sent the wrong guy to jail because his name was too similar to someone else's. Guess a rose by any other name is bitter after all. [Independent] * The "Right to Repair" movement has some executive backing. Celebrate by doing it yourself! Or paying a third-party vendor. You do you. [Vice]

By Chris Williams