New Jersey

This is pretty disturbing.

A shocking twist in this horrible case.

The judge had reportedly been the target of threats.

* Tennessee has become the second state in the country to delay the administration of the summer bar exam. [Nashville Post]

* A New Jersey lawyer has been disbarred for converting $92,000 from his attorney trust account. [New Jersey Law Journal]

* A Manhattan judge (before whom I argued my first motion years ago!) has dismissed a conservative group’s defamation lawsuit against the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. [New York Daily News]

* Joe Biden’s campaign is preparing an army of lawyers as part of voter protection efforts. [CNN]

* The ACLU has filed a lawsuit seeking to delay an execution because the inmate’s Buddhist priest is at risk of complications should he contract COVID-19. Have to give props to those lawyers for a creative argument. [Hill]

* A lawyer in India appeared at a virtual hearing in a T-shirt lying in bed last week. This attorney should have read our earlier coverage of American lawyers making similar mistakes during remote appearances. [Tribune]

* The U.S. Attorney in Manhattan made clear that he was fired and did not voluntary step down. [Reuters]

* Black female YouTube creators have filed suit alleging that the algorithm used for the video-sharing website is racist. [AdWeek]

* Some New Jersey attorneys are in hot water for allegedly agreeing to pay bribes to secure government contracts for legal services. [New Jersey Law Journal]

* A Texas lawyer is now facing a $6 million judgment even though he failed to attend the summary judgment hearing due to scheduling confusion caused by COVID-19. Seems like this attorney has good arguments for a reconsideration motion… [Texas Lawyer]

* The Michigan Supreme Court unanimously held that a barber had the right to remain open despite closure orders related to COVID-19. Maybe the justices just really needed haircuts… [Deadline]

* Derek Chauvin, the police officer accused of killing George Floyd, is suspected of illegally voting in Florida while he was a resident of Minnesota. [New York Post]

* An attorney is accused of spitting in a teenager’s face during protests this past week. The lawyer should know this is not protected by the First Amendment. [Urban Milwaukee]

* Another attorney is accused of shooting a disabled veteran who was driving through a protest. [Fox News Denver]

* MSNBC has hired controversial ex-FBI lawyer Lisa Page as a legal analyst. [Fox News]

* The City of Elizabeth, New Jersey, has scored a win against New York City over NYC’s efforts to move homeless people to Elizabeth. This whole scheme is very reminiscent of a South Park episode… [MyCenteralJersey.com]

* A New Jersey lawyer has been suspended from practice for posting a client’s criminal history in a negative online review. Guess the disciplinary review board told the lawyer: “you’re not ‘Yelp’ing”… [ABA Journal]

* Tons of my fellow Garden State attorneys in the Morning Docket today. Another New Jersey lawyer is in hot water for “friending” a litigant on Facebook to collect dirt. [New Jersey Law Journal]

* Paul Manafort is the latest high-profile figure released from prison early because of COVID-19. [Fox News]

* A paralegal for a U.S. Attorney’s Office is accused of giving information to a drug cartel. Her brother-in-law is allegedly the head of a drug-trafficking organization; seems like background checks could have been better. [CBS News]

* A staff attorney for the Cobb County, Georgia Magistrate Court was shot and killed while confronting a gunman last week. [Atlanta Journal Constitution]

* Hackers are demanding $21 million from a law firm or they may release materials related to the firm’s clients, which include Elton John, Madonna, and Lady Gaga. Hope the firm has a good “poker face.” [Variety]

* New lawyers in Texas are now being allowed to take their attorney oaths through Zoom and other teleconferencing apps. Hopefully they aren’t shirtless and in bed when they are sworn in. [Houston Chronicle]

* Former New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin is the latest high-profile figure to be released from prison early because of COVID-19. [NBC News]

* The SEC has scored a slam dunk against an attorney who allegedly defrauded NBA star Charles Barkley of millions of dollars. [Bloomberg Law]

* A New Jersey petting zoo operator has been charged with animal cruelty for allegedly abusing dozens of pigs. Wonder if he calls himself “Pig King,” although the name doesn’t have a ring to it. [New Jersey Herald]

* Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang has sued the New York State Board of Elections for canceling New York’s Democratic presidential primary. [Politico]

* The Supreme Court narrowly held that Georgia could not place its entire state code behind a paywall. Along similar lines, hopefully the Supreme Court will soon find that PACER fees should be eliminated. [New York Times]

* The lawyer who sued Florida’s governor over COVID-19-related closures will be wearing a Grim Reaper outfit on beaches to warn people about social distancing. Wonder if he’ll need a mask with that costume. [NBC News]

* An attorney, and former managing partner at a New Jersey law firm, has pleaded guilty to tax evasion to the tune of $250,000. [New Jersey Law Journal]

* A new lawsuit alleges that New York City jail workers are being forced to work 24-hour shifts in a “cesspool of illness.” It’s a horrible situation, and you have to hand it to the lawyers for that colorful language. [New York Post]

* The Texas Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit accusing the largest U.S. egg producer of price gouging. Whoever loses the lawsuit may end up with egg on their face… [Wall Street Journal]

* The search continues for a Chicago-area attorney who went missing a month ago. [Chicago Tribune]

* A lawyer who lost her law license for losing a briefcase of sensitive documents on a train is appealing her case. Unless this lawyer lost the nuclear football, her punishment seems kind of harsh. [Legal Week]

* The prosecutor who resigned over a sentencing memo in the Roger Stone case has joined the DC Attorney General’s Office. Seems like he landed on his feet. [Hill]

* A New Jersey lawyer cannot be readmitted to practice unless he shows that his wife has no access to his accounts, checkbooks, and other financial records. There must be a good story behind this… [ABA Journal]

* A federal judge has dismissed a malicious prosecution claim filed by Jussie Smollett stemming from the attack he allegedly staged to increase his profile. [USA Today]

* A Kentucky lawyer has been charged with making terroristic threats after allegedly threatening Kentucky’s governor. This attorney should brush up on his constitutional law. [Hill]

* Dozens of in-house lawyers are agreeing to pay cuts in order to help their companies deal with issues created by COVID-19. [Bloomberg Law]

* A knife-wielding lawyer allegedly forced a journalist to delete footage of this attorney at a shelter-at-home protest. Guess this lawyer took the law into his own hands… [New York Post]

* A New Jersey lawyer has been suspended from practice for submitting a fabricated law school transcript to Williams & Connolly falsely listing his GPA as a 3.825 when he actually had a 3.269. Kuddos to the firm for catching this! [ABA Journal]

* A lawsuit in New Hampshire is arguing that New Hampshire’s governor does not have the authority to limit crowd sizes to 50 people or less. [Boston Globe]

* A Maryland attorney has been disbarred for convincing a client to invest settlement proceeds in litigation matters at the firm and then lying about the results of those cases. [Bloomberg Law]

* Some government entities are looking to release prisoners who may be vulnerable to COVID-19. [Boston Globe]; [Washington Post]

* A GoFundMe campaign for two University of Michigan Law School cafe workers has raised over $30,000 in two days. It’s good to have a feel-good story in these trying times. [Michigan Live]

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Jordan Rothman is a partner of The Rothman Law Firm, a full-service New York and New Jersey law firm. He is also the founder of Student Debt Diaries, a website discussing how he paid off his student loans. You can reach Jordan through email at jordan@rothmanlawyer.com.

* A New Jersey jury awarded $750 ,illion against Johnson & Johnson in a contaminated talc lawsuit. That’s a lot of cheddar. [Reuters]

* Speaking of cheddar, Judge Judy has an annual salary of $47 million, and a few different parties are fighting over the profits of her popular show. [Fox News]

* A lawyer argued that plea deals are unconstitutional, and now prosecutors allegedly won’t negotiate with her. Perhaps that too is unconstitutional? [Washington Post]

* The California senate has settled a retaliation lawsuit filed by an ex-staffer of a state senator. [Los Angeles Times]

* A man who has fought a Florida city all the way to the Supreme Court twice, and won both times, has finally received an $875,000 settlement. [ABC News]

* A 97 year-old trial lawyer has been allowed to stay on a murder case despite an outburst that forced a judge to release six jurors who had already been seated. [NorthJersey.com]

* New York lawmakers are mulling legislation aimed at providing lawyers to immigrants facing deportation proceedings. [New York Daily News]

* A number of colleges and universities are led by lawyers, but the jury’s out about whether this is a good thing. [Washington Post]

* Maine has posthumously pardoned a lawyer who was prosecuted for his involvement in representing a Native American tribe against the state. [Jewish Telegraphic Agency]

* A new lawsuit alleges that Jeffrey Epstein trafficked girls to the U.S. Virgin Islands up until 2018. [ABC News]

* The expression “Ok, Boomer” has finally made it to the Supreme Court. [CNN]

* The New Jersey Supreme Court has disbarred an attorney who charged a widow $120,000 for work that should have cost no more than $15,000. This takes running the meter to a completely different level. [Bloomberg Law]

* A judge has thrown out a conspiracy theorist’s lawsuit against Robert Mueller. Looks like it ain’t Mueller time anymore… [The Hill]

* A Brooklyn pimp has argued in court that he did not kill his girlfriend, but merely chopped up her body. Sounds like a defense Robert Durst would make. [New York Post]

* A former Manhattan Assistant U.S. Attorney is a main contender to be Rudy Giuliani’s lawyer. [CNN]

* NYC’s new top lawyer says that going after Trump is a top priority. [New York Post]

* Two Midwestern firms have merged to form a 400-lawyer firm. That’s a lot of Midwestern charm! [ABA Journal]

'I wish you were up here, because I’m gunning for you, because you are despicable,' he told the husband involved in the case.

* Law firm diversity score cards are here, and…. African-American lawyers are still not being represented. Yikes. [Law.com]

* Judge Kozinski may be gone from the Ninth Circuit, but it is still hard work to change the culture there. [Big Law Business]

* Oakland is the second city looking to decriminalize hallucinogenic mushrooms. Plan your vacations accordingly. [The Hill]

* In a continuing embarrassment to NYC, Rudy Giuliani wants a new role in the 2020 Trump campaign. [Politico]

* 5 firms have been cut out of the NFL concussion case. [Law360]

* Ted Wells for the defense, in New Jersey tax incentives case. [National Law Journal]

* Will New York strengthen sexual harassment laws? Well, maybe. But at least they’re having hearing on the issue. [New York Law Journal]

Hosts go for cheap, bigotry-pandering laughs and earn a suspension.

It is crucial for lawyers to be ever-vigilant against even the most fleeting lapse of ethical judgment -- including stealing other people's money.

If you have always dreamed of practicing in the assisted reproductive technology law area, you can now lawfully assist families with gestational carrier contracts!

Literally.