Royalties

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 11.14.16

* Shortly after being urged to settle the Trump University lawsuit, lawyers for President-elect Donald Trump have filed a motion to continue the trial -- now scheduled to begin just after Thanksgiving -- until after his inauguration in January. If no settlement can be reached, we may get to see a sitting president on trial for fraud. [San Diego Union-Tribune] * Before he even nominates another judge to take the late Justice Antonin Scalia's seat on the Supreme Court, President-elect Donald Trump could significantly alter the high court's trajectory this term by undoing Obama administration policies on immigration, climate change, cost-free contraceptive care, and transgender rights. [Associated Press] * Many New York law schools saw their bar exam passage rates soar thanks to the state's first-time administration of the Uniform Bar Exam this past summer, but some law schools didn't fare quite as well and saw their passage rates decline. Which law schools did well and which ones didn't? We'll have more on this later. [New York Law Journal] * IMDb.com has filed suit against California over a new law set to take effect in January that will allow actors to conceal their ages in their biographies on the television and film site. The state believes this will prohibit age-based discrimination in Hollywood, but the website claims that the law infringes upon its First Amendment rights. [WSJ Law Blog] * "It is unfortunate that the DOJ continues to fight for an interpretation of BMI's consent decree that is at odds with hundreds of thousands of songwriters and composers (and) the country's two largest performing rights organizations," but it seems the DOJ hopes the Second Circuit will force BMI to change the way it collects royalties. [Reuters]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 01.04.16

* In his annual report on the state of the federal judiciary, Chief Justice John Roberts asked that lawyers stop treating each other like garbage and do their best to "avoid antagonistic tactics, wasteful procedural maneuvers and teetering brinksmanship." [New York Times] * Justice Antonin Scalia, the Supreme Court's "lightning rod for controversy," recently said during a small speaking engagement that the government not only can, but should, support religion. After all, "God had been very good to us." [AP] * Albany Law's dean says don't believe the horror stories you hear about law school, especially since "[t]his is a really good time to apply." It's worth noting that she wasn't able to pay off her loans until she was a tenured law professor. [Albany Times Union] * The Arkansas Law (Little Rock) professor who's suing his school over access to public records has added a retaliation claim to his complaint thanks to the "allegations of two rogue, race-baiting professors." Ooh, that sounds juicy! [Arkansas Democrat Gazette] * Is your favorite music streaming service screwing your favorite musicians out of their hard-earned cash? Spotify may soon be facing yet another multimillion-dollar class-action lawsuit over artists' royalty payments (or the lack thereof) in 2016. [Billboard] * Michael G. Oxley, co-sponsor of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, RIP. [New York Times]

By Staci Zaretsky
Art

Morning Docket: 06.10.13

* Edward Snowden, the computer technician who leaked details on the programs the NSA didn’t want you to know about, sacrificed his life to save your privacy’s soul. Thanks a bunch, Technology Jesus! [CNN] * While we wait for Fisher, DOMA, and Prop 8, if you’d like some background info on the people behind the most controversial and talked about SCOTUS cases of the term, give this one a read. [NBC News] * If a justice claims he’s never met a homosexual and he’s got a gay law clerk, telling him to “look around [his] chambers” to find one is the NKI. My, how times have changed since the mid-80s. [New York Times] * In 2012, Justice Sotomayor earned $1.9 million in royalties from her memoir, My Beloved World (affiliate link). Yeah, her world is probably so beloved because she’s rolling around in money. [Blog of Legal Times] * Howrey going to make use of this empty wall space? If you’re in the market for some art, this bankrupt firm’s decor will be up for auction in D.C. later this week. [Bankruptcy Beat / Wall Street Journal] * When you’re dealing with the most beautiful people in Biglaw, the price for pretty is high: Davis Polk was slapped with a million-dollar lawsuit over a recruiter’s fee. [Thomson Reuters News & Insight] * Gerald Shargel, criminal defense attorney to the Mafia stars, is retiring his shingle to join Winston & Strawn. Biglaw better keep him entertained — he gets bored easily. [DealBook / New York Times] * Cory Booker, one of everyone’s favorite Yale Law School grads, announced his candidacy for a New Jersey Senate seat over the weekend. Best of luck in the special election! [The Note / ABC News] * The feds are seeking a four-year sentence for former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. in his campaign funds misuse case. No MJ memorabilia is worth prison time, no matter how big a fan you are. [The Hill] * “[I]f you ever call me on my cellphone again, I’ll strangle you.” Yikes. Looks like this Kentucky judge won’t have the chance to wring his hands around lawyers’ necks any time soon. [Courier-Journal]

By Staci Zaretsky