SCOTUS
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Anthony Kennedy, Carter Phillips, Interview Stories, Litigators, Paul Clement, SCOTUS, Supreme Court
ATL Interview: Carter Phillips Talks About the Obamacare Arguments
Above the Law talks to veteran SCOTUS litigator Carter Phillips about last week's Obamacare arguments. -
Anthony Kennedy, Antitrust, Arent Fox, Biglaw, Dewey & LeBoeuf, Football, Lindsay Lohan, Morning Docket, SCOTUS, Supreme Court
Morning Docket: 03.30.12
* Statistically speaking, with its current line up, the Supreme Court is the most conservative that it’s been since the 1930s. This chart makes even Justice Kennedy looks conservative. [FiveThirtyEight / New York Times]
* And another one gone, and another one gone, another one bites the dust: earlier this week, Dewey lost an antitrust partner to Arent Fox. That brings the firm’s grand total of partner defections to 38. [Am Law Daily]
* Jerry Sandusky’s trial has been postponed until June to due to “logistical contingencies” — like a motion to dismiss all of his child sex abuse charges. Meh, it’s no big deal. Same verdict, different day. [Bloomberg]
* And on a similar note, Warren Jeffs tried — and failed — to appeal his child sex abuse conviction. Because apparently that’s what happens when you represent yourself in the hopes of overturning a life sentence. [CNN]
* Lindsay Lohan’s supervised probation has ended, and for the time being, her legal woes are over. When will she screw up again? I’m going to give her three months, and that’s being really generous. [Daily Telegraph]
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Is The Future Of Law Distributed? Lessons From The Tech Adoption Curve
The rise of remote work has dramatically reshaped the relationship between Lawyers and Law Firms, see how Scale LLP has taken the steps to get… -
Health Care / Medicine, Reader Polls, SCOTUS, Supreme Court
ATL Readers: Obamacare Is Either 'Clearly Constitutional' Or 'The Birth of Tyranny'
What do Above the Law readers think about Obamacare?
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Antonin Scalia, Health Care / Medicine, Quote of the Day, SCOTUS, Supreme Court
Quote of the Day: Shot Through the Heart / And Congress Is to Blame / You Give Obamacare a Bad Name
Justice Antonin Scalia weighs in on Obamacare during today's oral arguments at the Supreme Court. -
Anthony Kennedy, Election 2012, Federal Government, Health Care / Medicine, Paul Clement, Politics, SCOTUS, Supreme Court
Obamacare Goes to Court, Day Three: Republicans Come for Medicaid
Day three of the Obamacare oral arguments.... -
Anthony Kennedy, Election 2012, Federal Government, Health Care / Medicine, Paul Clement, Politics, SCOTUS, Supreme Court
Obamacare Goes to Court, Day Two: The Search for Anthony Kennedy's Soul
Obamacare Day Two: What kind of health care will Justice Kennedy allow us to have? -
Bankruptcy, Facebook, Health Care / Medicine, Howrey LLP, Milberg Weiss, Morning Docket, Prostitution, SCOTUS, Supreme Court, Technology, U.S. News
Morning Docket: 03.27.12
* Was the Obamacare case brought prematurely? Did the Supreme Court’s judicial intervention come too soon? Yesterday’s arguments before SCOTUS can be summed up in four simple words: “That’s what she said.” [New York Times]
* Howrey going to get out of this one? The defunct firm’s bankruptcy trustee, Allan Diamond, is trying to decide whether he’ll be bringing adversary claims against the dissolution committee and its members. [Am Law Daily]
* U.S. News is doing what the American Bar Association refuses to do: make law schools its b*tch. Listen up, administrators, because your next “reporting error” could cost you your ranking. [National Law Journal]
* Armed with a treasure trove of new evidence, Facebook has moved to dismiss Paul Ceglia’s lawsuit. What does his lawyer from Milberg have to say? A hacker planted all of the evidence, duh. [Wall Street Journal]
* Apparently Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s got hos in different area codes. He’s been keeping his pimp hand strong — so strong, that he’s been charged with aggravated procurement of prostitutes. [Bloomberg]
* Broke your nose trying to walk through a glass wall at the Apple store and now you’re suing for $1M? That’s an app for that! It’s called common sense, and for a limited time only, it’s being offered free of charge. [Forbes]
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Health Care / Medicine, SCOTUS, Supreme Court
Obamacare Goes to Court, Day One: Juris-My-Diction Crap
SCOTUS debates Obamacare: Day One. - Sponsored
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If 2023 introduced legal professionals to generative AI, then 2024 will be when law firms start adapting to utilize it. Things are moving fast, so… -
Biglaw, DUI / DWI, Health Care / Medicine, Law School Deans, Law Schools, Morning Docket, New Orleans, SCOTUS, Supreme Court, U.S. Attorneys Offices
Morning Docket: 03.26.12
* It’s Obamacare week at the Supreme Court, and people have been waiting in line since Friday morning to see the oral arguments. It’s kind of like Black Friday, except more people care about affordable TVs than affordable health care. [New York Times]
* Growth in the NLJ 250 increased by 1.7 percent in 2011. That’s fantastic for Biglaw, but associates at these firms care more about the growth of their bank accounts. Seriously… where are the spring bonuses already? [National Law Journal]
* George Zimmerman’s lawyer says he doesn’t think the “stand your ground” law applies to Trayvon Martin’s shooting. This was just self-defense — against Skittles. [MSNBC]
* The finalists for deanship at Baltimore Law include a Patton Boggs partner, an assistant attorney general, a law school dean, and two law professors. But which will be able to stand up to Bogomolny? [Baltimore Sun]
* Since blogging allows “big personalities” to run free, does the prosecommenter, Sal Perricone, have a bright future ahead of him here at Above the Law? Let’s see what David Lat has to say about that. [Times-Picayune]
* Millionaire John Goodman has been convicted of DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide charges, and now he’s facing 11.5 to 30 years in prison. Boy is his girlfriend-slash-daughter going to miss him. [CNN]
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Biglaw, Dick Cheney, Google / Search Engines, Mergers and Acquisitions, Morning Docket, Privacy, Real Estate, SCOTUS, Sex, Sex Scandals, Supreme Court
Morning Docket: 03.22.12
* I know you don’t want to be evil, but I don’t think “privacy” means what you think it means. Google users have filed a class action suit against the company in New York over its new
complete and utter lack ofprivacy policy. [Bloomberg]* So you made some anti-war comments, touched Dick Cheney, got arrested, claimed your First Amendment rights were violated, and your case made it all the way to SCOTUS. Greatest accomplishment? Not getting shot by Cheney. [Huffington Post]
* Whoa, whoa, whoa. You mean to tell me that Wachtell’s name partner, Martin Lipton, the man who created the “poison pill,” supports staggered boards? Consider my mind blown. [DealBook / New York Times]
* M&A maven Dennis Block and real estate rock star Jeffrey Feil each donated $1M to their alma mater, Brooklyn Law School. See, you don’t need to go to a T14 school to make bank. [National Law Journal]
* Protip: not even Dov Charney’s world-renowned creepiness can save you from an arbitration agreement. A former employees $260M sex slave suit has been tossed out of court. [New York Daily News]
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Antonin Scalia, Quote of the Day, SCOTUS, Supreme Court
Quote of the Day: Plea Bargain This!
Justice Antonin Scalia is not happy about the emerging field of plea-bargaining law... -
6th Circuit, Biglaw, Defamation, Fashion, Fashion Is Fun, Morning Docket, SCOTUS, Supreme Court, Television, Tobacco / Smoking
Morning Docket: 03.20.12
* It’s time for the Supreme Court to sound off on the battle over women’s wombs, and you know it’s bad when even a sitting justice calls it “a mess.” Can a child conceived after a parent’s death receive survivor benefits? [CNN]
* Disgusting health warning pictures on cigarette packaging and advertising: now constitutional according to the Sixth Circuit. Maybe this will inspire people to quit a habit that’s almost equally as disgusting. [Thomson Reuters News & Insight]
* When Biglaw is involved, so is big money. Say “aloha” to the largest personal injury settlement in Hawaii’s history. The state will pay $15.4M over the hiking death of Gibson Dunn partner Elizabeth Brem. [Am Law Daily]
* A lawsuit filed against fashionista Alexander Wang over his alleged “sweatshop” has been discontinued, and not because there isn’t a case, but because the lawyers on either side have major beef. [New York Magazine]
* The Better Business Bureau has moved to dismiss a Florida law firm’s suit over its “F” grade. Because sometimes the truth hurts, but that doesn’t mean you can sue over it if you don’t like it. [Orlando Sentinel]
* The biggest bimbo from Wisteria Lane gets screwed again, but this time in court. A mistrial has been declared in Nicollette Sheridan’s lawsuit against the producers of “Desperate Housewives.” [Reuters]
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Clarence Thomas, Clerkships, Election 2012, Federal Judges, Politics, SCOTUS, Supreme Court, Supreme Court Clerks, Videos, YouTube
Clarence Thomas for President in 2012?
Some observers have suggested that Justice Clarence Thomas run for president, emerging as the nominee after a brokered convention for the Republican Party. What does Justice Thomas think of the idea?
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Is The Future Of Law Distributed? Lessons From The Tech Adoption Curve
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Biglaw, Deaths, Federal Judges, Health Care / Medicine, Money, Morning Docket, Privacy, Rankings, SCOTUS, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, Supreme Court, Trials
Morning Docket: 03.14.12
* Who will play starring roles in the Obamacare arguments before SCOTUS? A bunch of older white guys. Good thing this isn’t televised, because the ratings would probably suck. [Legal Times]
* The judiciary is on the cusp of a “financial crisis,” and some trials may be put on hold. That, or they’re just going to get rid of people. Which do you think it’ll be? [Thomson Reuters News & Insight]
* When rankings like these are available, who cares about U.S. News? Here’s a list of the law schools you should go to if you want to actually make bank as a lawyer. [Forbes]
* Covington & Burling is the latest Biglaw firm to sign up for an office in Seoul. Memo to partners: this is not the spring “bonus” your associates care about. [Capital Business Blog / Washington Post]
* The jury in the Dharun Ravi privacy trial is set to begin its deliberations this morning. Oh, to be a fly on the wall in that room — or, more on point, a webcam. [Statehouse Bureau]
* Thomas Puccio, a former Biglaw partner known for his notorious clientele, RIP. [New York Times]
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4th Circuit, Constitutional Law, Elena Kagan, Federal Judges, J. Harvie Wilkinson III, Quote of the Day, SCOTUS, Supreme Court
Quotes of the Day: On Wednesdays We Wear Black!
Justice Elena Kagan defends the Supreme Court's work ethic, and Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson defends judicial restraint. -
Alston & Bird, Anthony Kennedy, Biglaw, California, Email Scandals, Health Care / Medicine, John Roberts, Law Schools, Morning Docket, SCOTUS, Supreme Court
Morning Docket: 03.12.12
* Two weeks from today, the Supreme Court will be hearing oral arguments on the Obamacare case. Everyone thinks Justice Kennedy’s vote will swing the Court, but Chief Justice Roberts isn’t about to let him steal his sunshine. [New York Times]
* Montana’s Chief Judge stands accused of sending a racist email, but he once counseled law students about the dangers of email. It seems like the man can’t follow his own advice… and that’s some major Cebulls**t! [Billings Gazette]
* Gaming post-graduation employment statistics: the Columbia Law School and NYU Law edition. It looks like it might be time to fire up the Strauss/Anziska machine for the top tier of our nation’s law schools. [New York Post]
* Greenberg Traurig and Alston & Bird think people care about their new, multimillion dollar rental agreements in Los Angeles. No one cares. They just want to know where the spring bonuses are. [Los Angeles Times]
* But speaking of Alston & Bird, some Floridians are complaining about the firm’s bill. $475 an hour for four partners and associates? You really need to stop, because you’re getting the deal of the century. [The Ledger]
* James Humphreys — with a P-H! — donated $1M to GW School of Law so more students can receive scholarships. Maybe one of our favorite Wall Street Occupiers will get one? [National Law Journal]
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Antonin Scalia, Constitutional Law, Federal Judges, Free Speech, Politics, SCOTUS, Supreme Court, Videos, YouTube
Justice Scalia at Wesleyan: Now With Photos and Video
When Justice Scalia spoke at Wesleyan University on Thursday night, he was greeted by protesters. What did they have to say? Here are photos and videos. -
Biglaw, Contests, Elena Kagan, Law Schools, Midsize Firms / Regional Firms, Pictures, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, SCOTUS, Small Law Firms, Supreme Court
ATL's 'Lawyer Meme' Contest: The Winner
Two weeks ago, we asked our readers to submit their entries for Above the Law’s “Lawyer Meme” contest. This week, you voted on the finalists, and now it’s time to announce the winner…. -
Antonin Scalia, Constitutional Law, Federal Judges, Free Speech, Politics, SCOTUS, Supreme Court
Justice Scalia Goes to Wesleyan
Justice Scalia spoke recently at Wesleyan. How was the famously conservative justice received at this legendarily liberal university? -
Blogging, Drinking, DUI / DWI, John Roberts, Law Schools, Media and Journalism, Morning Docket, Pictures, Pornography, SCOTUS, Supreme Court, Weddings, Women's Issues
Morning Docket: 03.05.12
* Apparently the Roberts Court is unusual in that its elite members lacked opportunities to gain “the most critical judicial virtue: practical wisdom.” Yeah, right. Tell that one to the Wise Latina. [Washington Post]
* In the wake of the contraception controversy, Rush Limbaugh apologized for calling Georgetown 3L Sandra Fluke a “slut.” He’s so very, very sorry… that he lost some of his advertisers. [The Caucus / New York Times]
* The powers that be in Massachusetts have decided to show law bloggers a little bit of respect. Now they’ll get to cover judicial proceedings like real, live journalists — press passes and all. [Metro Desk / Boston Globe]
* Pornography: now with ten percent fewer HIV infections! A Los Angeles city ordinance requiring porn actors to wear condoms during filming will be taking effect today. [L.A. Now / Los Angeles Times]
* After making two other DWI arrests disappear from her record, former Bronx ADA Jennifer Troiano pleaded guilty to drunk driving last week. It looks like the third time really is the charm. [New York Daily News]
* New York newlyweds allege that Glamour Me Studio Photoshopped their heads onto naked bodies. Groomzilla Todd Remis must be glad that his wedding photography woes weren’t so graphic. [New York Post]