State Judges

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 04.02.18

* Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is a little worried about President Trump's flair for hyperbole, saying that Trump should never "walk into that room with" special counsel Robert Mueller, because when you make "false statements to federal agents, that's a crime, that can send you to jail." [The Hill] * This is not an April Fools' joke. On April 1, Foley & Lardner finalized its Tex-Mex merger with Gardere Wynne Sewell. We repeat, this is not an April Fools' joke. Foley will maintain its headquarters in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Best of luck to the combined firm! [Texas Lawyer] * Long Island Judge Robert Cicale was arrested after allegedly breaking into a former intern's house to steal a pair of her panties. At his arraignment, he admitted that he'd done it before, and in his confession, he said "he has urges to steal women's underwear." We'll have more on the alleged panty thief later. [NBC New York] * According to a new report by Fairfax Associates, law firm mergers are set to meet (or perhaps beat) 2017's record. Twenty tie-ups have been completed in 2018 thus far, with another 13 announced mergers set to close later this year. [American Lawyer] * New York firm Morrison Cohen recently launched the "MoCo cryptocurrency litigation tracker," a tool investors can use to monitor when doing due diligence on crypto assets. There are currently 63 cases in the U.S., and some of the industry's biggest players have been named as defendants. [Brave New Coin]

By Staci Zaretsky
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
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 12.08.17

* Corporations: 1. Unpaid Interns: 0. [Hollywood Reporter] * Don Jr.'s claim of attorney-client privilege over a conversation he had with Daddy probably won't stand up if Mueller pushes the issue. [Talking Points Memo] * A review of John Grisham's latest -- when law students go rogue. [Law and More] * How liberal or conservative are the judges in your state? See the chart on page 1743 of this new study! [SSRN] * Working moms conquer their toughest holiday challenges. [CorporetteMoms] * Jobs Attorneys Hate for $100, Alex. Publicly pulling back from your client's "misunderstanding." [The Root] * The battle between former Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino and Papa John. [Deadspin]

By Above the Law
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 12.06.17

* "They're not just preparing for a court challenge. They’re prepared to lose." President Trump has been including severability clauses in some of his most controversial executive orders and proclamations (e.g., Travel Ban 2.0, Travel Ban 3.0, and the transgender military ban). At this rate, he's on pace to use them more than all of his most recent predecessors combined. [USA Today] * Special counsel Robert Mueller filed his legal team's first expenditure report yesterday afternoon, and it's a doozy. Thus far, $6.7 million has been spent between May 17, 2017, and September 30, 2017, and contrary to popular belief at the White House, the Russia investigation is nowhere near an end. [National Law Journal] * The Justice Department is now open to regulating guns; we repeat, the Justice Department is now open to regulating guns -- or at least parts that can make guns even more deadly than they already are. That said, the DOJ has entered into a rule-making process that will redetermine the legality of bump stock devices. [CNN] * All has been quiet on the Sedgwick front for about a week, but now we've got word that "many" of the failed firm's lawyers from numerous offices -- including San Francisco-based team led by partners Bruce Celebrezze and Alexander Potente -- will be joining British insurance firm Clyde & Co in the new year. [American Lawyer] * In case you missed it, Judge Valarie E. Turner -- who allowed a law clerk to wear her robes and preside over cases -- was recently forced into retirement after admitting that she'd been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and "acknowledg[ing] that she [was] permanently unable to perform her judicial duties." [Chicago Sun-Times]

By Staci Zaretsky