Supreme Court

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 06.03.19

* You better get ready, because the next month at the Supreme Court is going to be a complete sh*tshow. From the scandalous trademarks to the census citizenship question to partisan and racial gerrymandering to race in jury selection to double jeopardy, this could get pretty crazy. [CNN] * From the “totally not at all obstruction” file: According to a recently released transcript, one of Donald Trump’s lawyers asked Michael Flynn’s attorney for a “heads up” if any of the information Flynn planned to give Robert Mueller would be damaging to the president. [Big Law Business] * In somewhat related news, the Justice Department rejected a judge’s order to release transcripts of Michael Flynn’s conversations with the Russian ambassador during the presidential transition. [New York Times] * Want to feel old? Today is the last day that the LSAT will be administered as a fully paper-and-pencil test. The next administration will be a hybrid before the exam becomes all digital. [Law.com] * Another day, another Biglaw firm falling prey to a cyber scam. In case you missed it, the email accounts of two DLA Piper attorneys were compromised which led to some fishy monetary requests transactions occurring. [Am Law International]

By Staci Zaretsky
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By Barbri
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 05.31.19

* New evidence proves what everyone already knew: the citizenship question on the census was intended to suppress minority representation. Maybe Kavanaugh can get angry about it until everyone ignores it? [National Law Journal] * More abuse charges for R. Kelly. [USA Today] * Addressing mental health issues in the legal world probably requires rethinking what "the legal world" really means. But that time isn't billable so it probably won't happen. [Law.com] * HSBC avoids Ponzi scheme suit. Having personally represented HSBC in a Ponzi scheme case before, kudos. [Law360] * It behooves young lawyers to learn how the firm makes its money because it's actually a lot more complex than "make you keep working." [American Lawyer] * You can legally carry brass knuckles in Texas now. [CNN]

By Joe Patrice
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 05.29.19

* Loretta Lynch is re-joining the private sector. The former Attorney General is heading to Paul Weiss. [National Law Journal] * Consistency? From Mitch McConnell? About the Supreme Court? HAHAHAHA. [The Hill] * A deeper look at the case against former Skadden counsel, Greg Craig. [Politico] * Are you a lonely lawyer? Ironically, you are not alone. [Law.com] * "Gay Panic" may not be a defense in New York much longer. It's about time. [New York Law Journal] * Yeah, you really should be worried about the Big Four accounting firms moving into Biglaw territory. [Big Law Business]

By Kathryn Rubino
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 05.22.19

* President Donald Trump has appealed a federal judge's order allowing the House Oversight and Reform Committee's subpoena of his financial records to the D.C. Circuit, where — GASP! — Merrick Garland serves as chief judge. The fact that Garland is involved apparently matters a lot to the MSM, you guys. [The Hill] * “The memo says they don’t have to assert a legitimate legislative purpose — or any purpose at all.” According to a confidential draft IRS memo, tax returns must be given to Congress upon request, unless the president claims executive privilege. This pretty much blows up Trump’s rationale for refusing to turn over his taxes thus far, but opens up a whole new way for him to avoid doing so. [Washington Post] * “The Supreme Court is stacked against us for the first time in my lifetime. I feel like it’s scarier than ever before.” As hundreds of people protested state abortion bans before the Supreme Court, Democratic presidential candidates joined in, lending their support to all the women gathered. [Reuters] * Meet Leonard Leo, the Federalist Society executive Vice President who serves as Trump’s unofficial judicial adviser to make the federal judiciary “great” (i.e., extremely conservative) again. How’s he doing that? With millions upon millions of dollars of “dark money.” He didn’t want to talk about that part of it. [Washington Post] * Buckley, the law firm formerly known as Buckley Sandler, has filed suit against Johnny Depp, claiming that the actor skipped out on about $350K in legal fees and costs. Leave the poor man alone, he’s got better things to spend his money on... like scarves. [American Lawyer]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 05.16.19

* Alabama's new abortion law takes aim at a Supreme Court that just all but junked stare decisis. How's that "no drama" Court looking, Mr. Chief Justice? [NPR] * Law firms are in the midst of a decent financial run, so obviously they've stopped innovating because self-relection is for losers. [American Lawyer] * John Dowd has registered as a lobbyist eschewing the customary diplomatic game of pretending not to be a lobbyist for a couple years after leaving the service of the president. [National Law Journal] * Trump pardoned Conrad Black, a fraudster who has taken to calling the Mueller probe a sham... which appears to be a criminal's ticket to exoneration these days. [Law360] * SEC enforcement actions are reaching a fever pitch and they're making sure they stay out of court. [Corporate Counsel] * "I considered crashing my car just to take a week off...." [Legal Cheek]

By Joe Patrice
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 05.12.19

* With an economic hit on the horizon, it's time to talk about "weak ties." [Law and More] * The makers of Guns ‘N’ Rosé beer must have an appetite for destruction because that feels like a trademark loss waiting to happen. [Lowering the Bar] * Some more analysis of the ABA jobs data we've been talking about all week. [Tax Prof Blog] * The liberal wing of the Supreme Court may not have the votes, but they've been taking more control of cases anyway. [Empirical SCOTUS] * Speaking of the Supreme Court, will LGBTQ rights prevail? A compelling argument that a pair of conservative justices may well defect. [Workplace Prof Blog] * Lawyers breaking down Avengers Endgame. We'll go ahead and throw a spoilers warning on this, though one would have to be pretty dense not to have predicted that. [The Legal Geeks] * Alyssa Milano's sex strike is... dumb. [Law & Crime]

By Joe Patrice