Tax Law

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 10.02.19

* Trump wins on taxes (this time): A federal judge in California blocked a state law that would require candidates for president to disclose their income tax returns before their names can appear on the state's primary ballot. [CNN] * In the wake of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s accusations of sexual assault, Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s name has not been “totally and permanently destroyed” as he predicted; though he may be regarded as a “walking controversy,” he’s mostly gone back to his regular life. [Washington Post] * Rudy Giuliani has hired former Watergate prosecutor Jon Sale to represent him in the impeachment inquiry against President Trump. Sale says of his client: “He 100 percent did not do anything illegal.” That’s a good lawyer. [National Law Journal] * The D.C Circuit largely upheld the FCC’s right to dump net neutrality rules, but the court’s opinion still allowed for state and local governments to set their own regulations that would prohibit some customers from being charged more than others. [Associated Press] * A judge has ruled that Harvard's admissions policies are constitutional due to the school's reliance on "race conscious admissions." If Students for Fair Admissions appeals, it could go to SCOTUS and endanger affirmative action. [NPR] * If you’ve been dreaming about going in-house and eventually becoming general counsel, now might be a good time to make a move, considering that GC pay recently hit a five-year high of $2.6 million. [Big Law Business] * “Alabama and I had a difference of opinion, but Gainesville and I have the same opinion.” That tide has rolled, so Hugh Culverhouse decided to make a $1.1 million donation to the University of Florida Levin College of Law. [Herald Tribune]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 08.21.19

* The House Ways and Means Committee has filed for summary judgment in its lawsuit against the Treasury Department and IRS over their refusal to turn over President Trump's tax returns and has also asked the judge to consider the case on an expedited basis. [The Hill] * Jones Day blasted plaintiffs in the new parental leave bias claims against the firm on social media, alleging that while one ignored “both the law and biology" to file suit, the other's performance was "below expectations." [American Lawyer] * New York adopted the Uniform Bar Exam to make it a little easier for law school graduates to pass the test. Well, uh... that didn't exactly work out as planned because the UBE had little to no impact on test performance. [New York Law Journal] * This just in from the Seventh Circuit: In case you were wondering, there's no such thing as a First Amendment right to lie on your bar applications. [Big Law Business] * In case you missed it, lawyers for Adnan Syed, subject of the "Serial" podcast, have applied for certiorari before the Supreme Court, asking that the justices reverse a Maryland Court of Appeals ruling where he was refused a new trial. [CNN]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 08.07.19

* President Trump and the RNC sued over a new California law that requires presidential candidates to release five years of tax returns to get onto the 2020 primary ballot. We were wondering when this "naked political attack against the sitting president of the United States" would happen. [New York Times] * Former FBI agent Peter Strzok has filed suit against the Justice Department over his firing, claiming that being dismissed from the investigative agency for sending text messages disparaging Donald Trump violated his constitutional right to private political speech. [Wall Street Journal] * From the demise of your favorite toy store to the destruction of one the most recognized luxury stores, Kirkland & Ellis is making a killing when it comes to representing the death of our brick-and-mortar retail economy. [American Lawyer] * William Brown, a former Navy SEAL who currently works as an associate at McCarter & English, recently led the first-ever sanctioned swim across the Hudson River with 30+ other SEALs to raise money for veterans. Congrats! [Big Law Business] * Meet Jeffrey Morgan, one of the lucky few lawyers to have had his federal student loans discharged through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Unfortunately, he still owes $67,987.09 in private student loans. [MarketWatch]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 07.31.19

* California just enacted a law that will require Donald Trump to release his tax returns if he wants to get on the state's primary ballot next year. Get ready for a tweetstorm about this one. [Los Angeles Times] * Not only is LeClairRyan facing a gender discrimination case amid its uncertain future, but the firm is also facing a lawsuit over allegedly unpaid rent to the tune of $348K+ at one of its offices. [American Lawyer] * In case you missed it, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and three game officials are going to be deposed over the "stupid blown call" during the Saints-Rams game that allowed the Rams to proceed to the Super Bowl. [Sports Illustrated] * Good news for Biglaw legal ops professionals: The Corporate Legal Operations Consortium, an organization designed for in-house legal ops employees, has now opened its membership to those who are working at law firms. [Big Law Business] * Guess what? There's something to look forward to after this torture. As the saying goes, "you can do anything with a law degree," but if you pass the bar exam this week, you'll probably be able to practice law in one of these exciting jobs. [U.S. News]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 05.28.19

* 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]

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