Texas

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 12.10.21

* Whose house? IN-HOUSE!!! Check out the report! [Above the Law] * Wanna know something constitutional? Not the Texas abortion ban's enforcement mechanism according to one judge's reading of the state constitution. [WaPo] * I know you've been following the Jussie Smollett trial — here's what happened. [NY Post] * Ever wondered how the other side of the pond legislates abortion? Here's a primer. [WaPo] * Risk? In this economy?! In-house teams are taking a new approach. [Financial Times]

By Chris Williams
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 12.07.21

* 5th Circuit literally okays cops kicking a man when he's down and Sotomayor isn't having it. [Law & Crime] * For the international law folks: Biden wants to boycott the 2022 Olympics because of the whole genocide thing. [USA Today] * The Justice Department is suing Texas, claiming its redistricting is discriminatory toward Latinos. Could you do something nice for once, Texas? Like, pretty please with extra oil on top? [WaPo] * Trump basically just admitted to obstruction of justice. I'm sure his lawyers are happy about this. [The Hill] * "I'll make my own fake news! With Freedom!" says Trump, with a congressman resigning to join the mission. [CNBC]

By Chris Williams
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 12.03.21

* “We’re so progressive, even our diversity has diversity!” - The person who greenlit white folks doing their best Robert Downey Jr. impression to combat racism. [Buzzfeed News] *  Separation of Church and Scholarship: SCOTUS will be deciding if secular scholarships can be used for religious schools. [ABA Journal] * I knew there was always money in the banana stand. But the church? [Newsweek] * Governor DeSantis is trying to create his own civilian police force. This is totally normal. Definitely not something you do before civil conflict. [WHDH] * Texas spits in the face of Roe again by making medical abortions after 7 weeks a felony. [The Texas Tribune]

By Chris Williams
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 11.22.21

* On today's episode of  Strange Scholarships™: Sheriffs who pick and choose when to enforce the laws they are supposed to uphold. [The Daily Beast] * New York's "Nourish Bill" will encourage farmers to send their surplus produce to food banks. This is a kind of corn-y I can get behind! [WIVB] * Texas passes law that puts penalties on being too good of a Samaritan. [The Battalion] * If you've served your country and need another reason to not harm your partner(s) — be horrible and they may take your precious gun(s) away. [Military.com] * For any 0Ls who'd like some help wrapping their heads around the Rittenhouse verdict, here are a couple lawyers who might help make sense of self-defense doctrine. [NPR]

By Chris Williams
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 10.27.21

* In addition to automatically going to heaven, Texas law makes sure dogs won't be kept on chains outside. [Houston Chronicle] * Two men who lynched a runner in Georgia are hoping a law that dates back to slavery can keep them out of prison. If you're reading this in Alabama and feel like you've inadvertently been exposed to CRT, please grow up. [Reuters] * Despite the dire warnings of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,  people are still taking the LSAT — and their scores are better on average. [Reuters] * Florida is luring dissatisfied and unvaccinated cops with a sign-on bonus. This looks like an negligent hiring suit waiting to happen. [Hernando Sun] * The Patriot Act just celebrated its 20th birthday! Will this be its last? [Just Security]

By Chris Williams
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 10.22.21

* Moot Court Prof thinks she was terminated after she made comments about job insecurity. Sometimes professors give employment law hypos; sometimes they become them. [ABA Journal] * New L.A. law bans homeless encampments in over 50 different places. Where are they supposed to go? [Los Angeles Times] * Protest against SB8 numbering thousands takes place in downtown Los Angeles. Good to know that the Lone Star state is getting external support. [Daily Sundial] * Some law firms are choosing real property over virtual workspaces. I guess it is harder to host team-building pizza parties over Zoom. [Law.com] * CDC okays booster shots for the big 3 COVID vaccines. Can I mix and match? I'm in the mood for a Pfizer x JJ Arnold Palmer. [Law360]

By Chris Williams
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 10.15.21

* A Texas education law leads a school administrator to request an even-handed approach to the Holocaust. Yes, Adolf killed over 10 million people... but did you know he was also a painter? [CNN] * SB8’s back. Back again. I'm tired of re-runs, bring on the finale. [The Hill] * Judge thinks death row inmate should get a new trial after discovering the judge that sentenced him to death disliked Jews. Bigots getting lined up to make major decisions in people's lives must be a rare thing, right? [ABA Journal] * A new question is having a noted impact on voir dire: Are you vaccinated? [Law.com] * Your boy Zuckerberg is researching AI glasses that see, hear, and record all of your special little moments. It'll be like this for when some police dept. inevitably uses the data without a warrant. [The Verge]

By Chris Williams
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 10.12.21

* Judge still under fire for having a racist law clerk. I’m surprised he hasn’t just defended his actions as encouraging “thought diversity” or something. [Law.com] * Texas won’t stand for at least two things: mask mandates and litter. Also, Biden is a bully apparently. [Reuters] * Lawyer in trouble after allegedly feeding his client answers during a deposition. Expect this to be on the lawyer ethics final. [ABA Journal] * Federal appeals court brings SB8 back to life. Next stop, SCOTUS? [CBS News] * And finally, HAPPY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY! [Law360]

By Chris Williams
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 09.13.21

* One of the Supreme Court's six Republican judges worries that the public thinks their decisions are seen as political moves. No word from Barrett on what social scientists think. [Politico] * Turns out pay as you go isn't an approved way to get into Harvard. Trial that questions how merit-based Ivy league admissions are starts soon. [Reuters] * Texas's governor is trying really hard to let people do a hate speech on social media. [Jurist.org] * I know Balenciaga appropriating sagging isn't personal property, but this definitely feels like theft. IP issue, maybe? [CNN] * Lastly, a moment of silence for those lost on September 11, 2001. Here are a few stories in their honor. [Law.com]

By Chris Williams
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 09.09.21

* The first rule of Tax Law: If you're rich, you don't pay them. [CBS News] * Biden prepares to sue Texas over SB8. What's Sleepy SCOTUS™ gonna do next? [Wall Street Journal] * United Airlines blesses religious exemption to COVID vaccine, but will put you on unpaid leave. Talk about living on a prayer. [CNBC] * Prepare for "Do you know how fast you were going? Add me on Facebook." at your next traffic stop, LA. [The Guardian] * Prosecutor opts out of charging felonies that stem from minor traffic stops. Rest in Peace, Mr. Castile. [Yahoo]

By Chris Williams