Vaughn Walker
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Constitutional Law, Gay, Gay Marriage, Lesbians, Linda Greenhouse, SCOTUS, Supreme Court
After Perry & Windsor: A Conversation About The Supreme Court's Rulings
Three distinguished commentators -- Bill Eskridge, Linda Greenhouse, and Evan Wolfson -- discuss the Supreme Court's recent rulings on marriage equality. -
9th Circuit, Antonin Scalia, Ballard Spahr, Biglaw, California, Election Law, Elena Kagan, Gay, Gay Marriage, John Roberts, Law Firm Mergers, Minority Issues, Morning Docket, Patton Boggs, SCOTUS, Supreme Court
Morning Docket: 07.01.13
* Who is the real John Roberts? Will he forever be known as health care reform’s savior, or the man who disregarded precedent to gut minority voting rights? Hell if we know, so we’ll let you be the judge. [Opinionator / New York Times]
* The man may be a mystery, but one thing’s for sure when it comes to Chief Justice Roberts: it’s fair to say that at this point, he’d sincerely appreciate it if his colleagues would kindly STFU during oral argument. [Big Story / Associated Press]
* Elena Kagan, a justice who was never a judge, is now being praised for her ability to put the law into terms that non-lawyers can understand. That’s a score for law professors everywhere. [New York Times]
* In terms of the Voting Rights Act, while the chances of the current Congress enacting a universal voting law are approximately nil, there are other effective avenues that could be taken. [New York Times]
* On Friday, the Ninth Circuit lifted the stay on gay marriages in California, and less than 24 hours later, Prop 8 supporters filed an emergency motion with SCOTUS to stop all of the weddings. Lovely. [NPR]
* Meanwhile, ex-judge Vaughn Walker thinks Justice Scalia’s having joined the high court’s majority on standing telegraphed the fact that he didn’t have votes to uphold Prop 8 as constitutional. [NPR]
* Rubber stamp this: Judges on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court are so upset that they’re being made out as government patsies that they’re talking to the press about it. [Washington Post]
* Whether you think Chevron is “suing [Patton Boggs] lawyers for litigating” or for promoting fraud that “shocks the conscience,” here’s a summary of what’s going on in an epic case. [Washington Post]
* Got a high-profile criminal defense firm? Look out, because you may have captured Biglaw’s eye. Take, for example, Stillman & Friedman, which will be merging with Ballard Spahr. [New York Times]
* Apparently being in your mid-50s is a “good time to [retire]” for law deans who pull in six figures. Ken Randall, outgoing dean of Alabama Law, says he’s “really ready for the next challenge.” [AL.com]
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California, Gay, Gay Marriage, Politics, SCOTUS, Supreme Court
What's Horrible About Hollingsworth Is Horrible for Us All
The Supreme Court's ruling in Hollingsworth v. Perry is a disastrous decision, as conservative columnist Tamara Tabo explains.
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Anthony Kennedy, California, Constitutional Law, David Boies, Gay, Gay Marriage, John Roberts, Lesbians, SCOTUS, Stephen Reinhardt, Supreme Court, Ted Olson
The Supreme Court Rules In Two Major Gay Marriage Cases
Finally! The Supreme Court's long-awaited rulings on gay marriage in California and the Defense of Marriage Act. What did the Court rule? -
9th Circuit, Anthony Kennedy, California, David Boies, Gay, Gay Marriage, Stephen Reinhardt, Ted Olson
Breaking: Ninth Circuit Issues Landmark Ruling on Gay Marriage
The Ninth Circuit has issued a landmark ruling on gay marriage. Or, if you prefer, a ruling on marriage equality. We knew this ruling was coming because the Ninth Circuit kindly informed us in advance that its opinion would be issued. Now, let's find out how the three-judge panel ruled in Perry v. Brown (formerly known as Perry v. Schwarzenegger).... -
Associate Bonus Watch 2011, Biglaw, Bonuses, Boutique Law Firms, Clerkships, Litigators, Money, Partner Issues, Susman Godfrey, Texas
Associate Bonus Watch: Susman Godfrey Pays Ten-Gallon Bonuses (and Announces New Partners)
Just as it did last year, the powerhouse litigation boutique of Susman Godfrey announced associate bonuses that put the bonus scales of most other firms to shame. Happy Holidays, Susman Godfrey associates! So, the Susman bonuses -- what are we looking at here? -
Drinking, Sports, Trademarks
The 'Redneck Olympics' Try to Jump the Hurdle of Law
Over the weekend, a quaint little festival took place up in Hebron, Maine: the Redneck Olympics. Don’t ask me why this event happened in Maine. I didn’t think that rednecks were allowed to cross the Mason-Dixon line. The event featured typical redneck fare, including a greased watermelon haul, a wife-carrying race, toilet seat horseshoes, and […] -
Non-Sequiturs
Non-Sequiturs: 06.14.11
* An associate in the New York office of Gibson Dunn, Moshe Gerstein, has been hit with child pornography charges. (More coverage to come; if you know him personally and have info to share, please email us.) [New York County District Attorney’s Office] * Motion to vacate the Proposition 8 decision, on the grounds that […] - Sponsored
Are Small Firms Going Big On Legal Tech?
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Blogging, Media and Journalism, Social Networking Websites, Technology, Twittering
Cameras in the Courtroom: Now With More Internets
Many state and local courts do have cameras in the courtroom (unlike most of their federal counterparts), but other forms of technology are still frequently verboten. Some courts prohibit cellphones, laptops, and, in the traffic court I once attended, reading the newspaper. Yet slowly, with much weeping and gnashing of teeth, some enlightened folks in […] -
Gay, Gay Marriage
Apparently, Prop 8 Supporters Are Now Comfortable With Everybody Knowing They're Raging Bigots
Judge Vaughn Walker, the man who overturned Proposition 8 in California, is gay. He even admitted it. You know what that means, don’t you? [Wink, wink]. I mean, the man is gay so clearly… like, do I have to spell it out for you? He’s a man who likes to have sex with other men, […] -
Bernie Madoff, Biglaw, Environment / Environmental Law, Intellectual Property, Morning Docket, Patton Boggs, SCOTUS, Supreme Court
Morning Docket: 04.20.11
* The Supreme Court heard arguments yesterday in a lawsuit asking courts to force major companies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Sotomayor spent the entire oral argument asking attorneys how she could fit more Miami Sound Machine on her Zune. [New York Times] * Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, who can be seen every Thursday night […]
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Morning Docket
Morning Docket: 09.30.10
* Michigan AG candidate David Leyton demands that assistant AG Andrew Shirvell be faaaaaaaabuloussss fired. [Ann Arbor News] * If at first you don’t succeed, ignore the judge’s ruling and try again. Lawyers for the Department of the Interior beg for a pass on the second deep-water drilling moratorium. [Bloomberg] * “I’m black, I’m transsexual, […]
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9th Circuit, Gay, Gay Marriage, Lesbians, Weddings
Breaking: Ninth Circuit Issues Stay Pending Appeal in Prop 8 Case, Schedules Oral Arguments for December
The three-judge motions panel — consisting of Judges Edward Leavy, Michael Daly Hawkins, and Sidney Thomas — has issued a stay pending appeal in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, the case in which Judge Vaughn Walker (N.D. Cal.) struck down Proposition 8’s ban on gay marriage in California. More about the ruling and a link to the […]
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Non-Sequiturs
Non-Sequiturs: 08.13.10
* Would Michael Green, exonerated of rape charges by DNA evidence, be worth $2.2 million today if he hadn’t gone to prison? Just asking. [New York Times] * More on the issue of standing in the Prop 8 case. [The BLT (Tony Mauro); Dorf on Law (Michael Dorf); SCOTUSblog (Lyle Denniston)] * Attention maritime law […] -
9th Circuit, Gay, Gay Marriage, Lesbians, Weddings
Breaking: Judge Walker Won't Stay Prop 8 Ruling Pending Appeal!
Chief Judge Vaughn Walker (N.D. Cal.), who struck down Proposition 8’s ban on gay marriage in California, has denied a motion to stay his judgment pending appeal. This means that same-sex marriages in California can start immediately after August 18 at 5 PM, assuming the Ninth Circuit doesn’t grant a stay. UPDATE (3:45 PM): No […] -
Morning Docket
Morning Docket: 08.12.10
* Will wedding bells be ringing soon in California? Judge Vaughn Walker will rule today on extending the Prop 8 stay. [Associated Press] * A 32-year-old Canadian lawyer was awarded $6 million after a law firm colleague knocked her down on the dance floor. [The Post] * The Seventh Circuit testifies again in New York. […]
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Constitutional Law, Gay, Gay Marriage
A Friday Present for You: A Hyperlinked Copy of the Prop 8 Ruling
The biggest legal news story of the past week — even bigger than the confirmation of Elena Kagan, which was widely expected — was the ruling of Chief Judge Vaughn Walker (N.D. Cal.) in Perry v. Schwarzenegger. Judge Walker struck down California’s Proposition 8, a voter-passed ban on gay marriage, citing due process and equal […] -
Ann Althouse, Gay, Lesbians, Non-Sequiturs, Outsourcing
Non-Sequiturs: 08.05.10
* Congratulations to the best LGBT lawyers under 40! Check out the list — perhaps you know some of them? [National LGBT Bar Association] * Speaking of gays in the law, if you’re obsessing over Judge Vaughn Walker’s sexual orientation, stop it. Just stop it. [Huffington Post] * First Rudolph Giuliani’s daughter gets busted shoplifting […] -
Celebrities, Fabulosity, Gay Marriage, Quote of the Day
Quote of the Day: But What Does Justice KENNEDY Think of BUBBLE DREAMS?
At the moments notice of PROP 8 DEATH I instantly began to write music. BUBBLE DREAMS FOREVER! FULL EQUALITY! THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING! REJOICE and CELEBRATE gay communities and straight all over the world. Our voices are being heard! Loud! SCREAM LOUD AMERICANOS! — Lady Gaga, responding on Twitter to Chief Judge Vaughn Walker’s […] -
David Boies, Federal Judges, Gay, Gay Marriage, Holy Crap, Ted Olson
Breaking: Proposition 8 Ruled Unconstitutional!!!
Today Chief Judge Vaughn Walker (N.D. Cal.) issued his ruling in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, the constitutional challenge to Proposition 8, California’s ban on gay marriage. The case was famously brought by Ted Olson and David Boies, two of the nation’s top lawyers (who previously faced off in Bush v. Gore, on opposite sides of the […]