Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 10.18.16

* "I promise you that we will be united against any Supreme Court nominee that Hillary Clinton, if she were president, would put up." So much for honoring the will of the people: Senator John McCain has pledged that Senate Republicans will continue to block Supreme Court nominees from receiving hearings to replace the late Antonin Scalia on the high court. We'll have more on this later today. [CNN] * Matthew Apperson, the man who fired a gun at George Zimmerman during a road rage incident, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of attempted second-degree murder and aggravated assault. Apperson's wife said Zimmerman is getting "a hall pass to go out there and continue to be reckless." [New York Daily News] * "Returning to Cadwalader at an exciting time of growth for the firm was an easy decision." After losing two of its litigation practice leaders earlier this year, Cadwalader has started to replenish its ranks by rehiring Jason M. Halper, a former 14-year veteran of the firm who decamped to Orrick in 2014. Welcome back! [Big Law Business] * Sigfredo Garcia, the suspected shooter in the murder of Florida State law professor Dan Markel, was supposed to be tried on November 14, but his trial date was pushed back to December 6. In the meantime, perhaps co-defendant Katherine Magbanua will be inclined to flip on those who allegedly arranged the hit. [Tallahassee Democrat] * Citing a lack of evidence, a judge has thrown out riot charges against radio journalist Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! for her coverage of the North Dakota oil pipeline protests. She says she'll continue to cover the protests, noting that "[t]he state’s attorney must respect freedom of the press and the First Amendment." [New York Times]

By Staci Zaretsky on October 18, 2016 8:57 am
Merrick Garland, looking sad since he may never get a hearing (by Chip Somodevilla/Getty).

Merrick Garland, looking sad since he may never get a hearing (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty).

* “I promise you that we will be united against any Supreme Court nominee that Hillary Clinton, if she were president, would put up.” So much for honoring the will of the people: Senator John McCain has pledged that Senate Republicans will continue to block Supreme Court nominees from receiving hearings to replace the late Antonin Scalia on the high court. We’ll have more on this later today. [CNN]

* Matthew Apperson, the man who fired a gun at George Zimmerman during a road rage incident, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of attempted second-degree murder and aggravated assault. Apperson’s wife said Zimmerman is getting “a hall pass to go out there and continue to be reckless.” [New York Daily News]

* “Returning to Cadwalader at an exciting time of growth for the firm was an easy decision.” After losing two of its litigation practice leaders earlier this year, Cadwalader has started to replenish its ranks by rehiring Jason M. Halper, a former 14-year veteran of the firm who decamped to Orrick in 2014. Welcome back! [Big Law Business]

* Sigfredo Garcia, the suspected shooter in the murder of Florida State law professor Dan Markel, was supposed to be tried on November 14, but his trial date was pushed back to December 6. In the meantime, perhaps co-defendant Katherine Magbanua will be inclined to flip on those who allegedly arranged the hit. [Tallahassee Democrat]

* Citing a lack of evidence, a judge has thrown out riot charges against radio journalist Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! for her coverage of the North Dakota oil pipeline protests. She says she’ll continue to cover the protests, noting that “[t]he state’s attorney must respect freedom of the press and the First Amendment.” [New York Times]

Staci Zaretsky is an editor at Above the Law. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments. Follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.