Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 05.19.17

* Remember when Judge Nicholas Garaufis (E.D.N.Y.) flipped out at Kirkland & Ellis for not sending a partner to cover a status hearing? It seems K&E and its client Facebook's groveling won over the judge: cases dismissed. [ABA Journal] * A big settlement in the Takata air bags litigation -- and presumably big legal fees for some of the firms involved. [National Law Journal] * Congratulations to Judge Amul Thapar (E.D. Ky.) on clearing the Senate Judiciary Committee; he should hopefully be on the Sixth Circuit soon. [Washington Times] * Congratulations to Rachel Brand on her confirmation as associate attorney general -- although it's unfortunate that more Democrats didn't cross the aisle to support her. [Law360] * And be careful what you wish for, Democrats: now that we have Robert Mueller as special counsel, congressional inquiries into Trump/Russia-related matters could stall. [Washington Post] * Speaking of Russia probes, should President Donald Trump hire outside counsel to represent him? да, да. [New York Times] * A closer look at prominent lawyer John K. Bush, nominated by President Trump to the Sixth Circuit. [Vetting Room via How Appealing] * Does size matter? Yes -- at least in this murder case where the defendant is invoking a "big penis" defense. [New York Post]

By David Lat on May 19, 2017 9:04 am
Rachel Brand (via Antonin Scalia Law School/George Mason University)

Rachel Brand (via Antonin Scalia Law School/George Mason University)

* Remember when Judge Nicholas Garaufis (E.D.N.Y.) flipped out at Kirkland & Ellis for not sending a partner to cover a status hearing? It seems K&E and its client Facebook’s groveling won over the judge: cases dismissed. [ABA Journal]

* A big settlement in the Takata air bags litigation — and presumably big legal fees for some of the firms involved. [National Law Journal]

* Congratulations to Judge Amul Thapar (E.D. Ky.) on clearing the Senate Judiciary Committee; he should hopefully be on the Sixth Circuit soon. [Washington Times]

* Congratulations to Rachel Brand on her confirmation as associate attorney general — although it’s unfortunate that more Democrats didn’t cross the aisle to support her. [Law360]

* And be careful what you wish for, Democrats: now that we have Robert Mueller as special counsel, congressional inquiries into Trump/Russia-related matters could stall. [Washington Post]

* Speaking of Russia probes, should President Donald Trump hire outside counsel to represent him? да, да. [New York Times]

* A closer look at prominent lawyer John K. Bush, nominated by President Trump to the Sixth Circuit. [Vetting Room via How Appealing]

* Does size matter? Yes — at least in this murder case where the defendant is invoking a “big penis” defense. [New York Post]

DBL square headshotDavid Lat is the founder and managing editor of Above the Law and the author of Supreme Ambitions: A Novel. He previously worked as a federal prosecutor in Newark, New Jersey; a litigation associate at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz; and a law clerk to Judge Diarmuid F. O’Scannlain of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. You can connect with David on Twitter (@DavidLat), LinkedIn, and Facebook, and you can reach him by email at [email protected].