Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 10.12.18

* While you were busy watching Kanye spew drivel in the Oval Office, you may have forgotten that he was there to watch the Music Modernization Act get signed into law to enrich artists. And by "artists" we mean the RIAA. [The Verge] * The public service loan forgiveness program appears to be a total disaster. Glad we got 10 years of free public service out of those chumps who honestly believed the Department of Education would honor its commitments! [Law.com] * Washington strikes down the death penalty as racially biased in application. [Washington Post] * A reminder that Republicans used to support "sanctuary" laws because they objected to the federal government commandeering local law enforcement. How the times of changed... [Mother Jones] * Cleary's hired a chief talent officer to handle recruiting, retention and diversity and it's a wonder more firms haven't gone this route. [American Lawyer] * Former Newsweek owner pleads not guilty in $10 million bank fraud scheme, claiming the charges are false and trumped up by Manhattan DA Cy Vance in retaliation over negative news coverage. This is the fundamental problem with Vance staying in this job: these charges may be legit but based on his history of high profile screw-ups, this retaliation defense sounds entirely reasonable. [Law360] * Georgia sued over law that its Secretary of State is using to block new voter registrations from mostly minority citizens. For the record, that Secretary of State is himself in a tight race for governor against a black woman. Funny that so many minority registrations would get blocked like this, huh? [AJC]

By Joe Patrice on October 12, 2018 8:15 am

This feels like a metaphor for Kanye’s recent foray into politics.

* While you were busy watching Kanye spew drivel in the Oval Office, you may have forgotten that he was there to watch the Music Modernization Act get signed into law to enrich artists. And by “artists” we mean the RIAA. [The Verge]

* The public service loan forgiveness program appears to be a total disaster. Glad we got 10 years of free public service out of those chumps who honestly believed the Department of Education would honor its commitments! [Law.com]

* Washington strikes down the death penalty as racially biased in application. [Washington Post]

* A reminder that Republicans used to support “sanctuary” laws because they objected to the federal government commandeering local law enforcement. How the times of changed… [Mother Jones]

* Cleary’s hired a chief talent officer to handle recruiting, retention and diversity and it’s a wonder more firms haven’t gone this route. [American Lawyer]

* Former Newsweek owner pleads not guilty in $10 million bank fraud scheme, claiming the charges are false and trumped up by Manhattan DA Cy Vance in retaliation over negative news coverage. This is the fundamental problem with Vance staying in this job: these charges may be legit but based on his history of high profile screw-ups, this retaliation defense sounds entirely reasonable. [Law360]

* Georgia sued over law that its Secretary of State is using to block new voter registrations from mostly minority citizens. For the record, that Secretary of State is himself in a tight race for governor against a black woman. Funny that so many minority registrations would get blocked like this, huh? [AJC]