Morning Docket: 03.15.19

* "This is not a normal vote. This will be a vote about the very nature of our constitution and the separation of powers." The Senate voted to reject President Trump's declaration of the national emergency, with 12 Republicans joining with their Democratic colleagues. Now, we'll wait for the reality TV spectacular that will be the president's first veto. [Washington Post] * A poster of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the target of anti-Semitic graffiti in New York. The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating. We’ll have more on this later. [New York Times] * Key prosecutors on special counsel Robert Mueller's team are leaving, which could signal that the Russian election interference is coming to an end. The latest prosecutor to head for the exit is Andrew Weissmann, who led cases against Paul Manafort and Rick Gates. [NPR] * Was President Trump "dangling the possibility of a pardon" in front of Michael Cohen as a way to keep his former lawyer from telling the truth? If that's what happened, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler says it would've been a "terrible" abuse of power.[CNN] * In a 420-0 vote, the House of Representatives "overwhelmingly" approved a resolution urging the Justice Department to make special counsel Robert Mueller's full report available to Congress. This might matter. Maybe? [POLITICO] * "About being fired, all I can say is it wasn't my decision and I wish the center the best." The Southern Poverty Law Center has fired its co-founder Morris Dees over a “personnel issue.” What happened here? [AL.com] * Marc Jacobs has filed a motion to dismiss the copyright lawsuit filed by Nirvana over the designer's use of Kurt Cobain's yellow smiley face, claiming that the fashion house "reinterpreted the design to incorporate [a Marc Jacobs] branding element into an otherwise commonplace image." [Hypebeast] * Former U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh, author of the Title IX law, RIP. [ESPN]

By Staci Zaretsky on March 15, 2019 8:07 am

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

* “This is not a normal vote. This will be a vote about the very nature of our constitution and the separation of powers.” The Senate voted to reject President Trump’s declaration of the national emergency, with 12 Republicans joining with their Democratic colleagues. Now, we’ll wait for the reality TV spectacular that will be the president’s first veto. [Washington Post]

* A poster of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the target of anti-Semitic graffiti in New York. The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating. We’ll have more on this later. [New York Times]

Opus 2 Steps Up Its AI Game With Acquisition Of A Legal Tech Startup

With the addition of Uncover’s technology, the litigation software is delivering rapid innovation.

By Opus 2

* Key prosecutors on special counsel Robert Mueller’s team are leaving, which could signal that the Russian election interference is coming to an end. The latest prosecutor to head for the exit is Andrew Weissmann, who led cases against Paul Manafort and Rick Gates. [NPR]

* Was President Trump “dangling the possibility of a pardon” in front of Michael Cohen as a way to keep his former lawyer from telling the truth? If that’s what happened, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler says it would’ve been a “terrible” abuse of power.[CNN]

* In a 420-0 vote, the House of Representatives “overwhelmingly” approved a resolution urging the Justice Department to make special counsel Robert Mueller’s full report available to Congress. This might matter. Maybe? [POLITICO]

AI Is Reshaping Legal Practice—But Tools Aren’t The Real Differentiator.

Explore the mindset, cultural shifts, and training strategies that define the AI‑savvy lawyer, revealing why human judgment, standardized competence, and integrated learning—not technology alone—will shape the future of the profession.

By Barbri

* “About being fired, all I can say is it wasn’t my decision and I wish the center the best.” The Southern Poverty Law Center has fired its co-founder Morris Dees over a “personnel issue.” What happened here? [AL.com]

* Marc Jacobs has filed a motion to dismiss the copyright lawsuit filed by Nirvana over the designer’s use of Kurt Cobain’s yellow smiley face, claiming that the fashion house “reinterpreted the design to incorporate [a Marc Jacobs] branding element into an otherwise commonplace image.” [Hypebeast]

* Former U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh, author of the Title IX law, RIP. [ESPN]

Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.