Affordable Care Act

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 03.26.17

* "I’m guessing they have had a number of long days and potentially sleepless nights." The government lawyers behind the efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and replace it with the American Health Care Act have had a rough go of things. Who are they, which law schools did they attend, and which Biglaw firms did they work for before becoming Hill lawyers? [National Law Journal] * Don't forget about Merrick: A third of Democratic senators have pledged to vote against confirming Supreme Court nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch. At this time, it remains unclear as to whether there will be a united effort by Democrats to oppose his confirmation when the Senate Judiciary Committee votes on April 3. [Reuters] * Guess who isn't boycotting Hawaii? People who apparently have a vendetta against this federal jurist. Judge Derrick Watson of the District of Hawaii has been receiving death threats ever since he blocked President Donald Trump's revised travel ban on March 15. He is now receiving 24-hour protection from the U.S. Marshals Service. [The Hill] * The Second Circuit has upheld New York's ban on non-lawyers investing in law firms. Personal injury firm Jacoby & Meyers argued that the state's prohibition on non-lawyer investment violated lawyers' First Amendment right to associate with clients, but the court found that connection to be "simply too attenuated." [New York Law Journal] * Ithaca may be gorges, but it can't compete with the Big Apple with it comes to hands-on learning about issues dealing with cutting-edge tech. Cornell Law is launching a semester-long Program in Information and Technology Law at its Tech campus on Roosevelt Island in New York City that's slated to begin in Spring 2018. [WSJ Law Blog] * Judge Edward J. McManus, the longest serving of any incumbent judge in the United States (and third-longest servng in the history of the United States), RIP. [N.D. Iowa]

By Staci Zaretsky
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 03.02.17

* Yay, Jeff Sessions has done the bare minimum necessary. [CNN] * What does Jeff Sessions think the standard is for lying under oath? [Slate] * Ho, ho, ho. This piece from 2007 by Neal Katyal about independent counsel regulations is particularly salient. [New York Times] * No matter what this Iowa Republican tells you, Sizzler (yes, the restaurant) does not run a real university. [Salon] * Florida's still cool with open carry law. Shocker. Correction: Florida Supreme Court upheld the BAN on open carry. I truly need more sleep, apologies. [Volokh Conspiracy] * Shhhhhh. It's gonna be a secret law. [Huffington Post] * Now the real question: who's next? [Law and More] * The judge from the Casey Anthony case has some theories... [Jezebel]

By Kathryn Rubino
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 02.27.17

* Kenneth Feinberg gets tapped to run another victim compensation fund. [Wall Street Journal] * Andy Puzder claims a “fake news tsunami” is what forced him to withdraw as Labor Secretary nominee. Sure, Andy, whatever you need to tell yourself to go to sleep at night. [Huffington Post] * When George W. Bush starts sounding utterly reasonable you know we are truly in the darkest timeline. [The Slot] * The ethics lawsuit against Kellyanne Conway might feel good, but it could set a bad precedent. [Slate] * A 2,000+ page long legislation is complication. You don't f*cking say. [Salon] * Are Republicans ignoring House v. Burwell? [The Incidental Economist] * Who's been digging into Susan Fowler's personal life? [Law and More]

By Kathryn Rubino
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 01.27.17

* Ed Meese in defense of Trump SCOTUS shortlister William Pryor. [The Daily Signal] * What the Chief Justice's writings tell us about the constitutionality of the global gag rule. [Slate] * What does the cert success rate look like this Term? [Empirical SCOTUS] * The potential legal actions over Trump's copycat cake. [Dorf on Law] * Could you do semi-retirement? [Law and More] * Are the GOP getting spooked over Obamacare repeal? [Washington Post]

By Kathryn Rubino
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 01.19.17

* President Obama commuted the sentences of an additional 330 federal prisoners held on drug convictions today. [Huffington Post] * The Democrats who are not going to attend the inauguration. [Politico] * More dustup over undisclosed celebrity endorsements. [The Fashion Law] * Need a new job? Do you know how to crack the phone interview? [Law and More] * Noam Chomsky has some thoughts on the ACA repeal. [Salon] * This has become particularly poignant. [Slate]

By Kathryn Rubino