Attorney Misconduct

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 12.17.18

* President Trump wants a court to step in to determine whether Saturday Night Live may continue to "defame & belittle" him, wondering if it could be "collusion." That's our Trumpy! [New York Daily News] * Aww, you thought you could build a natural gas pipeline across two national forests and the Appalachian Trail? Cute. The Fourth Circuit is so pissed that a three-judge panel quoted The Lorax in their opinion: "We trust the United States Forest Service to 'speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.'" [NPR] * On Saturday night, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg drew a sold-out audience at the Museum of the City of New York where she participated in a Q&A session with Nina Totenberg and announced that Friday was her "first day doing [her] whole workout routine" after breaking three ribs. Get it, Your Honor! [NBC News] * Move over, Aaron Schlossberg. Yet another New York lawyer has been caught on camera, this time physically attacking a fellow subway passenger as she shouts obscenities, spits on people, and lets loose with racial slurs. [American Lawyer] * Her hips may not lie, but her tax filings allegedly do. Spain has charged pop singer Shakira with tax evasion thanks to her claimed Bahamian residency. [Forbes]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 11.16.18

* After delaying the decision, Judge Tim Kelly will be releasing his ruling in CNN's First Amendment case at 10 a.m. Is it lawful to revoke a reporter's press pass after an argument with the president? We'll soon find out. [USA Today] * "[W]e’re not going to leave any judges behind over these next two months." According to Senator Tom Cotton, the Senate is apparently planning to work through Christmas and New Year's Eve to confirm all of President Trump's judicial nominees in an effort to head off any obstruction by the Democrats. [Washington Times] * "I’m not trying to be rude. I can see your résumé. You’re a rock star." Despite her strong résumé, Allison Jones Rushing, the 36-year-old Fourth Circuit nominee, was repeatedly questioned by the Judiciary Committee about her "life experience" -- or lack thereof, since she graduated from law school 11 years ago. [National Law Journal] * What is David Boies planning for his next act? Is retirement on the table? He and the other name partners at Boies Schiller Flexner have apparently "been planning succession for 15 years." He said if he retired today, "the firm would be in good shape," but he thinks he "still [has] some things to contribute." [New York Law Journal] * Stormy Daniels says that while the "serious and obviously very troubling" domestic violence allegations against her lawyer Michael Avenatti are "only allegations" and that she'll "reserve judgement" [sic] until the investigation ends, she'll be "seeking new representation" if it turns out that the allegations are true. [New York Magazine]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 10.17.18

* President Donald Trump claims that Michael Cohen lied under oath when he testified that Trump told him to violate campaign finance laws and that the allegations are "totally false." Cohen's attorney, Lanny Davis, has some words Trump ought to be concerned about: "audio and tape." [USA Today] * "I can fire him whenever I want to fire him, but I haven’t said that I was going to." In other Trump-related news, the president has confirmed that Pat Cipollone will serve as his next White House counsel, and also confirmed that he's still really pissed off at AG Jeff Sessions about the Mueller probe. [Associated Press] * In the wake of Justice Brett Kavanaugh's highly political confirmation hearing where he brought up Clinton conspiracies during his testimony, Chief Justice John Roberts really wants the American public to know that the judiciary "requires independence from the political branches." Really. He pinky promises. [CNN] * If you're interested in learning what junior partners are making at Williams and Connolly, look no further than Fourth Circuit nominee Allison Jones Rushing's financial disclosure form. The 2007 Duke Law graduate pulled in more than $650K during her first year as a partner at the firm. [National Law Journal] * This ex-Foley & Lardner partner "should have known better" than to backdate documents, paste his clients' signatures onto them, and mislead the IRS during an audit, so he's been suspended from practicing law for two years. [American Lawyer]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 08.03.18

* Alex Kozinski, formerly of the Ninth Circuit, disappeared into the shadows after retiring in the wake of sexual harassment allegations. Less than seven months later, he's back in the public eye, and three of his accussers, all lawyers, are none too pleased. [New York Times] * In news that should shock absolutely no one, an attorney who was caught on tape insulting his paralegal on more than 30 occasions -- where he was seen referring to her a "dirtbag" and a "ho" -- has been suspended from practice for one year with six months stayed. [New York Post] * Nelson Mullins recently finalized its merger with Broad and Cassel to create a “super-regional” firm. The new firm will have 25 offices, more than 750 attorneys, and a combined revenue of over $500 million. [American Lawyer] * In other law firm merger news, Fox Rothschild has confirmed that it's in talks with North Carolina firm Smith Moore Leatherwood. Mark Silow, the firm's chairman, cautioned that nothing has been finalized yet. [Philadelphia Business Journal] * Remember Dana Tapper, the UVA Law grad who won money to repay her law school debt on the Ellen DeGeneres Show? She was just sentenced to 20 years in prison (with all but three months suspended) after smuggling drugs and a cellphone in to an inmate serving time for murder. [Richmond Times-Dispatch]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 07.23.18

* As it turns out, this Supreme Court gig was Judge Brett Kavanaugh's from the start. According to a Senate Judiciary Committee questionnaire released this past weekend, the judge received a call from the White House within hours of Justice Anthony Kennedy's retirement announcement being made public. [National Law Journal] * But hey, at least law students say that Judge Kavanaugh has "great hair!" -- and the Trump team thinks this is a very important fact that the American public ought to know, so it's been republished on the White House website. [New York Times; TIME] * Per President Trump, taping client conversations is "inconceivable," "totally unheard of," and "perhaps illegal," but his legal team decided to waive attorney-client privilege on the secret recording made by his former lawyer Michael Cohen with regard to possible payments to a Playboy model Karen anyway. [CBS News] * Matthew Bresette, a T&E attorney who formerly served as the managing partner of Nutter McClellan's Hyannis, Massachusetts, office, recently resigned after being temporarily suspended from practicing law following his misappropriation of funds from the firm and funds from his clients' trusts. [American Lawyer] * Fordham Law School has helped one of its incoming students invoke the anger of an entire country. In announcing that Kei Komuro, who is engaged to Princess Mako of Japan, would be attending the school, he was referred to as her fiancé, even though their "betrothal ceremony has not yet been held." People are MAD! [New York Times]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 07.09.18

* According to Senator Mitch McConnell, Judges Raymond Kethledge and Thomas Hardiman would be the easiest to confirm, so he's been trying to steer President Trump into choosing one of them to replace Justice Kennedy. On Saturday, the president was still undecided on his pick. Stay tuned for more... [New York Times] * On Sunday, President Trump still hadn't picked a judge to replace Justice Kennedy on the Supreme Court, but said he was "very close to making a decision." At this point, we only know that the president has seemingly "los[t] much of his interest in" Judge Kethledge. Tune in tonight for his pick. Who will get his final SCOTUS rose?! [CNN] * Despite the DOJ's request for an extension on a deadline to reunite families that were separated at the border, Judge Dana Sabraw said the deadline must be complied with "unless there is an articulable reason." Apparently "safety" is a concern now, but this would've been much easier if children hadn't been lost in the system. [The Hill] * In case you missed it, Judge Lynn Hughes of the Southern District of Texas, who is often the benchslapper, once more became the benchslappee when the Fifth Circuit called him out for allegedly making sexist remarks on the bench. [Texas Lawyer] * Remember Keila Ravelo, the partner who allegedly bilked Hunton & Williams and Willkie Farr out of $7.8 million to lead a life of luxury? Following her November guilty plea on felony charges, she was recently disbarred. [American Lawyer]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 06.29.18

* Justice Kennedy may be stepping down from the Supreme Court, but that doesn't mean he won't have a job. The dean of the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law already called the soon-to-be retireee and offered him a teaching position. Will Kennedy become a law professor? [Sacramento Business Journal] * The suspect in the Capital Gazette shooting has been identified as Jarrod Ramos. Ramos filed and lost a defamation suit against the newspaper in 2012 for correctly reporting that he'd pleaded guilty to criminal harassment. At least five people were killed during the shooting spree, and several others were seriously injured. [CNBC] * Does the death penalty violate the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution? At this rate, we may never find out because the Supreme Court keeps turning down cases challenging the issue. Justice Breyer is getting really upset about this, and dissented in both of the Court's denials this week. [National Law Journal] * Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is known to her fans as the Notorious R.B.G., and now she's got an album that's bears the exact same name. "Notorious R.B.G in Song" is a musical tribute that was created by her children, and even includes jokes about her horrible cooking skills. [WOSU Radio] * Remember Leicester Bryce Stovell, the lawyer who claimed via failed lawsuit that he was NBA legend LeBron James's father? He just got disbarred. [American Lawyer]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 03.30.18

* Attorney General Jeff Sessions won't be appointing a second special counsel to examine political bias in the handling of investigations by the FBI and DOJ just yet, but not to worry, because the Inspector General and the U.S. Attorney for Utah are on the case. [Politico] * Lawyer.com spokesperson Lindsay Lohan lost her invasion of privacy case against the maker of "Grand Theft Auto V" at the New York Court of Appeals in a unanimous decision penned by Judge Eugene Fahey, who said the video game character LiLo alleged was based on her was "not reasonably identifiable as plaintiff."  [Reuters] * As it turns out, Savannah Law School won't be immediately ceasing operations in early June. Now, the law school plans to move to another location within the city, and will close over the next five years without admitting any new students. [Savannah Morning News] * Adnan Syed, the subject of the hit podcast "Serial," had his murder conviction vacated by the Maryland Court of Special Appeals. His case has been remanded for a new trial on all charges. [New York Times] * "Mark, it hurts! You’re hurting me… Don't be so rough." In case you missed it, a juror fainted during trial after watching a video of graphic sex between a Texas attorney who traded sex for legal services and one of his clients. Yeehaw... [FOX News]

By Staci Zaretsky