Bloomberg Law

Non-Sequiturs

Non Sequiturs: 10.28.18

* Adam Feldman identifies eight issues where widely divergent state laws could lead to Supreme Court intervention. [Empirical SCOTUS] * Jonathan Adler wonders why it took so long for NBC to report on the inconsistencies and discrepancies in the allegations that Julie Swetnick made against Justice Brett Kavanaugh. [Bench Memos / National Review] * It seems that Cesar Sayoc didn't limit himself to threatening prominent liberals and progressives; he apparently went after Ilya Somin as well. [Reason / Volokh Conspiracy] * A riddle from Mark Lemley (via Orly Lobel): what's the "most Silicon Valley fact ever"? [PrawfsBlawg] * Congratulations to Bloomberg Law on the launch of its latest offering in litigation analytics. [Artificial Lawyer] * And congratulations to Fastcase on its latest deal, the acquisition of Law Street Media. [Dewey B Strategic]

By David Lat
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 09.30.18

* Many believe that today's Supreme Court is one of the hottest benches in history; Adam Feldman uses data to assess the claim. [Empirical SCOTUS] * As for who takes the SCOTUS bench, contingency plays a major role -- along with credentials and conservatism, as Ian Millhiser explains. [ThinkProgress] * Most people have their minds made up about Thursday's Supreme Court confirmation hearings featuring Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Judge Brett Kavanaugh -- but if you're still trying to process the proceedings, David Oscar Markus offers five simple rules for evaluating the witnesses. [The Hill] * Ann Althouse has some reflections on Judge Kavanaugh's emotional testimony and "present-day conservative masculinity." [Althouse] * David Bernstein proffers this interesting solution to the Kavanaugh nomination situation -- but don't hold your breath for its implementation. [Volokh Conspiracy / Reason] * If the road to hell is paved with good intentions, "the EU is busy building a three-lane highway that leads to a particularly dark place," according to Charles Glasser. [Daily Caller] * Lawyer Luddites: "AI in the legal space is not scary," as explained by David Kleiman of Bloomberg Law. [Artificial Lawyer] * Indeed, as Greg Lambert argues, lawyers -- especially "working partners" -- need to join the innovation conversation. [3 Geeks and a Law Blog]

By David Lat
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 04.15.18

* Has it really come to this? Protesting a nice, nerdy, thoughtful law professor, simply because he questions the constitutionality of DACA (while supporting the DREAM Act)? [Josh Blackman] * How much should we read into Team Mueller's reassurance to President Trump that he is a subject rather than a target of its investigation? Not much, according to veteran criminal defense lawyer Joel Cohen. [The Hill] * How would William Howard Taft have responded to attacks on judges? The POTUS turned SCOTUS chief was quite prescient about judicial independence -- as explained by Jeff Rosen, author of a new Taft biography (affiliate link). [Volokh Conspiracy / Reason] * Speaking of SCOTUS, what's it like to work in the Solicitor General's Office? One of the OSG's newest members, former SCOTUS clerk Jonathan Ellis, pulls back the curtain. [Penn Law via How Appealing] * How does Justice Gorsuch compare to Justice Scalia -- not just in terms of personality, but also in terms of jurisprudence? [Empirical SCOTUS] * And speaking of Justice Gorsuch, congratulations to Tobi Young, who will be clerking for NMG in October Term 2018 -- and who is believed to be the first enrolled citizen of a Native American tribe to clerk for the Court. (By the way, I have another SCOTUS clerk hiring roundup in the works, so please send me your hiring news.) [Chickasaw Nation] * Are you a healthcare lawyer? You might be interested in this new tool from Bloomberg Law. [Dewey B Strategic] * Friendly reminder: the Global Legal Hackathon is entering its final stage, and you're invited -- hope to see you on April 21! [Artificial Lawyer]

By David Lat