BYU Law

Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 05.10.16

* Oxford Law students can miss classes if they find the crimes being discussed upsetting. What's happened to the legendary British stiff upper lip? [HeatStreet] * Update on the story about the lawyer who apparently lied about his mom's death to get out of court deadlines. Judge Ross didn't even need to reach the question of whether or not he lied to slap down some sanctions. [ABA Journal] * A short horror story inspired by author Timothy DeLizza's Biglaw summer experience. [Your Impossible Voice] * As we mentioned earlier today, David Boies played a hotshot lawyer on the series finale of The Good Wife. Pfft, typecasting. [The Careerist] * BYU law student says he was almost expelled for writing in support of marriage equality. [Tax Prof Blog] * Kaley Cuoco understands the value of a good lawyer. [Jezebel]

By Kathryn Rubino
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 04.20.16

* Puff, puff, pass the vote! In honor of today's nationwide holiday for cannabis aficionados, these are all of the states that have legalized marijuana, be it for either recreational or medical use. This year, at least 10 more states may legalize weed by ballot referendum for recreational use, and pot could be rescheduled by the Drug Enforcement Agency depending on the outcome of the upcoming election. [Refinery 29] * Members of student activist group Reclaim Harvard Law have demanded that the prestigious law school eliminate tuition completely. They propose that the school dip into its endowment to cover tuition, or cut costs like faculty salaries to make debt-free legal education a reality. This won't happen, but it's a nice thought. [Harvard Crimson] * The ABA is investigating Brigham Young Law's policy of expelling ex-Mormon students. Per ABA guidelines, law schools can't discriminate on the basis of religion, and yet the BYU honor code requires students to get annual endorsements from LDS Church members -- endorsements for which former Mormons aren't eligible. [WSJ Law Blog] * Pharma bro Martin Shkreli was dropped from a lawsuit related to his purchase of the only copy of the Wu-Tang Clan's latest album, "Once Upon a Time in Shaolin." It's likely plaintiff Jason Koza, who claims his art was used for the album without his approval, dumped Shkreli due to a purchase-agreement indemnity clause. [New York Post] * Because a judge reduced his manslaughter conviction to criminally negligent homicide at the last minute, former NYPD Officer Peter Liang will not serve jail time for the 2014 shooting death of Akai Gurley. Liang once faced up to 15 years in prison, but instead he was sentenced to five years of probation and 800 hours of community service. [CNN]

Staci Zaretsky is an editor at Above the Law. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments. Follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

By Staci Zaretsky
Law Schools

The Decision: Big Love Law

Elie here. For today’s installment of The Decision, in which we advise prospective law students about where to enroll, we head out west. We talk about the military. We talk about the LDS community. Put another way, I’m about to talk completely out of my ass about things I don’t know a whole lot about. […]

By Elie Mystal