Demand Justice

Non-Sequiturs

Non Sequiturs: 03.24.19

* In the wake of Justice Anthony M. Kennedy's retirement, I predicted that Chief Justice John Roberts, a staunch institutionalist when it comes to the Supreme Court, would serve as a moderating influence at SCOTUS -- and so far that seems to be the case, with Adam Feldman noting a "a mild liberalizing over time" in JGR's jurisprudence. [Empirical SCOTUS] * Speaking of SCOTUS, it's high time for the Court to resolve the messy circuit split on email privacy under the Stored Communications Act, according to Orin Kerr. [Volokh Conspiracy / Reason] * The Trump Administration's new executive order about free speech on university campuses might harm rather than help the cause of academic freedom, as Paul Horwitz points out. [PrawfsBlawg] * Republicans aren't the only ones with purity tests for judicial nominations; Demand Justice, a left-wing group focused on the federal judiciary, has high standards for Democratic opposition to Trump nominees. [Bench Memos / National Review] * While you wait for the 2019 edition of Above the Law's law school rankings, check out the latest installment of the "revealed preferences" law school rankings, by C.J. Ryan and Brian L. Frye. [SSRN] * What's next for Kira Systems, a leader in the world of legal AI? Co-founder and CEO Noah Waisberg isn't resting on his laurels -- and he's putting that $50 million investment from last September to work. [Artificial Lawyer] * Fastcase continues to forge new partnerships -- and in its latest alliance, it will give its subscribers access to select titles from the American Bar Association (which, full disclosure, published my book (affiliate link) in 2014). [Dewey B Strategic] * If you'll be in New York this coming Wednesday, consider attending the inaugural Kenneth P. Thompson '92 Lecture on Race and Criminal Justice Reform at NYU Law School, focused on wrongful convictions and the roles of prosecutors and others in the criminal justice system. [NYU Law]

By David Lat
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 06.13.18

* Even the mainstream media is covering Biglaw's new salary scale, but dare we say, our coverage is much better. Check it out here while you cross your fingers and pray that your firm follows the latest in associate compensation trends. [New York Post] * "We don’t create or adjudicate under secret law or procedure." Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe has filed suit against the Department of Justice, alleging that the DOJ has repeatedly refused to turn over any documents or identify any policy or procedures that were relied upon when firing him. [Associated Press] * There's no vacancy on the Supreme Court right now, but Demand Justice, a liberal nonprofit group, has already spent a hefty sum on digital attack ads against some of the judges on President Trump's short list. Thus far, Judges Amy Coney Barrett of the Seventh Circuit, Brett Kavanaugh of the D.C. Circuit, and Amul Thapar of the Sixth Circuit have been treated to campaign coverage. [BuzzFeed] * In case you somehow missed it, over the government's antitrust objections, a federal judge has approved AT&T’s $85 billion acquisition of Time Warner following a six-week trial. They hope to close the deal by or before June 20. Have hope, everyone, maybe Time Warner Cable will actually function sometime soon. [USA Today] * The ABA's president has asked members of the House to oppose the part of the PROSPER Act that would end Public Service Loan Forgiveness, because "[w]ithout PSLF, the organizations that provide life- and livelihood-sustaining services will be even farther away from being able to meet these important challenges." Plus, many law school graduates wouldn't be able to survive. [ABA Journal]

By Staci Zaretsky