Euthanasia

Morning Docket: 07.28.15

* Despite the fact that the 25/75 percentile LSAT range for many law schools has dropped precipitously, some schools still care about LSAT scores -- because they care about you (and their U.S. News rank). [Law Admissions Lowdown / U.S. News] * Maryland Law and Baltimore Law are going to be teaming up to launch a solo practice incubator for their recent graduates, and BC, BU, and Northeastern will be doing the same thing in 2016. Full-time, long-term jobs where bar passage is required for all! [National Law Journal] * The Dacheng Dentons merger has the potential to completely change the legal profession as we know it, or fall flat on its face and be remembered as a good idea that went wrong. It's been six months, and we're all still waiting to see what happens. [Financial Times] * The criminal case against ex-Goldman Sachs programmer Sergey Aleynikov is like the Energizer bunny in that it keeps going, and going, and going, and going. Manhattan DA Cy Vance is appealing Aleynikov's overturned conviction. [DealBook / New York Times] * "The unfortunate scenario alleged in the complaint cries out for a legislative fix, not a judicial nix." As expected, terminally ill civil rights attorney Christy McDonnell's right-to-die lawsuit was dismissed by a California judge yesterday. How depressing. [AP]

Morning Docket: 07.27.15

* A jury has ruled that rapper 50 Cent must pay an additional $2 million in punitive damages to a woman whose sex tape he posted online, on top of the $5 million he already owes her. This wanksta better hope the judgment gets discharged in bankruptcy. [Associated Press] * California is America's breeding ground for unaccredited law schools, and "[m]ost jurisdictions simply don't allow [these] kind of law school[s] to exist at all. Period." Nearly all students (about 9 out of 10) drop out before graduation. How much money is being wasted? [Los Angeles Times] * Since 2007, the pay gap between the highest- and lowest-paid positions in many specialized fields has widened -- but that isn't the case when it comes to the legal profession. Unfortunately, not as many people are making it rain. [New York Times] * "[M]aybe legislation should fix this. Not the court." A San Diego judge has suggested that he'll likely dismiss a right-to-die lawsuit filed by Christy O'Donnell, a civil rights attorney who's fighting a battle against lung, brain, spine, rib, and liver cancer. [NBC San Diego] * You've seen reactions to Harper Lee's portrayal of Atticus Finch as a racist in Go Set A Watchman (affiliate link) from everyone and their mother and their dog, but maybe you haven't seen reactions from law professors yet, so have a look. [National Law Journal]

Civil Rights Attorney Begs Court To Let Her Die With Dignity

Should the California court grant this terminally ill lawyer's last request?

If Oregon Can Give Death With Dignity, Why Can’t Death Row?

The idealized version of euthanasia is comforting, but it might not measure up to reality.

Do Physician-Assisted Death Laws Deserve to Die With Dignity?

Even if an individual has a qualified right to determine what happens to her body, up to and including death, laws facilitating physician-assisted death (PAD) still might not be a good idea.

Jack Kevorkian, aka Dr. Death, Is Dead

Jack Kevorkian was a Michigan pathologist — but the doctor spent more time in the courtroom than in the operating room. He was a frequent litigant, thanks to his central role in the national controversy over assisted suicide, whose legality he advocated. Early this morning, “Dr. Death” died, at the age of 83. It’s telling […]