Federal Bureau of Investigation

Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 06.07.17

* Ben Wittes on James Comey's prepared testimony (which he'll deliver tomorrow): "the most shocking single document compiled about the official conduct of the public duties of any President since the release of the Watergate tapes." [Lawfare] * Could the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program be eliminated -- retroactively? Thoughts from Professor Gregory Crespi. [SSRN] * The California Supreme Court appears less than enthused about a ballot measure that would compel the courts to decide death penalty cases more quickly. [How Appealing] * Behind every great bestseller is... a tiger mother? How Amy Chua mentored J.D. Vance, author of Hillbilly Elegy (affiliate link). [The Atlantic] * Picking up on Shannon Achimalbe's post from earlier today, here's additional financial advice for young lawyers. [SoFi] * Legal technology is a godsend -- but what do you do when problems arise? [Reboot Your Law Practice] * Mark your calendars: one week from today, on June 14 in San Francisco, it's the Battle of the (Law Firm) Bands! [Family Violence Appellate Project]

By David Lat
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 05.26.17

* The Russia investigation now turns to President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner -- proud holder of a law degree from NYU (and a really great set of abs). [Washington Post] * Former Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), currently senior counsel at Kasowitz Benson, has withdrawn from consideration as FBI Director (as my colleague Staci Zaretsky predicted, after Marc Kasowitz got hired by President Trump to represent him in the Russia probe). [New York Times] * Congratulations to Judge Amul Thapar, President Trump's first lower-court nominee, on his confirmation to the Sixth Circuit -- although it's disappointing that no Democrats voted in favor of this eminently qualified (and diverse) candidate. [How Appealing] * Despite allegedly roughing up a reporter (for which he's apologized), Republican Greg Gianforte won the race for Montana's sole seat in the House of Representatives (as my colleague Joe Patrice predicted he would). [New York Times] * How did Michelle Obama react when Barack Obama declined to pursue a coveted Supreme Court clerkship? Tony Mauro tells the tale. [Law.com] * The ABA continues to fight the good (or not so good?) fight in defense of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. [ABA Journal] * It seems that some folks on Capitol Hill like my proposed solution to the use of "blue slips" in the judicial confirmation process. [Washington Post via How Appealing] * The Brooklyn District Attorney's office concludes that a slew of murder convictions based on dubious evidence from embattled detective Louis Scarcella must be thrown out -- and yet Scarcella engaged in no wrongdoing. [New York Times] * Biglaw firms are suffering from an oversupply of lawyers, and a quarter of respondents to a recent survey said their associates don't have enough work -- which might explain why at least one firm has turned to laying off first-year associates. Yikes. [ABA Journal]

By David Lat
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 05.17.17

* Congratulations to Erwin Chemerinsky, the next dean of Berkeley Law! [How Appealing] * Speaking of deans, this Yale dean -- note, not a dean at the law school -- "loves diversity, except for ‘white trash.’" [Instapundit] * The latest entrant into the FBI director sweepstakes: former senator Joe Lieberman, now senior counsel at one of Donald Trump's "go-to" law firms, Kasowitz Benson. [Newsweek] * "Americans like piece of paper? I have piece of paper!" [Althouse] * In case you were wondering, "Did Rosie O'Donnell ever study constitutional law?" [NewsBusters] * Legal nerds, let's get ready to rumble! Professor Gerard Magliocca asks: "Is Justice Story overrated?" [Concurring Opinions] * Shearman & Sterling partner (and podcaster) Richard Hsu is joining the Major leagues -- legal recruiting firm Major, Lindsey & Africa, that is. [LinkedIn] * Randy Maniloff interviews celebrated lawyer/author Scott Turow, whose new book, Testimony (affiliate link), just came out. [Coverage Opinions] * An argument in favor of protecting your cellphone with your thumbprint and a password. [Katz Justice] * "If you had to choose a law partner from the characters in Better Call Saul, who would you choose?" [Guile is Good] * If you're a law student interested in ediscovery, check out this contest, sponsored by kCura. [kCura via PR Newswire]

By David Lat
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 05.12.17

* What's the over–under on how long acting FBI director Andrew McCabe will keep his current post? [New York Times] * And Democratic senators want answers -- lots of answers -- from deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein. [Washington Post] * Following up on our list of top law schools with great employment outcomes, here's a broader look at the latest ABA employment data. [ABA Journal] * And following up on our recent round-ups of possible judicial nominees in the Trump administration, here's a name for one of the open Third Circuit seats in Pennsylvania. [CA3 blog via How Appealing] * A lawsuit claims that a Biglaw behemoth is trying to invalidate the same patents it prosecuted -- not a good look. [Daily Business Review] * Former Biglaw chair J. Stephen Poor ruminates on the riches of this year's top Am Law 100 firms. [Big Law Business] * Robert Post looks back over his eight years as dean of Yale Law School. [Law.com]

By David Lat
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 04.12.17

* The Republicans hold on to the House seat vacated by CIA director Mike Pompeo; state treasurer Ron Estes defeated James Thompson, a Wichita civil rights lawyer. [New York Times] * So it seems the FBI did obtain a FISA warrant to monitor the communications of a Trump adviser (foreign policy adviser Carter Page). [Washington Post] * In a time when many firms are closing offices, Adams and Reese is opening new ones, in Atlanta and Fort Lauderdale. [Law.com] * The retirement buzz around Justice Anthony M. Kennedy persists -- and stems from conversations Kennedy has had with people close to him. [Bloomberg and CNN via How Appealing] * As for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, has she been enjoying Opus One yet again? [New York Daily News] * Yes, it's possible for an in-house legal department to be too cost-conscious -- just ask Wells Fargo. [Big Law Business] * A professor accused of sexual harassment by a student and a staff member just lost his case before the Sixth Circuit. [Law.com] * Speaking of things sexual... don't write "sexual favors" in the check memo line when paying your taxes. [Billings Gazette]

By David Lat