Filibuster

Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 06.15.16

* Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) is leading a filibuster to demand Congress actually act on gun control. Many Democrats and Republican Senator Pat Toomey have all spoken on the issue. [Slate] * Music is the first order of business in a copyright trial -- well, when the subject of the complaint is Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven, it is. [Courthouse News Service] * An analysis of the role of a human rights worker. [Lawyers, Guns and Money] * Gawker is under more legal threats, this time for writing an article about Donald Trump's hair. [Law and More] * But Nick Denton assures us, despite legal threats and filing for bankruptcy, the business will be just fine. [Gawker]

By Kathryn Rubino
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 01.26.15

* Senate Republicans are contemplating abolishing filibusters for SCOTUS nominees. This could go one of two ways: it could work out nicely for them, or explode in their faces. It's like a choose your own adventure game. [POLITICO] * When it comes to the upcoming gay marriage cases before SCOTUS, "[e]very lawyer involved will want to argue." Remember, when you're given the chance to make history, you better hope that you're on the right side of it. [National Law Journal] * "[I]f there is one decision I would overrule, it is Citizens United." Even RBG thinks this campaign finance decision is one of the Supreme Court's "darkest hour[s]." [Salon] * SCOTUS refused to stay Charles Warner's execution, but it agreed to grant cert on his lethal injection case days after his death. Better late than never? [New York Times] * The NFL has drafted Ted Wells of Paul Weiss to blow up the absurd controversy that is "Deflategate." Come on, who cares if the Patriots cheated again? [WSJ Law Blog] * Do you know any chronic Biglaw firm-hoppers? How many firms are too many to lateral to? Three? Five? Seven? Jesus Christ, for this guy, try 10 firms. [Am Law Daily]

By Staci Zaretsky
10th Circuit

Morning Docket: 02.04.14

* There will be filibusters: Victoria Nourse, a Georgetown Law professor whose nomination to the Seventh Circuit was blocked, thinks the political move will remain intact for future SCOTUS nominees. [Legal Times] * The Tenth Circuit politely pwned Roberta Kaplan. Her bid to intervene in the Utah same-sex marriage case before the court was rejected. Guess she’ll have settle for writing an amicus brief. [Salt Lake Tribune] * Are laterals killing your firm? It happened to Dewey, and it could happen to you. Only you can prevent lateral fires. Take the pledge and show your commitment to lateral fire prevention. [American Lawyer] * Lawyers are worried about what’s been going down at the storied Canadian firm of Heenan Blaikie. A third of its partners did the dip over the weekend amid financial troubles. Sounds familiar… [Ottawa Citizen] * Women are slowly but surely working to close the gender gap in the law — well, at least they are in South Florida. It seems to be working, though, so feel free to follow their lead. [Daily Business Review] * “Just because you can’t make the world a perfectly fair place doesn’t mean you can’t make it fairer.” If you really liked socialized health care, then you’re going to absolutely love socialized law. [New Republic] * If your LSAT score is in the 160 range and you’re writing to an advice columnist to figure out what to do next, then you are the most special of all the little snowflakes. [Law Admissions Lowdown / U.S. News]

By Staci Zaretsky
Airplanes / Aviation

Morning Docket: 12.02.13

* What led the Senate Democrats to go nuclear? [New York Times] * Should Justice Lori Douglas, she of the infamous porn pictures, step down from the bench? Well, she has 324,100 reasons to stay. [Toronto Star] * And what about Justice Breyer and Justice Ginsburg — should they leave while the Democrats still control the White House and the Senate? [Washington Post via How Appealing] * A legal challenge to gun control stumbles — on standing grounds. [WSJ Law Blog (sub. req.)] * Moral of the story: if you want to threaten opposing counsel, don’t do it over voicemail — unless you want to get censured. [ABA Journal] * Dewey want more details about the lucrative contracts given to Stephen DiCarmine and Joel Sanders? Most definitely! [Am Law Daily (sub. req.)] * An interesting peek inside the office of U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. The S.D.N.Y.’s boss is a big fan of the Boss. [New York Times] * Now that the merger between US Airways and American Airlines has been approved, US Airways CEO Doug Parker offers a behind-the-scenes look at his company’s response to the government’s antitrust lawsuit. [Wall Street Journal (sub. req.)]

By David Lat
Biglaw

Morning Docket: 11.29.13

Ed. note: We’ll return to our normal publication schedule on Monday, December 2. We hope to see you at our holiday happy hour on Thursday, December 5 — for details and to RSVP (to this free event with an open bar), click here. * Even in a post-nuclear world, Republicans can still block certain judicial nominees. [New York Times] * A prominent Toronto lawyer has gone missing — and so, allegedly, has $3 million in client trust funds. [Toronto Star] * Dewey see legal fees in the future for Stephen DiCarmine and Joel Sanders? Well, a $37 million lawsuit won’t dismiss itself. [Law360 (sub. req.)] * Congratulations to Matthew Layton, the new managing partner of Clifford Chance. [The Lawyer] * And congratulations to Ralph Pellecchio and Jim Wernz, who were married by none other than Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg — who even helped them write their vows. [Talking Points Memo] * Sure, let’s have the whole “is now a good time to go to law school?” debate again. [WSJ Law Blog] * Especially if you’re a minority, since white people are losing interest in law school. [Am Law Daily] * Congress can’t even get its act together about real guns, so perhaps it’s no surprise that limits on fake guns are set to expire soon. [New York Times] * Harry Potter was convicted of obstruction of justice. Just because you’re a wizard doesn’t mean you’re above the law. [Daily Utah Chronicle]

By David Lat
Abortion

Non-Sequiturs: 07.12.13

* Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is leaving the cabinet to head the University of California system. That’s a natural transition because UC already treats its students like threats to national security. [The Faculty Lounge] * Texas banning tampons from the Texas Capitol building in advance of abortion vote. Guns are still fine though. In the words of the inimitable Spencer Hall, “But what about a gun that FIRES tampons, Texas?” [Huffington Post] * A lot of folks are anticipating Noel Canning, but if Harry Reid invokes the so-called “nuclear option” (fifth item), does that render the whole case moot? [The Volokh Conspiracy] * Three years for stealing an iPhone from a child. I guess it’s like taking Candy (Crush) from a baby. [Law and More] * If you stop to think about it, someone should totally have sued the camp from The Parent Trap (affiliate link). If for no other reason than the likelihood Lohan was dealing to all the other campers. [Crushable] * An iOS app for creating semi-bespoke contracts. That’s cool, but I’ll stick to Temple Run, thanks. [Associate's Mind]

By Joe Patrice
Basketball

Non-Sequiturs: 04.17.13

* How to hire an effective expert — in the model of Han Solo. [The Expert Institute] * Here are the 10 most annoying lawyer clichés. Punch yourself in the face for every one you’ve used (non-ironically, of course) in the past month. [The Careerist] * The NCAA chooses revenue for their member schools over the welfare of students? Shut the front door! [Sports Law Blog] * Poor plaintiff trying to get off the Internet keeps putting herself on the Internet. Hail Streisand Effect! [Lowering the Bar] * Grammar fail. Lawyer inadvertently calls his wife a “bitch” with poor sentence structure. [Spadea, Lanard, & Lignana] * Georgetown Law is holding its second Iron Tech Law Competition, challenging students to develop technology to improve the access to justice or increase the effectiveness of representation. Cool idea. Other schools should consider this kind of program. [Georgetown Law] * Do you think our lawmakers should reform the Senate filibuster procedure? I agree. Though Patton Oswalt gives an almost nine minute, improvised tour de force of how a filibuster could be awesome that will be — presumably edited down — and used in this week’s Parks and Recreation. Video after the jump. [Cinema Blend]

By Joe Patrice