Fisher v. University of Texas

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 04.05.16

* Sure, the price of oil may be low, but that hasn't stopped Biglaw shops from descending on Houston. In fact, 9 of the 10 highest grossing firms, according the 2014 Am Law 100, now have Houston offices. Beyoncé must be so proud. [Houston Lawyer] * Irony is so sweet in the morning. Diane L. Kroupa, a retired U.S. Tax Court judge, and her husband have been accused of tax fraud. [Law360] * That leak of documents from a Panamanian law firm, Mossack Fonseca -- being referred to as the "Panama Papers," has sparked international reaction. The Department of Justice is launching their own probe into potential wrongdoing. [Huffington Post] * Meet Edward Blum. He may not be a lawyer, but he is behind some of the biggest civil rights cases in front of the Supreme Court including Fisher v. University of Texas and Evenwel v. Abbott. [Mother Jones] * California class action lawyers rejoice: the state Supreme Court just paved the way for actions on behalf of retail and banking employees who are not giving suitable seating by their employers. [WSJ Law Blog]

By Kathryn Rubino
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 12.21.15

* Blame Kelly Drye for the lack of exotic snake regulations, because what could go wrong in an unregulated market for spitting cobras? [Slate] * New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is instating mass pardons for youthful offenders. [New York Times] * A Texas alumni group has apologized for calling Justice Scalia a racist. I guess scientists are made of sterner stuff. [Chronicle of Higher Education] * The founding fathers were better about defending the rights of Muslims than (some) modern Republicans. [Washington Post] * Preet Bharara's latest target -- the evils of auto-subscribing. [Law and More] * Ah, the Christmas season. That time of the year when customer service is paradoxically at its best and worst. [That's My Argument!] * The verdict against former White House counsel J. Michael Farren has been affirmed by the Connecticut Appellate Court. [Legal Profession Blog]

By Kathryn Rubino
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 07.13.15

* Has America been duped by the greatest double agent in history? That's one take on Eric Holder's return to Covington & Burling (they even kept his office waiting for him). [Rolling Stone] * The merger between Squire Sanders and Patton Boggs may have had a rocky first year, but the merged entity looks to get its lobbying game back on fleek. [Washington Post] * It's fairly unlikely Abigail Fisher has experienced discrimination a day in her life, but white privilege means this mediocre student will have yet another day in front of the Supreme Court. [For Harriet] * One lawyer's quest against the Commission on Presidential Debates and their implicit perpetuation of the two-party duopoly. [Law360] * An issue near and dear in the hearts of many of our readers: how do you stay married to a lawyer? [Lawyerist] * The top 4 funny [boo hoo] moments from the Dewey trial. [American Lawyer]

By Kathryn Rubino
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By Charles River Associates (CRA)
5th Circuit

Non-Sequiturs: 07.16.14

* The Insane Clown Posse is appealing their loss in the “Juggalos aren’t gang members” case. F**king lawsuits, how do they work? [Lowering the Bar] * After losing before the Supreme Court, the University of Texas affirmative action admissions program looked to be in serious trouble. But the Fifth Circuit just ruled that the UT policy met the strict-scrutiny analysis mandated by the Court. The lesson for Abigail Fisher is once more, “How about you get better grades instead of whining?” Or at least “Get politically connected.” [Chronicle of Higher Education] * Apple agrees to a conditional $450 million settlement with the NYAG’s office in the e-book suit. So you might get some money back from the 50 Shades of Grey purchase. [Reuters] * The Manassas city police have decided not to engage in kiddie porn pursuant to a warrant. Good for them. [Washington Post] * “Judges are not deities. They are humans.” Let’s not tell Lat, the shock might kill him. [Katz Justice] * Maybe it’s time lawyers started looking out for each other. This is a theme we’ve touched on before. [Law and More] * The hell? Parents arrested for letting their 9-year-old go to the park alone? Suffocating parenting is bad enough without the government expecting it of parents. [Slate] * CPAs are suing the IRS because the regulation of tax preparers lacks Congressional approval. Because we need more folks off the street claiming to be tax preparers. [TaxProf Blog] * Lawyer and former South Carolina GOP executive director Todd Kincannon is under investigation by the South Carolina Office of Disciplinary Counsel for basically being a dick on Twitter. As Ken White notes, the First Amendment is all about giving guys like this a forum. [Slate]

By Joe Patrice