George Zimmerman

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 10.18.16

* "I promise you that we will be united against any Supreme Court nominee that Hillary Clinton, if she were president, would put up." So much for honoring the will of the people: Senator John McCain has pledged that Senate Republicans will continue to block Supreme Court nominees from receiving hearings to replace the late Antonin Scalia on the high court. We'll have more on this later today. [CNN] * Matthew Apperson, the man who fired a gun at George Zimmerman during a road rage incident, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of attempted second-degree murder and aggravated assault. Apperson's wife said Zimmerman is getting "a hall pass to go out there and continue to be reckless." [New York Daily News] * "Returning to Cadwalader at an exciting time of growth for the firm was an easy decision." After losing two of its litigation practice leaders earlier this year, Cadwalader has started to replenish its ranks by rehiring Jason M. Halper, a former 14-year veteran of the firm who decamped to Orrick in 2014. Welcome back! [Big Law Business] * Sigfredo Garcia, the suspected shooter in the murder of Florida State law professor Dan Markel, was supposed to be tried on November 14, but his trial date was pushed back to December 6. In the meantime, perhaps co-defendant Katherine Magbanua will be inclined to flip on those who allegedly arranged the hit. [Tallahassee Democrat] * Citing a lack of evidence, a judge has thrown out riot charges against radio journalist Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! for her coverage of the North Dakota oil pipeline protests. She says she'll continue to cover the protests, noting that "[t]he state’s attorney must respect freedom of the press and the First Amendment." [New York Times]

By Staci Zaretsky
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 08.27.15

* Folks may argue over whether the Iran deal is a good idea, but one "citizen-lawyer" has taken to court to prove it is unconstitutional... but does that argument hold any weight? [Constitution Center] * An Arkansas law firm is offering to represent Anna Duggar -- pro bono -- should she ever decide to divorce her husband, Josh Duggar, after his very public cheating scandal. Which is good, since you know Jim Bob is never going to let Anna see any of that rapidly vanishing TV money. [THV11] * What are the 5 best Halloween costumes for law students/lawyers? The real key to nailing number 5 is the bangs. [Law and More] * At last, some cold hard evidence that the nation's fever dream -- the one where Donald Trump is the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination -- might be ending. [New York Times] * How do you deal when you're assigned to work with a real prick who always has to be right? [Attorney at Work] * You guys, the intellectual property regime in this country is definitely broken, but at least it isn't so bad that a man can copyright a chicken sandwich. [Washington Post] * In unsurprising news, George Zimmerman had some pretty disgusting things to say about the deaths of Alison Parker and Adam Ward. [Salon]

By Kathryn Rubino
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 05.12.15

* Dean Erwin Chemerinsky of the UC Irvine School of Law thinks it's time for California to follow New York's lead and adopt the Uniform Bar Exam. After all, if doctors don't have to take separate exams each time they move to a new state, lawyers shouldn't have to do it either. [Los Angeles Times] * A jury just returned a verdict of $0 for a police officer who was severely burned after spilling a cup of free Starbucks coffee in his lap. The pictures of the burns that were used as evidence are pretty nasty, so you'll obviously want to check them out. [NPR; WTVD] * According to a survey conducted by Kaplan Test Prep, 56 percent of recent law grads would have preferred to condense their schooling to two years, while just 34 percent of prospective law students felt similarly. Oh, to be that naive again. [National Law Journal] * Violent besties? As it turns out, the gun altercation George Zimmerman was involved in yesterday was apparently part of some sort of ongoing feud with Matthew Apperson, the same man he threatened to kill in a road rage incident last year. [Crimesider / CBS News] * If you're wondering what you should do during the summer before going to law school, then you can take the advice of this future gunner and possibly enroll in a pre-law prep course and work yourself to death, or you can relax. It's up to you. [The Diamondback]

By Staci Zaretsky
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 03.24.15

* Following his surprise resignation, the University of New Hampshire School of Law has banned the former director of its public policy center from stepping foot on campus. There must be something more to this story. Tipsters: time to assemble! [New Hampshire Union Leader] * With his divorce lawyer's blessing, George Zimmerman released a video where he says he still doesn't think he did anything wrong when he killed Trayvon Martin, and that he feels victimized by President Obama's "racially charged comments." Paint a picture and get that angst out, Georgie. [Gawker] * You were gonna walk your dog, but then you got high? You've heard of medical marijuana for people, but you probably haven't heard of medical marijuana for pets. Nevada has a bill that'll allow animal owners to smoke a bowl with sick pets. [LXBN] * In case you missed our Converge conference last week, here are four essential tips that you'll need to know if you intend to make a pitch to members of the mainstream media or legal press in the future. Tip #3 here is clutch. [Hellerman Baretz Communications] * What's so bad about Biglaw gossip? Absolutely nothing! In fact, ATL's managing editor thinks that “Biglaw firms should [only] be afraid of us if they have something to hide." You can thank us for your firm's transparency, lawyers. [Big Law Business / Bloomberg BNA] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UREH4TohOdU

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 01.12.15

* George Zimmerman was arrested for aggravated assault and domestic violence with a weapon. His lawyer said his client "has not been lucky with the ladies." He hasn't been lucky with being a decent human being, either. [USA Today] * Lawrence McCreery, the Hawaii lawyer who licked a client's ear and inspired the judge on his case to call him a "dirty old man," has had his harassment conviction upheld on appeal. Get excited, he's still got a law license, ladies. [Associated Press] * We may soon see same-sex marriage bans in three states struck down, as the Fifth Circuit "appeared poised" to do so after oral arguments on Friday. Roberta Kaplan, our 2013 Lawyer of the Year, delivered a standout performance in arguing against Mississippi's ban. [BuzzFeed] * What do Sidley Austin, Baker & McKenzie, Reed Smith, Hogan Lovells, and Skadden Arps have in common? Their names were used in phishing emails to scam people out of their money. Some might say that's business as usual. [Crain's Chicago Business] * An arrest was made in the forcible rape of a woman -- presumably a law student -- that took place in the stacks of the Southern University Law Center's library last semester. The accused rapist is currently behind held without bond. [WBRZ]

By Staci Zaretsky
Defamation

Morning Docket: 07.01.14

* You may have missed this because you were busy lamenting yesterday’s Supreme Court decisions, so here are just a few of the high-profile cases for which the high court refused to grant cert. [WSJ Law Blog] * A judge tossed a defamation suit filed against Cooley Law by the original law school litigation dream team. That’s too bad, it would’ve been interesting watch the trial. [National Law Journal] * George Zimmerman lost his defamation suit against NBC. As it turns out, the network didn’t need to edit those phone calls to make it seem like the acquitted artist was racist. [Chicago Tribune] * Listen, if you really feel like you need include an addendum to your law school application, you should try not to use too much flowery bullshit to explain away each of your misdoings and missteps. [Law Admissions Lowdown / U.S News & World Report] * Unfortunately, things aren’t exactly getting much better for women in Silicon Valley. A former vice president over at Tinder alleges that the company’s CEO called her a “whore” at a party. Eww! [Reuters]

By Staci Zaretsky
Biglaw

Morning Docket: 06.20.14

* This Biglaw firm is getting into the imaginary money business by bidding on $18M of Bitcoins seized in the Silk Road raid. Maybe they’ll accept this new "currency" as payment. [Am Law Daily] * Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev wants his trial moved to New York or D.C. for an unbiased jury. Moving it to cities where terrorist attacks have occurred is a great idea! [Bloomberg] * Here’s a perfect headline for a lovely Friday when we imagine people will be able to get in some quality day drinking: “Market Struggles to Absorb Record Law School Class of ’13.” [National Law Journal] * Part of George Zimmerman’s defamation lawsuit against NBC was dismissed because his attorneys waited too long to ask the network for a retraction. Time to paint a picture about it, Georgie. [Fox News] * Can you sue the dude who banged your wife for ruining your marriage? It sucks for cuckolded husbands, but you can’t in most states, including West Virginia, where family trees grow in a circle. [WSJ Law Blog]

By Staci Zaretsky
Gay

Non-Sequiturs: 03.13.14

* Lawyer opts to wear orange prison scrubs for Lent. When you think about it, it makes a lot more sense than giving up chocolate when your religion is based on a death row inmate. [Waco Tribune] * A profile of Bob Bennett. They compare him to Olivia Pope. Not sure about that… Bennett’s got bigger tits. [Washington Post] * A Brooklyn lawyer reached out and grabbed his dream. Unfortunately, that dream involved the crotches of multiple unsuspecting women. [New York Post] * George Zimmerman’s parents are suing Roseanne Barr, who apparently is still enough of a celebrity that people care to sue her. [IT-Lex] * Married women can’t get divorced in Alabama. Look at the bright side, that means you can’t get a divorce lawyer who’ll bill you for sex. [Associated Press via WTOP] * Play along at home with this handy tracker showing just how often the U.S. Chamber of Commerce prevails at the Supreme Court. It’s a long Supreme Court season, but based on the last couple years, the scoreboard might look disturbingly like the Super Bowl’s when all is said and done. [Constitutional Accountability Center] * Hey, law schools! Looking for more students? It looks like a simple legal change can spike your applications. [Fox News] * If you’re in D.C. next week, swing by the Race and Access to the Justice System symposium at Georgetown. [Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics]

By Joe Patrice
Bankruptcy

Morning Docket: 02.18.14

* Mayer Brown issued a response in the wake of its NSA scandal, saying there’s “no indication” spying happened “at the firm.” Spying “of the firm” is another question, but don’t worry, clients, your information is totally secure. [Chicago Tribune] * “He is almost treating the clients as chattel.” Lateraling may have just gotten harder, because a judge in the Howrey case expects you to kiss your book of business goodbye as soon as you ditch your firm. [Wall Street Journal (sub. req.)] * Law school applications have plummeted, but some schools are really struggling. Which had the largest drops in enrollment? Take a wild guess. We’ll have more on this later today. [National Jurist] * You can’t just sit back and relax after you’ve sent off your law school applications. You need to gun your way to enrollment and be as appropriately annoying as possible. [Law Admissions Lowdown / U.S. News] * George Zimmerman, who says God is “the only judge that [he] has to answer to,” hopes that he’ll eventually become a lawyer. We imagine that kind of an attitude will earn him a sanction or two. [CNN]

By Staci Zaretsky
10th Circuit

Morning Docket: 02.03.14

* The U.S. government has decreased funding to outside counsel for the third year in a row, leaving most Biglaw firms high and dry — except for Curtis Mallet-Prevost. Spend that $8.7M in contract cash wisely. [National Law Journal] * Roberta Kaplan, the lawyer who brought DOMA down to its knees, is repping clients who want to intervene in the gay marriage case before the Tenth Circuit. Looks like somebody wants to be 2013 and 2014 Lawyer of the Year. [BuzzFeed] * A judge has granted class action status in the suit challenging Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage. Let’s see if David Boies and Ted Olson can take another case to the Supreme Court and win. [Reuters] * If you’ve been wondering why David Wildstein picked the Friday before the Super Bowl to stab Governor Chris Christie in the back, Lat thinks it might have been “some kind of act of revenge.” [Bergen Record] * No acquittals this time: George Zimmerman is planning to enter the wonderful world of “celebrity” boxing. He’s set to enter the ring on March 1, and is more than likely to get his ass kicked. [Chicago Tribune]

By Staci Zaretsky
Christopher Christie

Morning Docket: 01.30.14

* Attorney General Eric Holder has until tomorrow to decide whether the government will seek the death penalty in the case against Dzhokhar Tsaernaev. Screw his fan clubs, he deserves it. [Associated Press] * “Those who know me know I don’t like to lose.” Good thing he didn’t. Leo Strine was unanimously confirmed as Chief Justice of Delaware’s Supreme Court. We can’t wait to see what he’ll bring to his new bench. [Reuters] * “[N]ominal relief does not necessarily a nominal victory make.” Any day that a lawyer can secure a $1 award for his client and a $34,772 award of fees for himself is a very successful day as a lawyer. [New York Law Journal] * The mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey, was sued, and she’s blaming Chris Christie and his allies for the whole thing. When the governor found out, he had just finished bringing about world peace. [Star-Ledger] * Kansas Law will offer in-state tuition to people near Kansas City, Missouri. It must be hurting to fill its seats to make such an offer just because the city name has Kansas in it. [Kansas City Business Journal] * George Zimmerman’s estranged wife, Shellie, is well on her way to getting a default judgment of divorce. She may be down one dog in her life, but she still wants custody of their two pets. [Orlando Sentinel]

By Staci Zaretsky
Art

Morning Docket: 01.24.14

* Who doesn't love fee voyeurism? It pays to be a winner in an antitrust case. How many millions did Robins Kaplan just rake in? Just part of the largest attorney fee award ever handed out in a private antitrust case, no biggie. [Am Law Daily] * In this glass half-full world, about half of state Attorneys General are in favor of gay marriage — but some of them would go ahead and defend their state’s laws anyway. Boo. [WSJ Law Blog] * It might be “pretty basic,” but Chris Christie received a document subpoena over the Bridgegate scandal. Not for nothing, but we hear that the governor was in the middle of bringing about world peace when he got the news. [Bloomberg] * Hofstra Law is the latest school to launch its own “law school law firm” in an effort find jobs for its graduates close the justice gap. Welcome aboard the bandwagon, enjoy your stay! [Hofstra Law News] * Hunter Moore, the king of online revenge porn, was indicted on 15 federal charges by a grand jury. “We’re superpleased that the FBI have brought this to fruition,” says a victim’s mother. So is everyone else. [TIME] * “I have this much respect for the American judicial system.” George Zimmerman has a new painting for sale, and this time he’s ripping the Special Prosecutor who charged him with second-degree murder. [CNN]

By Staci Zaretsky