Gerrymandering

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 07.03.19

* “Everyone in America counts in the census, and today’s decision means we all will.” The Justice Department has officially confirmed that in light of the Supreme Court’s recent decision, a citizenship question will not be added to the 2020 Census. [Washington Post] * Has Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg handed off the high court’s liberal torch to Justice Elena Kagan? Based on the fact that the Notorious RBG assigned the dissent in the partisan gerrymandering case, it sure looks like it. [NPR] * Dozens of prominent Republicans plan to submit an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in support of a “common sense, textualist” ruling that the Civil Rights Act outlaws discrimination against LGBT people in the workplace. [New York Times] * Allen & Overy and O'Melveny & Myers are still in merger talks, but this has been going on for more than a year now and it seems like it's taking forever for anything to happen. [American Lawyer] * Michael Avenatti, the Lawyer of the Year accused of bank fraud and embezzlement, is refusing to give up his desktop, iPhone, and iPad passwords to federal prosecutors in New York. [Big Law Business]

By Staci Zaretsky
Non-Sequiturs

Non Sequiturs: 01.06.19

* It's baaack: partisan gerrymandering returns to the Supreme Court -- and in the view of veteran SCOTUS watcher Amy Howe, it's unlikely that the justices will duck the merits this time around. [SCOTUSblog] * Article III standing and the Stored Communications Act: Orin Kerr argues that it should be viewed through the lens of property rather than privacy. [Volokh Conspiracy / Reason] * Carrie Severino calls out Senate Democrats for their persistent -- and in her view, unjustified -- questioning of judicial nominees about their religious views and affiliations. [Bench Memos / National Review] * Joel Cohen identifies an interesting issue: should a defendant prejudiced by government misconduct in a case receive a break at sentencing? [Law & Crime] * Here are some highlights from Chief Justice John Roberts's year-end report on the federal judiciary, courtesy of Howard Wasserman. [PrawfsBlawg] * The new year is a time of beginnings -- and endings. Concurring Opinions, you will be missed. [Concurring Opinions]

By David Lat
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 03.21.18

* The President apparently got around? Former Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal has filed suit against American Media, Inc., owner of The National Enquirer, to get out of an agreement that's preventing her from discussing her alleged affair with Donald Trump, which reportedly occurred around the same time as the Stormy Daniels affair. [CBS News] * What's going on at Latham & Watkins in the wake its former chairman Lathaming himself over inappropriate conduct involving "communications of a sexual nature"? According to a source at the firm, "[e]veryone is shocked" and no one has any idea who will replace Bill Voge as chair. [American Lawyer] * "This is not what the impeachment power is for...." Pennsylvania GOP lawmakers are moving to impeach the Democratic state Supreme Court justices who ruled the state’s congressional map was unconstitutionally gerrymandered. [Huffington Post] * Dechert has settled an age and sex discrimination case filed by female staff members. There are no details of the settlement available, but if you recall, the firm countered the ex-staffers' claims by saying that technological advances had made their jobs redundant. [Legal Intelligencer] * On Monday, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant signed the most restrictive abortion bill in the country, banning abortion after 15 weeks of gestation. Less than 24 hours later, Judge Carlton Reeves granted a temporary restraining order in favor of the state's lone abortion clinic. [Associated Press]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 02.01.18

The American Bar Association needs some new blood! A new report from Law School Transparency and the Iowa State Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division recommends adding some younger members to the ABA's Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar. [Law.com] Partisan gerrymandering challenges may be making their way through the court system, but don't expect them to be a deciding factor in the midterm elections. [Big Law Business] It's never a great start to a trial when the judge has to explain the case isn't about whether your client is "evil." [Law360] Another day, another looming "constitutional crisis." [Washington Post] Everyone is out at USA Gymnastics. It is the absolute least they could do. [CNN] Stephen Cutler may be moving from JPMorgan Chase to Simpson Thatcher, but he says his practice will still focus on internal and government investigations, corporate governance matters and crisis management. [Law.com] Hank Greenberg of Greenberg Traurig is the president-elect designee of the New York State Bar Association. [New York Law Journal]

By Kathryn Rubino