Josh Geltzer

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 09.16.19

* Remember Deborah Ramirez, one of the first women to accuse Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct while he was going through his Supreme Court confirmation hearings? It turns out the FBI never really investigated her allegations because of limitations imposed by the Republican-controlled Senate. [New York Times] * President Trump, of course, has come forward to defend Kavanaugh against allegations that the justice exposed himself to unwilling women in college, proclaiming, “He is an innocent man who has been treated HORRIBLY,” and that Kavanaugh “should start suing people for libel, or the Justice Department should come to his rescue.” [NBC News] * What could happen if Donald Trump refuses to step down as president should he lose the 2020 election? National security expert Josh Geltzer says that as a nation, we should “be prepared for the worst.” [Slate] * “Desperate Housewife” Felicity Huffman was sentenced to 14 days in jail, one year of probation, 250 hours of community service, and a $30,000 fine for her role in the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal, while “Fuller House” star Lori Loughlin has “resolved” to stay out of the Big House. [CBS News; Page Six] * In case you missed it, Texas lawyer-politician Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park) made a “death threat” via tweet against Beto O’Rourke, saying “My AR is ready for you,” after the Democratic presidential candidate promised to “take your AR-15[s]” during the latest debate, but there are likely no legal ethics repercussions coming his way. [Texas Lawyer]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 08.11.17

* President Donald Trump rejects reports that he's considered firing special counsel Robert Mueller, while offering a less-than-ringing endorsement of his relationship with Attorney General Jeff Sessions: "It is what it is." [New York Times] * Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, whose house was the subject of a predawn raid by the FBI, parts ways with WilmerHale and goes back to his former lawyers at Miller & Chevalier. [National Law Journal] * Meanwhile, the Trump administration files its opening brief in the Supreme Court in the travel ban litigation. [How Appealing] * Georgetown Law launches a new con-law center, the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, led by star SCOTUS litigator Neal Katyal, former National Security Council official Joshua Geltzer, and former Justice Department official Mary McCord. [ABA Journal] * Some Democratic senators claim that the White House isn't consulting them enough about judicial nominations. [Politico] * The hype may exceed the reality on alternative-fee arrangements -- but not at pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline, which takes an aggressive and innovative approach to AFAs. [Am Law Daily] * Settling the "pink slime" litigation cost Disney/ABC how much? [How Appealing] * Also not cheap: the costs of bad-faith discovery spoliation. [Big Law Business]

By David Lat
9th Circuit

Judge Kozinski Occupies Oakland

These days, mentioning the California city of Oakland conjures up images of tear gas and violence. It's not a place that people associate with innocent fun right now. But Oakland isn't all protesters and police. We bring you a report from a recent visitor to that city, Chief Judge Alex Kozinski, of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit....

By David Lat