Justice Department

Morning Docket: 06.17.21

* A trademark lawsuit filed by Ice Cube against Robinhood has been dismissed. Guess the judge put "ice" on that litigation... [Yahoo News] * Prosecutors say Michael Avenatti, Stormy Daniels's former lawyer, deserves "very substantial" prison time for crimes he purportedly committed. [NBC News] * The Justice Department has ended a criminal inquiry and lawsuit over the publication of a book by John Bolton. [New York Times] * Congressman Mo Brooks has purportedly accused the person who served process on him for a lawsuit related to the Capitol riots of trespassing. [Hill] * A Utah prosecutor has apologized for telling a lawmaker to "die and go to hell" for interrupting his afternoon nap. Guess someone was a little grumpy... [New York Post]

Joe Biden Had ‘No Idea’ Rudy Was Getting Raided

Meanwhile, Trump was busy lamenting the country-loving patriot's plight on Fox News.

Congratulations To The 2021 Bristow Fellows

Plus the law schools and lower-court judges producing the most Bristows.

Morning Docket: 02.09.21

* A lawsuit has been filed following the Rose Bowl being played in Texas this year because of COVID-19. They should have a bowl game to resolve the dispute... [Fox News] * President Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen has apologized to Stormy Daniels for putting her through "needless pain." [Yahoo News] * A Pennsylvania lawyer, who allegedly helped clients commit insurance fraud, has been disbarred. [Bloomberg Law] * Robinhood is facing a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of a college student who allegedly killed himself after purportedly sustaining trading losses using the platform. [Hill] * The Justice Department has dropped a lawsuit filed against a former aide to Melania Trump over a tell-all book published about the Trump Administration. That book must be a pager-turner... [Washington Post]

Morning Docket: 02.04.21

* A woman accused of assaulting a police officer for impounding her pig has been assigned counsel. Guess the government is paying that lawyer's "bacon"... [Texarkana Gazette] * The Justice Department has dropped a lawsuit against Yale University alleging that the school discriminated against Asian and white applicants. [CNN] * The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Germany in an action filed by the heirs of individuals who had their art stolen by the Nazis. [SCOTUSBlog] * A Cleveland lawyer is suing a former client who punched him in court. [Cleavland.com] * A Texas lawyer connected to a probe involving the Attorney General of Texas says he found a GPS tracker on his car. Sounds like something from an episode of Dallas... [Fox News]

Who Will Be Nominated To Serve As Attorney General Under President Joe Biden?

When it comes to possible AG picks, President-elect Joe Biden enjoys an embarrassment of riches.

Morning Docket: 10.07.20

* The Supreme Court has decided not to hear a copyright infringement case involving Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven." Was really looking forward to a live performance at the Supreme Court... [Fox News] * The St. Louis couple, who allegedly pointed guns at protesters earlier this year, has been indicted for multiple felonies. [New York Times] * Two South Florida attorneys are alleged to have participated in a scheme to steal foreclosure sale proceeds. [NBC News] * John McAfee, the software engineer and namesake of the antivirus products, has been arrested on tax evasion charges. [New York Times] * E. Jean Carroll is seeking to prevent the Justice Department from becoming involved with her lawsuit which accuses President Trump of sexual assault. [CNN] * A local Pennsylvania District Attorney is in hot water after empty beer cans were found in his office. Hopefully the Pennsylvania residents were drinking a few Yuenglings... [NBC News]

Morning Docket: 09.16.20

* The New York Attorney General has announced a settlement with Dunkin' over a security breach. I don't mind others knowing how much pumpkin coffee I've been drinking... [CBS News] * Oral arguments at New York's highest court were canceled earlier this month because one of the attorneys had a high temperature. [Brooklyn Eagle] * The Justice Department is looking into whether John Bolton (not Michael Bolton) improperly divulged confidential information in his new book. [Fox News] * A Texas lawyer has pleaded guilty to smuggling drugs into a jail. [CBS News] * Facebook apparently may be subject to an antitrust lawsuit sometime this year. MySpace is still a competitor of theirs.... right? [Yahoo News] * The family of Breonna Taylor has settled their claims against the City of Louisville, Kentucky, for $12 million. [CNN] * A new lawsuit asserts Bud Light's Lime-A-Ritas falsely suggest they have tequila. Maybe Bud can assert the "beer before liquor, never sicker" defense. [Fox News]

Morning Docket: 09.09.20

* Three New Hampshire hospitals are suing Vermont over Medicaid reimbursements. Maybe they'll accept payment in maple syrup... [Keene Sentinel] * The Kansas Supreme Court has ordered a suspended attorney to serve a 30-day jail sentence for practicing law while his license was revoked. [Kansas City Star] * The Justice Department is asking to defend President Trump in a defamation lawsuit over sexual assault allegations. [CNN] * An Iowa lawyer has been suspended from practice for accepting a settlement offer that his client rejected. [Bloomberg Law] * President Trump is expected to announce a new list of potential Supreme Court picks as soon as today. The former reality show host should know some interesting ways to make the announcement... [Guardian]

Congratulations To The 2020 Bristow Fellows

Plus the 10 most recent classes of Bristow Fellows, and the law schools and lower-court clerkships from whence they came.

Morning Docket: 04.22.20

* A lawyer who got ejected from the Second Circuit last year is asking the Supreme Court to hear his case. Since the high court is conducting arguments by phone currently, maybe he'll just get hung up on. [New York Law Journal] * A lawyer who stole $128,000 from a mentally ill client has been suspended from practice. [Bloomberg Law] * Missouri has become the first U.S. state to sue China over the COVID-19 pandemic. Not sure this is a distinction to be proud of. [U.S. News and World Report] * A Texas judge has been forced to take down a rainbow flag after an attorney filed a complaint and compared the symbol to a swastika and Confederate flag. [Hill] * Attorney General Barr has called stay-at-home orders "disturbingly close to house arrest" and the Justice Department might take actions against states that go too far. [NBC News] * Lawyers are having a difficult time determining if COVID-19 is an act of God. Maybe they should subpoena the Almighty to get more clarity... [Bloomberg Law]

Morning Docket: 12.16.19

* Amazon and the Justice Department are sparring over a lawsuit about the Pentagon's procurement efforts. The feds need to be careful, Amazon may pull their Prime memberships! [Washington Post] * President Trump is shopping around for an impeachment lawyer. Hoping for an Apprentice-style selection process. [Vanity Fair] * A lawyer has been charged with smuggling drugs into jail for a fee. This attorney shouldn't quit his day job. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette] * The New York Attorney General's Office has egg on its face after a case it filed against Exxon was dismissed. [New York Post] * A lawyer missing in Georgia for nearly a week was found dead from a car accident. [CNN Intentional]

Congratulations To The 2019 Bristow Fellows

This time around, there's an interesting little twist.

Non Sequiturs: 03.31.19

* Even Jonathan Adler, no fan of Obamacare, can't support the Justice Department's shift of position in the ongoing Affordable Care Act litigation out of Texas. [Volokh Conspiracy / Reason] * John Lauro continues to protect the reputation of his client Wendi Adelson, ex-wife of murdered law professor Dan Markel. [2paragraphs] * Meanwhile, another player in the Dan Markel case -- David Oscar Markus, counsel to Charlie Adelson -- argues that Attorney General William Barr and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein made the right call on obstruction of justice. [The Hill] * Speaking of the Mueller investigation, Brianne Gorod points out that Congress has the power to ask the district court to release grand jury transcripts and related information from the case. [Take Care] * Whether or not you agree with Senator Marco Rubio's proposed constitutional amendment to fix the size of the U.S. Supreme Court at nine justices, it's not a bad idea to think about possible ways to restructure SCOTUS -- as Gordon Renneisen does here. [Law360] * Meanwhile, as the Court grapples with the cross-shaped war memorial case this Term, Rick Garnett wonders: can a liberal state favor one religion over others? [First Things via PrawfsBlawg] * Legal tech M&A activity continues apace, with vLex's acquisition of Justis. [Artificial Lawyer]

Morning Docket: 02.19.19

* 16 states, including New York and California, filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump yesterday -- yes, on President's Day -- challenging his declaration of a national emergency. [NBC News] * Meredith Watson, one of the women to accuse Virginia Lieutenant Governor and MoFo partner Justin Fairfax of sexual assault, writes in an op-ed that she's willing to publicly testify about the allegations. [Washington Post] * North Carolina elections shenanigans: state investigators the allege Republican candidate engaged in a “coordinated, unlawful and substantially resourced” absentee ballot strategy. [New York Times] * Gibson Dunn is suing the Justice Department over their about face on online gambling. [Law.com] * Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers really wants to bring medical marijuana to the badger state. [Huffington Post]