Justice Don Willett

Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 12.29.15

* The legalese in user agreements is no joke. Fortunately there's a cartoon -- yup, you heard right, a cartoon -- to make sense of the iTunes agreement. [Slate] * Science says we should let go of our workplace grudges. I guess "science" never spent Christmas Eve redacting Excel spreadsheets so a production could be made by midnight. [Quartz] * The Tennessee judge who characterized the Supreme Court as wielding an "iron fist and limp wrist" over Obergefell... yeah, he got reprimanded. [Legal Profession Blog] * What the hell is going on at University of Louisville Law School. [Tax Prof Blog] * The bureaucratic bulls**t behind Obama's inability to close the doors on Gitmo. [Huffington Post] * The best (worst?) of the right-wing blogosphere. Be sure to take your blood pressure medication before you click. [Village Voice] * The crime of being young, black and free. [The Root] * Congrats to Texas's Tweeter Laureate, Justice Don Willett, on this latest positive press! [San Antonio Express-News]

By Kathryn Rubino
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 08.06.15

* Another American doctor is accused of illegally killing another lesser-known lion in Zimbabwe, but this time, Biglaw is in the doctor's corner. Apparently when you're a hunter who's become the hunted, you turn to Blank Rome. [Am Law Daily] * Where Dewey eat when allegedly conspiring to scam the firm's creditors about its financial situation? According to testimony in the D&L trial, criminal activity reportedly tastes better when paired with fine dining experiences. [WSJ Law Blog] * At some point in the very near future, it's likely that one or more new Supreme Court justices will need to be appointed, and some say that it's obvious that Justice Don Willett, the Tweeter Laureate of Texas, is plotting a course to be a nominee. #blessed [Forbes] * The Fourth Circuit handed down an important opinion on cellphone location records, and it looks like the police need a warrant. Thanks for the circuit split. Quick, someone write a law review note before SCOTUS takes it. [Volokh Conspiracy / Washington Post] * For some would-be law students, applying early decision may not be the right choice. After all, if you think you can get into ALL of the T14 schools, we bet you'd probably like to see if your huge ego is correct. [Law Admissions Lowdown / U.S. News & World Report]

By Staci Zaretsky
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 07.23.15

* Remember The Spread Love Band? They're the street band that played near Skadden's D.C. office. Skadden hated them so much they tried to convince the Secret Service to shoo them. Now they're playing the Kennedy Center. It's like the old joke, "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" except instead of "practice," the answer is "enrage a bunch of uptight lawyers." [Washingtonian] * Important request of the ABA: just say no to your task force on legal education financing, chaired by a member of the Infilaw board. [The Lawyer Bubble] * What's the best big city for law school grads? [Adjunct Law Prof Blog] * Aaaand what's the best small city for law school grads? [Adjunct Law Prof Blog] * Lawyer fined around $30K for blowing an email review. It's OK, it might not really be legal work anymore. [Press Gazette] * Rental car companies tried to deduct collision damage on their taxes. That didn't work out for them. [Tax Prof Blog] * Justice Willett discusses social media and the judiciary. [Washington Times] * Judge tried to interfere in the kitty abusing case against his son. Some real-life Itchy the Mouse stuff. [Law360 (sub. req.)] * R.I.P. Professor and Associate Dean Christopher M. Fairman. [Ohio State Law]

By Joe Patrice
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 06.08.15

* After a particularly bootylicious performance in Morocco that was aired on live TV, singer Jennifer Lopez is facing a lawsuit which alleges that she “disturbed public order and tarnished women’s honor and respect.” Her first affirmative defense: Dat ass tho. [Newsweek] * Our congratulations go out to Texas Supreme Court Justice Don R. Willett (@JusticeWillett) for achieving the rare and prestigious honor of being recognized as the “Tweeter Laureate of #Texas." Way to dole out judicial wit and humor 140 characters at a time, Your Honor. [WSJ Law Blog] * Howrey gonna pay our creditors if we can't cash in on unfinished business? A judge recently overturned this failed firm's bankruptcy court win, noting that since "[t]he law firm defendants performed the work; they deserve the pay." [Dow Jones Business News] * Sorry, job hunters, but despite what you may have heard about the boom years being back, the legal job market is stuck in a "pattern of anemic growth," and it's been that way since the Great Recession. Please give your mother our condolences. [Am Law Daily] * It's only a matter of time before the majority of U.S. states legalize marijuana, and Illinois may be the next in line to do so. If you're thinking about joining the green rush and want to learn more, come to our marijuana law reception next week. [Chicago Tribune]

By Staci Zaretsky
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 02.23.15

* Two jurors excused in the Jodi Arias sentencing retrial. Those were the lucky ones who were able to never have to hear about this case again. [KFYI] * After handing down their latest law school rankings, NLJ also talked with hiring partners about getting hired. [National Law Journal] * Louisiana. Never stop being you. Longest sitting judge in the state temporarily removed from post pending investigation. [Times-Picayune] * Alas, even Paul Clement couldn't help poor Bobby Chen resuscitate his once abandoned Supreme Court case. And Bobby Chen's argument wasn't even as much as a lost cause as pretending the Affordable Care Act was unconstitutional. [Wall Street Journal] * Hm. A lot of law blog content ends up suspiciously under someone else's banner. [Associate's Mind] * Justice Don Willett is a Twitter superstar. Or should I say, @JusticeWillett. [KXAN] * Hey guys, the New York Fed thinks this "student debt" thing is kind of a big deal. [TaxProf Blog] * If you can make it to New Haven on Thursday, you can see David Lat and other panelists speak on "The Perils of Vine, Instagram, Snapchat & Twitter: Legal Considerations of Social Media." [CT Bar]

By Joe Patrice
Drinking

Non-Sequiturs: 11.17.14

* ADA complaint filed by former TV anchor fired for drunkenness. On behalf of the ATL staff, we’re watching this one closely. [Chicagoland Radio and Media] * Some of these made their way into the pages of Above the Law before, but this is an excellent compilation of “12 Unbelievable Courtroom Moments Caught on Tape.” [Robert Reeves Law] * Rhinos, sharks, and the Secretary of Commerce walk into an Elie post… [Redline] * A look back at FedSoc’s 2014 National Lawyers Convention. It sounds like it ended with Bailey’s and hot chocolate with Justice Don Willett, so that can’t be bad. [Wonkette] * Butthurt police detective suing defense lawyer for criticizing the investigation. [Washington Post] * BP argues that fining them more than they’re willing to pay for poisoning the Gulf of Mexico would be “legal chaos.” As opposed to that regular chaos of dumping millions of barrels of oil into the water and getting a slap on the wrist for it. [Breaking Energy] * Banker with ties to Linklaters, Skadden, and Latham & Watkins awaiting trial for murdering two prostitutes in Hong Kong. Just go ahead and put whatever American Psycho joke you think of here. [Roll on Friday] * Should litigation financing be disclosed? [Litigation Funding Central] * A collection of stories about the diversity issues at Harvard Law School. Sounds like a delightful place if you’re white, male, and heterosexual. [Socratic Shortcomings]

By Joe Patrice
Law Schools

Non-Sequiturs: 05.12.14

* Human Rights Watch wants to “stop killer robots” from being used as cops. In case that was really weighing on your mind. [PC World] * A profile and Q&A with Twitter’s foremost jurist, Justice Don Willett of Texas. He indulges us with answers longer than 140 characters. [Coverage Opinions] * The Berkeley bird beheader gets four years probation and service to an animal shelter. And you just know some bird is going to try and start something with him on the first day. [Associated Press via San Diego Union-Times] * Instead of announcing a new dean, Louisville has given a three-year extension to its interim dean to keep holding the “interim” title. What’s going on? Could one of the commenters be right: that the school doesn’t want to take on a new salary because they expect the school to fold? [The Faculty Lounge] * The Drake Law service dog lawsuit is over. [Des Moines Register] * Today is the last day to enter the New York’s Funniest Professional Competition! [Manhattan Comedy School / Gotham Comedy Club] * Internet collegiality alert: Internet Tax Lawyers blog blatantly rips off another blogger. For shame. [Law and More] * Comparing the U.S. News peer ranking with which faculty’s academic writing really gets read. [Tax Prof Blog]

By Joe Patrice