Law School Deans

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 07.22.19

* In a series of wide-ranging interviews across the political spectrum — or “Fake News,” per President Trump — the commander in chief’s closest allies admitted that they didn’t think he had any idea what he’d done or what kind of havoc he’d wreaked with his racist tweets. [Washington Post] * According to House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, former special counsel Robert Mueller’s report contains "very substantial evidence" that the president is "guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors.” Let’s see if Mueller’s testimony can change any minds on impeachment. [CNN] * After one scandal too many, it looks like Deutsche Bank has decided to hire someone new to look after its legal and regulatory affairs. [Corporate Counsel] * Students and alumni from Penn Law are calling for Professor Amy Wax’s ouster from faculty teaching duties following her latest foray into racism. [Big Law Business] * Aside from Sophia Chua-Rubenfeld and Clayton Kozinski, who else will be clerking for Supreme Court justices for the upcoming October term? In addition to these controversial choices, we’ve got the second blind person to ever clerk at the high court, and someone who was picked dead last in the 2010 MLB draft. [Associated Press] * Joan Bullock, former dean of Thomas Jefferson Law School, has decamped to become Dean at the Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Congrats! [National Jurist]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 05.24.19

* “It is not and never has been the [DOJ’s] policy to target [journalists] for reporting. But Julian Assange is no journalist." Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, has been indicted on 18 charges under the Espionage Act in one of the largest leaks of classified information in U.S. history. [USA Today] * Emory Law School now has its first-ever female dean. A big congratulations to Mary Anne Bobinski, who will be the first woman to lead the law school in its 103-year history. [Daily Report] * Steven Hammond, a former Hughes Hubbard partner who was charged with public lewdness after being accused of masturbating in an Equinox steam room, recently had that charged dismissed and is now suing the gym for defamation. [New York Law JournalP] * In case you missed it, DLA Piper recently elected a new U.S. chair of the firm. Congratulations to New York-based intellectual property lawyer Frank Ryan, who will succeed co-chairs Roger Meltzer and Cameron “Jay” Rains in the role. [Big Law Business] * James O. Bass Sr., the longtime leader at the firm of Bass Berry & Sims, has passed away at the age of 108. RIP. [Tennessean]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 04.24.19

* Impending constitutional crisis alert: President Trump is opposed to his White House aides -- especially former White House Counsel, "real lawyer" Don McGahn -- testifying before Congress because they already cooperated with special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. [Washington Post] * Meanwhile, fake lawyer Michael Cohen, who served as legal counsel to Trump for about decade, will soon report to his Federal Correctional Institution - Otisville, which has been referred to as a "castle behind bars." At least he'll get to hang out with The Situation. [Daily Beast] * Bill Cosby is suing Quinn Emanuel over its "unconscionable fees," claiming that the firm overstaffed his case to the tune of $8.55 million over the course of nine months. Maybe stop checking you emails so much? [American Lawyer] * George and Amal Clooney will be on campus at Columbia Law tomorrow for the official launch of TrialWatch, an initiative that will monitor trials acros the globe to protect human rights and eventually create a global justice index. [Law.com] * Another happy ending for Robert Kraft (for the time being): Prosecutors have been blocked from releasing footage that allegedly shows the New England Patriots owner receiving sexual favors in a massage parlor. [Reuters] * On the next episode of "Empire," Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo, the brothers who helped stage a racist and homophobic attack against Jussie Smollett, will file a defamation lawsuit against the actor's attorneys. [Big Law Business] * Cooley Law has a new president and dean following the departure of Don LeDuc. James McGrath will join the school from Texas A&M Law, where he serves as associate dean of academic support and bar services. Good luck! [WMU Cooley Law]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 04.12.19

* Judge Maryanne Trump Barry recently retired from the Third Circuit, meaning that the judicial ethics inquiry into her alleged inheritance tax evasion be all for naught. [Associated Press] * No, it isn't true that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Supreme Court papers won't be released "until a hundred years after the last justice with whom she has served is no longer alive." Much like conspiracy theorists' claims about RBG's death, that would be insane. [National Law Journal] * Numerous progressive groups have asked the House of Representatives to investigate Justice Brett Kavanaugh's "sham confirmation process" after he was accused of sexual misconduct -- but it's unlikely this will go anywhere. [BuzzFeed] * In case you missed it, former Skadden partner Greg Craig was charged in connection with the Mueller investigation for making false statements to the DOJ that were tied to his work for Ukraine. If you recall, former Skadden associate Alexander van der Zwaan was the first to be sentenced in the Mueller probe. [American Lawyer] * "I’m used to always being the caretaker for other people. It’s not natural for me to accept help." Dean Lyrissa Lidsky of the University of Missouri School of Law is battling breast cancer, and her law school colleagues and students have offered her all of their support. We're with you too, Dean! #LidskyStrong [Law.com] * Pharma bro Martin Shkreli, whose prison pals "affectionately call him 'asshole," is reportly fighting an antitrust lawsuit from solitary confinement. [Big Law Business]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 03.20.19

* "It’ll never happen. I guarantee it won’t happen for six years." Contrary to what Democratic presidential candidates are suggesting, President Trump doesn't want anything to do with expanding the size of the Supreme Court. [Reuters] * As it turns out, special counsel Robert Mueller was investigating Michael Cohen much sooner than he originally led on, and the Cohen probe was handed off to the S.D.N.Y. long before campaign-finance violations were even discovered. [Wall Street Journal] * Thanks to a record-setting $10.5 million gift, Georgetown Law is expanding its campus. The school recently purchased a 130,000-square-foot building for $70 million and plans to use the new space as a home for all of its clinical progams. [National Law Journal] * Congratulations to Michèle Alexandre, who was recently appointed as dean of Stetson University College of Law. She will be the school's first black dean in history. [Philadelphia Tribune] * Patriots owner Robert Kraft has been offered a pre-trial diversion deal on his solicitation charge. All he has to do is admit he would’ve been found guilty, do 100 hours of community service, and attend a class on the dangers of prostitution. [AP News]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 03.11.19

* According to House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), special counsel Robert Mueller is making “a mistake” by not putting President Trump under oath for in-person testimony, since “he's made plain in the past [that] he feels it's perfectly fine to lie to the public.” [NBC News] * Per his lawyer, Covington Catholic student Nick Sandmann will be suing CNN for at least $250M because the news network was “probably more vicious in its direct attacks” than the Washington Post. [The Hill] * Lynne Patton, purported “law school grad” and actual prop for Rep. Mark Meadows, will soon be seen on reality TV, with Trump’s permission, of course. [CNN] * Texas lawyers have filed suit against the State Bar of Texas, claiming that the use of their mandatory dues to fund diversity programming and other legislative initiatives is unconstitutional. [SE Texas Record] * Women are dominating the playing field at this year’s SXSW festival and conference, making up about 68 percent of the attorneys who will be featured as speakers or panelists during the event. [Texas Lawyer] * In a split vote, the Maryland Court of Appeals reinstated “Serial” podcast subject Adnan Syed’s murder conviction, ruling that even though he may have had ineffective assistance of counsel, that wasn’t enough to overcome the rest of the evidence against him. [Reuters] * Bill Powers, former UT president and former UT Law dean, RIP. [Statesman]

By Staci Zaretsky