Marriage

Attorney Misconduct

Morning Docket: 05.25.12

* In a Supreme Court decision split across gender lines, prosecutors can now get a do-over on criminal charges without double jeopardy, even if an otherwise deadlocked jury unanimously rejected them. [New York Times] * And yet another day ended without a verdict in the John Edwards campaign finance trial, but the jury asked to review every exhibit in the case. The former presidential candidate must feel like he’s being punk’d. [CNN] * The DOJ found that two prosecutors in the Ted Stevens case committed reckless professional misconduct punishable by unpaid time off. Looks like they’ll be getting an extended Memorial Day break. [Blog of Legal Times] * Hot on the heels of Obama’s announcement in support of gay marriage, yet another California judge has found that DOMA is unconstitutional (along with a provision of the tax code). [Poliglot / Metro Weekly] * Occupy Wall Street is suing for $48K over the destruction of the group’s “People’s Library” after their eviction from Zuccotti Park. But let’s get real, who wants used books that reek like patchouli and pot? [Bloomberg] * More than one million “de facto spouses” in Quebec may soon be automatically married by the state against their will. Imagine how much fun it’ll be to get a divorce from someone you never actually married. [Slate] * Two waitresses who claim they were fired for complaining about their former employer’s “no fatties” policy will get to bring their $15M lawsuit before a jury. Hopefully Peter Griffin isn’t a juror. [Law & Daily Life / FindLaw]

By Staci Zaretsky
Bad Ideas

Black Eyes and Bliss: A Courtroom Marriage Proposal, Domestic Violence Style

Women who are newly engaged tend to brag about the way their fiancé proposed to them. So, what happens when you've got two criminal cases pending against you, and your boyfriend is just dying to pop the question? Is that the kind of backstory you'd want to tell all your friends before spilling the beans on how your fiancé asked for your hand in marriage? Apparently, the answer is "yes," because this unlucky couple's engagement tale was published in the local paper for all the world to see....

By Staci Zaretsky
Akin Gump

Legal Eagle Wedding Watch: The Voice

Last week, we pretended that it wasn't January by looking back at some of the biggest legal weddings of late 2011. There was a lot of muy prestigioso lawyer matrimony in the last part of the year. Before we delve into the January crop of weddings, which -- let's face it -- is often subpar, here are some from the fall that we haven't featured yet. These are good ones, folks. Think Rhodes Scholars. Think SCOTUS clerks....

By Laurie Lin
Celebrities

Morning Docket: 11.15.11

* Deborah Batts, the first openly gay judge to serve on the federal bench, got married this weekend. We hope she doesn’t become the first openly gay federal judge to get divorced. [New York Times] * Things are getting hairy for Kim Kardashian, and not just because she’s Armenian. A hair removal company is suing […]

By Staci Zaretsky
Blind Item

Law School Blind Item: Hot for Teacher

Romances between law professors and law students: they happen. Law students are adults, after all, and they should be allowed to make their own decisions in matters of the heart. Our latest blind item has to do with the extracurricular activities of a prominent law professor....

By David Lat