Murder

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 08.14.17

* James Alex Fields Jr., the 20-year-old accused of ramming his car into a group of counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, killing one and injuring numerous others, has been charged with one count of second-degree murder, three counts of malicious wounding, and one count related to leaving the scene of an accident. [NPR] * Heather Heyer, the 32-year-old woman who was killed in Charlottesville this weekend, was a paralegal at a small law firm where she managed the bankruptcy department. She was described as woman willing to stand up against "any type of discrimination." We'll have more on this tragic news later today. [New York Times] * After being urged by Senator Ted Cruz to "prosecute this grotesque act of domestic terrorism," the Department of Justice has opened a federal civil rights investigation into the deadly white supremacy rally that occurred this past weekend in Charlottesville, as the events that unfolded there "strike at the heart of American law and justice." [Independent Journal Review; The Hill] * "Evidently that's not going to happen." Senator Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is walking back comments that he made back in April about the likelihood of a Supreme Court justice (i.e., Justice Anthony Kennedy) retiring this summer. Maybe he'll get his wish next summer. [Reuters] * Classes are supposed to begin at Charlotte Law in three weeks, but according to a spokesman from the University of North Carolina system, the school's temporary license to operate has expired. The dean of the troubled law school, on the other hand, says the license hasn't expired. Hmm... [Charlotte Observer]

By Staci Zaretsky
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 07.27.17

* More details on the lawyer who took down the University of Florida's general counsel. [Deadspin] * Welp, this is what happens when they stop teaching treason at Harvard Law School. [Salon] * "Too skinny" is a bad thing when it applies to your health insurance. [The Slot] * The House Judiciary Committee is just bonkers, y'all. [Wonkette] * You should probably be stocking up on these. [Corporette] * Is your privacy taking a beating in the war against opioids? [Overlawyered] * Advice for lawyers: pick up the damn phone. [Wisconsin Lawyer] * Rikers Island traded one awful practice for another. [Pacific Standard] * Will this terrible murder be the beginning of an era of regulation for the cruise line industry? [Law and More]

By Kathryn Rubino
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 06.26.17

* Kasowitz Benson may have gotten a minor "Trump bump" from other associates in the most recent edition of the Vault 100 law firm rankings thanks to Marc Kasowitz's representation of the president, but the firm's own associates don't seem to be too impressed. In fact, they listed "Trump" as one of the things they dislike most about the firm. [DealBook / New York Times] * Despite protests from her lawyers that a deposition would "interfere with her ability to perform her duties [as an unpaid advisor] at the White House," a judge has ruled that Ivanka Trump may be deposed in the IP infringement suit that was filed by Aquazzura over the First Daughter's look-alike shoes. [CNN Money] * No matter how many times we think we've dispelled this rumor, it keeps rearing its ugly head again and again. Word is somehow still on the street that Justice Anthony Kennedy will retire from the Supreme Court, as early as this Term or next. But... what if it actually turns out to be true that the justice who holds abortion rights in his hands will be leaving the bench? [Newsweek] * Three months have passed since Trinh Huynh, an in-house attorney at UPS, was gunned down during her commute, and her accused killer has now been indicted on murder charges. Raylon Browning may have targeted Huynh, as surveillance footage indicated that he was following her. [Daily Report] * After 69 years as a journalist -- 58 of them spent reporting on the high court -- Lyle Denniston, the dean of the Supreme Court press corps, will be officially hanging up his press pass after today. He'll be teaching a course at Baltimore Law this fall, but after that, he has no set plans. Congratulations on a remarkable career! You'll be missed. [Constitution Daily / National Constitution Center]

By Staci Zaretsky