Pam Bondi

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 02.13.18

* Trump tabs Skadden partner Michael Scudder for Seventh Circuit seat. Here's some quotes from James Comey praising Scudder, so we know the Deep State must be happy. [National Law Journal] * Yes, it's accurate to say that the specific job of sheriff has an "Anglo-American heritage." And, yes, given that it's entirely unnecessary to do so -- when terms like "common law" exist -- the fact that someone would use that phrasing is indicative of racial bias. In fact, if anyone drops "heritage" when talking about white people it's probably a bad sign. [Washington Post] * All 56 Attorneys General are asking Congress to end forced arbitration in sexual harassment cases. Florida's Pam Bondi stepped out of her usual ethical cloud to say, "decades of private arbitration proceedings regarding sexual harassment have had the unintended consequence of protecting serial violators." You can go ahead and delete "regarding sexual harassment" and only improve the accuracy there. [Daily Business Review] * DLA Piper has a new senior partner, which I believe grants him the official title of "Pied Piper." [International] * ABA looking to make online education easier. [Inside Higher Ed] * Jones Day continues to have the top law firm brand according to the annual Acritas survey of clients. [American Lawyer] * One of the tourists killed in the Grand Canyon helicopter crash this weekend was a lawyer. [American Lawyer]

By Joe Patrice
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 09.21.16

* Florida AG Pam Bondi admits she took donation money from Donald Trump when she was toying with an investigation of Trump University, but says she has no regrets about keeping the cash. "If I had returned it, you would have reported 'Bondi accepted a bribe, got caught and returned it." [AP] * Could President Barack Obama sue Donald Trump over the "birther" conspiracy? If so, what would be his cause of action? He could potentially file suit for defamation, but as a public figure, he'd have an uphill battle proving actual malice and damages. [Big Law Business] * Ahmad Rahami, the man accused of Saturday's bombings in New York and New Jersey, has been federally charged with use of a weapon of mass destruction, bombing, destruction of property, and use of a destructive device. His bail has been set at $5.2 million. There's been no word yet as to whether he has hired an attorney. [CNN] * According to Judge Alison Nathan of the Southern District of New York, bitcoins are, in fact, money -- at least under this federal anti-money laundering statute. If you think "funds" are "pecuniary resources… generally accepted as a medium of exchange or a means of payment," you better believe bitcoins are a form of money. [WSJ Law Blog] * "We think that they are attempting to use civil discovery to get around the limits on criminal discovery in the criminal case." According to Gloria Allred, the civil sexual abuse case her client has filed against Bill Cosby in California is going to be put on the back burner for a time into his criminal charges can be more fully litigated. [Reuters]

By Staci Zaretsky
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 09.08.16

* Jeremy Blachman and Cameron Stracher's satire on legal education, The Curve (reviewed here and here), is being developed for television by NBC. [Variety] * Netflix is doubling down on legal documentaries; now they are taking on the Amanda Knox case. [Huffington Post] * Exploring the legal issues in a classic Star Trek episode. [The Legal Geeks] * Which law school classes will actually predict your success at the bar exam? [TaxProf Blog] * What are the repercussions for Donald Trump after more information is revealed surrounding his interactions with Florida Attorney General, Pam Bondi? [Salon] * Greta Van Susteren left Fox News -- will there be legal action? [Law and More]

By Kathryn Rubino
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 09.06.16

* Britney Spears's lawyers are really quick to threaten lawsuits. Allegedly. [TMZ] * The only Harry Potter analogy to tax proposals you'll ever need. [TaxProf Blog] * The legal case to take down an alleged Hollywood Peeping Tom. [Perez Hilton] * EpiPen's maker, Mylan Pharmaceuticals, is in more hot water. This time it is of the New York Attorney General/antitrust variety. [Gizmodo] * Copyright troll caught in its own petard. [BBC] * An update on the minor-league baseball wage litigation. [Fangraphs] * Rating the sketch factor of Donald Trump's donation to Florida's Attorney General, Pam Bondi. [Slate] * The work of a jury consultant, Dr. Bull, will be coming to a TV near you. [Law360]

By Kathryn Rubino