Pam Karlan

This was 2019.

As ugly as it gets online, remember it's just a reflection of what's out in the real world too.

For the record, this wasn't a joke, it was a statement of fact.

Not an official list, but still an impressive collection of contenders.

* Donald Sterling allegedly threatened to kill Shelly Sterling’s lawyer. Look Don, threatening to kill lawyers will certainly help your image, but you may be too far gone. [New York Daily News] * “Tagger arrested for tagging courtroom while awaiting prosecution for tagging.” [Lowering the Bar] * You know public law schools are more expensive today than in 1985. But just how much more expensive may absolutely shock you. [Lawyers, Guns & Money] * Law school tutor seems creepily excited about making students cry. [Sunshine and Potatoes] * 17 bizarre lawsuits. I don’t know, I view the people making sure I get every delicious inch of my meatball sub as heroes. [Crime Wire] * Dallas just threw its support behind reparations for slavery. Because obviously they didn’t bother to read the resolution. Democracy in action! [Gawker] * J. Christian Adams misunderstands an election law. This shocks me not at all. In the past, he complained to me that Pam Karlan didn’t understand voting rights based on a panel I covered. She’s now the Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Voting Rights and Adams is still spouting off (affiliate link) about how the DOJ is bending over to service the Black Panthers. [Election Law Blog] * Did you know the history of drones in America dates back to the Civil War? Well, now you do. And knowing is some proportion of the battle. Infographic below…. [Criminal Justice Degree Hub]

* Hughes Hubbard & Reed is doing its part to help fulfill wishes made in children’s letters to Santa at a time when the Post Office’s Operation Santa program is in desperate need. So to all you other Biglaw firms, the ball’s in your court. [USA Today] * Judge Timothy Black cited Justice Scalia’s dissent to reject Ohio’s gay marriage ban. I’m sure this is a cite that warms the justice’s heart. [Associated Press] * Professor Pam Karlan is off to become Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Voting Rights. Here’s the last article of the preeminent voting rights expert in her old role as a commentator at the Boston Review describing strange SCOTUS bedfellows. Good luck in the new job! [Boston Review] * Good news for Florida lawyers! The Florida Bar has revoked its opinion banning LinkedIn endorsements and recommendations. Go back to patting each other on the digital back. [IT-Lex] * Realtors are getting sued for using a home as a sex pad. Strangely enough, this isn’t even the first time we’ve talked about this at Above the Law. [New York Magazine] * Do you have to work over vacation? Probably, but it’s worth researching. [TaxProf Blog via Corporate Counsel] * We shouldn’t have been so surprised by the affluenza defense because North Texas is basically one big monument to the concept. [New York Times] * Here’s an infographic showing the most popular TV show set in each state. What legal shows make the list? [Business Insider] * The top 10 most ridiculous lawsuits of the year. Apple porn guy clocks in at a mere number 10? Outrage! Bigger outrage: they ultimately link to the HuffPo write-up of… the original Above the Law piece. Why no direct link, hm? Video embedded after the jump… [Faces of Lawsuit Abuse]

My this was a busy week. Here's a list of the big-ticket stories that struck my fancy this week.

Court decisions are more influenced by the popular will than they seem.

Which justices might retire, and who might replace them?

* Happy Blogiversary to... us. Above the Law turned six years old last week. In blog years, that's like 100. I think we should put that on the masthead: Above the Law, Established circa 1912. In any event, thanks to all of our loyal readers who have been here from the beginning. Click on the link to take a look at how it all began. [Above the Law] * Family claims they were kicked off a flight because the airline didn't want their Down syndrome child sitting in first class. If they win I think there are going to be able to afford a lot of first class flights in their future. [The Consumerist] * Obama is going to have more judicial vacancies after his first term than he inherited from Bush. Part of the problem is that conservatives know how important the courts are and move to obstruct the President at every opportunity. Part of the problem is that progressives don't seem to understand how important this issue is. [Boston Review] * I hope many of you spent your Labor Day not feeling bad about having no paid labor. [The Onion] * I do not rule out the possibility that the who pretend to be concerned that affirmative-action "hurts" minorities are the biggest goddamn hypocrites on the face of the Earth. [Accuracy in Academia] * Don't get me wrong, affirmative-action is so going down this upcoming term. There might be suitable alternatives in its place. I'm just finding it funny how some people are so outraged by this one program that allows colleges to "consider" race while developing their class. I can't imagine how people would react if there was an inherent racial preference in American society for four hundred years. [SCOTUSblog]

* Who’s tougher: lawyers or accountants? [Going Concern] * In defense of hiring gunners. [What About Clients?] * Thrilla in Manila for con law nerds: Pam Karlan and Nicholas Quinn Rosenkranz debate constitutional interpretation (with Dahlia Lithwick moderating). [American Constitution Society] * Look before you leap pee. [Young Lawyers Blog] * D.C. attorney Leicester Bryce […]

New lawyers to lead the nation are sending in their résumés. Already, UC Berkeley School of Law Dean Christopher Edley has received a choice position as part of Obama’s transition advisory board. (I wonder if he’s accepting resumes from his students?) Here’s an interesting choice for Edley and the rest of the transition team that […]