Pornography

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 07.22.16

* You graduated from law school with a Biglaw offer in hand, and you're as happy as can be. A few months later, you receive the worst news possible for a young lawyer. After all of your hard work, you failed the bar exam. What happens now? It really depends on the policies of the firm that you work for. We'll have more on this later today. [Big Law Business] * "[I]f there was a genre of women taking pictures of men's crotches, and pornifying it, I think there's be a law really quickly." In many states, it's still legal for unsavory characters to take photographs and videos up women's skirts, but some are attempting to lawfully address the non-consensual pornography known as "upskirting." [VICE] * [I]t is unrealistic to think the background political views of justices (their political ideologies) have no impact on their opinions." Like it or not, SCOTUS justices are "political animals," and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's remarks about presidential nominee Donald Trump were likely a form of "high politics." [Bloomberg BNA] * The Justice Department wants to block mergers between Anthem and Cigna and Aetna and Humana, citing antitrust concerns. Each deal is worth billions, and they may still go forward despite this roadblock. While Cigna said its deal won't close anytime soon, "if at all," Aetna and Humana will challenge the DOJ. [DealBook / New York Times] * The ABA Journal want to know if you liked law school, or if you wish you'd never set foot inside of a law school. Speaking for myself, I really enjoyed law school, but I sure don't enjoy the insane amount of debt that I'm still drowning in, six years after graduation. What about you? Did you like law school? Please let us know. [ABA Journal]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 01.21.16

* Criminal defense attorneys have been painted so poorly by Hollywood for such a long time that Dean Strang and Jerry Buting, the defense attorneys at the heart of Making a Murderer, "never expected to be viewed as hero[es] for just doing our job." [WSJ Law Blog] * All in a day's work: When Ted Cruz wasn't busy “[making] a lot of people really angry” during his Supreme Court clerkship, he was watching porn with Chief Justice William Rennquist and Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. [New York Times] * It seems like Ted Cruz has made prospective Biglaw donors angry as well. Although Sullivan & Cromwell hosted an event in his honor, his campaign contribution amounts from other firms are "humdrum," with only one Texas firm on his side. [The Careerist] * Thanks to a $25 million dollar donation from an alumnus, Villanova Law will now be known as the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Hopefully a new name will make people forget about the school's scandal-plagued past. [Philadelphia Inquirer] * In light of last week's sexism sanction from a federal judge, the editors of the ABA Journal want to know if you've ever heard sexist remarks while working as a lawyer. We'd like to know too. Email us for inclusion in our series on the subject. [ABA Journal]

By Staci Zaretsky
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 12.03.15

* In the wake of yet another tragedy, how should the Second Amendment be balanced? [Slate] * What are the legal ramifications of "crying porn"? Yup, apparently 'crying porn" is now a thing. [Law and More] * All the ways Evenwel v. Abbott could (further) gut the Voting Rights Act. [Talking Points Memo] * What's the problem with international labor monitoring? [Lawyers, Guns & Money] * Texas Governor Greg Abbott is just being the absolute worst over the issue of Syrian refugees. [Wonkette] * Would lawyers be okay with non-lawyers providing some legal advice? [2 Civility]

By Kathryn Rubino
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 11.06.15

* Law school admissions standards have plummeted and bar exam passage rates are circling the drain. This can only mean one thing: an army of dumb would-be lawyers whose degrees aren't worth the paper they're printed on will "become criminals themselves -- robbing liquor stores, grabbing old ladies’ handbags, selling derivatives." [Wall Street Journal] * A Pennsylvania attorney was charged with 10 counts of possession of child pornography after it was discovered that he was downloading the images at his law firm. Protip: Don't leave pictures of nude boys engaged in sexual acts in the copier tray. [The Reporter] * Law firms where older partners refuse to pass the baton may be in trouble. “Some law firms could crumble after this generation because they don’t have a lot to sell to the next generation." Only 3% of managing partners belong to Generation X. [New York Times] * DLA Piper's London office launched a review of its pay structure in an effort to remunerate partners based on more than just billable hours alone. One wonders if this meritocracy will make its way across the pond to us here in America. [Legal Business] * According to a landmark decision from the Mexico Supreme Court, it's a constitutional right for people to be able to grow and smoke their own marijuana. Of course, this ruling only applies to the petitioners, but it's a step in the right direction. [Los Angeles Times]

By Staci Zaretsky