Public defenders

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 06.02.16

* A judge has ruled that Andrew Schmuhl, the attorney accused of torturing and nearly killing the managing partner of the law firm his wife was fired from, will not be allowed to use an involuntary intoxication defense at trial. We may have more on this later today. [Washington Post] * Congratulations to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg! A newly discovered species of praying mantis with a decorative neck plate, the Ilomantis ginsburgae, has been named after Her Honor thanks to her "commitment to women's rights and gender equality... and her appreciation of the jabot." This is an honor that is truly fitting for the Notorious R.B.G. [New York Magazine] * Partners continue to head for the exits at Kenyon & Kenyon. This time, the chair of the IP firm's life sciences and chemical prosecution practice fled for Fox Rothschild, and he took two others with him. What's going on as this firm, and did they decide finally decide to officially pull the plug on the summer program? Let us know. [Big Law Business] * "There's absolutely no showing of any federal violation. The citizens of California are smart enough to know what their rights are." Sorry, Bernie bros, but because unaffiliated voters' rights haven't been harmed, voter registration will not be reopened ahead of next week's primary in the Golden State. Best of luck in the polls. [Los Angeles Times] * People are still raging against this JOP: The Nevada Attorneys for Criminal Justice, a group of defense lawyers 150 strong, have filed an ethics complaint against Judge Conrad Hafen, saying he showed a "complete disregard for the law" when he handcuffed a public defender as she tried to represent her client. [Las Vegas Review-Journal] * Boyce Martin Jr., chief judge emeritus of the Sixth Circuit, RIP. [Courier-Journal]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 05.31.16

* Do not mess with federal judges: Shortly after presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump criticized Judge Gonzalo Curiel of the Southern District of California at a political rally by calling him a "hater," the judge ordered that internal Trump University documents from a consumer fraud trial be unsealed. [POLITICO] * The Clark County Defenders Union that represents Zohra Bakhtary condemned Judge Conrad Hafen in an open letter, writing, "[h]andcuffing an attorney who is merely doing her job to teach her a lesson is simply improper and has never been done in the history of Nevada." [WSJ Law Blog] * When we last checked in with Stephen DiCarmine, Dewey's ex-executive director, he told a judge that due to financial constraints, he'd like to represent himself at retrial. Now, he's hired Rita Glavin of Seward & Kissel for the job. [DealBook / New York Times] * Uh-oh... Mossack Fonseca, the law firm behind the Panama Papers leaks, announced via Tweet its plans to close offices in several offshore tax havens. The firm will shutter offices in the island nations of Jersey, Gibraltar. and the Isle of Man. [VICE News] * Who knew a Libor-rigging trial could be so exciting? Former Barclays trader and criminal defendant Ryan Reich was scolded by a judge after he interrupted a co-defendant's testimony with shouts of "no, no, no, no." [Big Law Business] * Cassandra Q. Butts, former deputy White House counsel and longtime friend and advisor to law school classmate President Barack Obama, RIP. [Washington Post]

By Staci Zaretsky
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 09.01.15

* More concrete rumors are swirling that President Obama will teach at Columbia Law School once his term is up, with Columbia University president Lee C. Bollinger seemingly confirming Obama would have some role at the school in 2017. [Quartz] * We told you Amal Clooney just lost a big case, but did the AP lose even more when they tweeted about the case referring to the human rights lawyer as an "actor's wife"? [Legal Cheek] * Everyone knows the legal profession has a... problem when it comes to substance abuse. But do lawyers overshare their issues? Or does an open attitude about these problems create a culture where more are willing to seek help? [Law and More] * Yes, that clerk in Kentucky, Kim Davis, is still refusing to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples. Maybe we should blame her lawyers. [Slate] * If you want to be the best, learn from the best -- writing tips from none other than Justice Kagan. [Business Insider] * Some tough words for lawyers that want the easy life: you shouldn't get the clients. [It's Not About The Lawyers, Teacups] * How do we go about changing the public defense system, which serves ~80% of all defendants? [Fulling the Promise]

By Kathryn Rubino
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 08.13.15

* The legal battle over the AIG bailout rolls into the Federal Circuit. [DealBook / New York Times] * What does a lawyer say when he gets caught swapping fees for oral sex? Claim sex addiction, of course! [Legal Profession Blog] * The New Orleans public defender office is a testament to underfunding. [Buzzfeed News] * Charleston School of Law loses a dean right before school resumes. Yep, nothing wrong here! [South Carolina Lawyers Weekly] * Neighbors sue 8-year-old girl for being kind to animals (or sues her parents anyway). [KIRO] * A friend remembers John Ralston Pate. [What About Clients?] * A counterargument to the suggestion of suspect classification for poverty (final item). [PrawfsBlawg] * The ABA is diving into the world of legal publishing, riding the success of Supreme Ambitions (affiliate link). [Chicago Tribune] * A domestic violence defendant got the first name of his judge tattooed on his neck. Paul Clement has similar ink that reads "Nino." Check out the pic. [North Carolina Lawyers Weekly] CMToR96UAAAKHQh.jpg-large

By Joe Patrice