Robert Mueller

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 06.26.19

* After being subpoenaed, former special counsel Robert Mueller has agreed to testify in open hearings before the House Judiciary and Intelligence Committees on July 17. How rare that someone would actually comply with a Congressional subpoena these days! [Washington Post] * “What are they hiding? Tell Joe Biden. Trump released his list. Why won’t you?” In case you missed it, a conservative legal advocacy group plans to spend big money on national ads demanding that 2020 Democratic presidential candidates release a shortlist of their potential Supreme Court nominees. [POLITICO] * Harvard Law’s Pipeline Parity Project, a group that’s working to end mandatory arbitration among Biglaw firms, is going national. Now known as the People’s Parity Project, the group has expanded its mission and hopes to form chapters at least six other law school campuses. [Law.com] * “It is time to do away with the stigmatization of women who challenge discrimination and harassment in their workplaces.” Three of the four women who were previously proceeding anonymously in their gender bias case against Jones Day have come forward to reveal their names. [Big Law Business] * The latest high-dollar addition to the Yankees is Mike Mellis, formerly the top lawyer at Major League Baseball, who will slide into home as the Bronx Bombers’ executive vice president and chief counsel. [New York Law Journal] * Timothy Thornton, CEO of 150-lawyer Greensfelder Hemker & Gale, RIP. [American Lawyer]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 06.24.19

* During an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press," President Trump falsely claimed that he “inherited” the policy of separating children from their parents at the border from President Obama, and later went on to defend the conditions that migrant children are being detained in, saying, “We're doing a fantastic job under the circumstances.” [NBC News] * The Supreme Court will soon be ending its October 2018 term, and there are still a dozen controversial cases yet to be decided. Which eagerly awaited ruling(s) will be released today? [Reuters] * “So many D.C. lawyers are actors at heart. This is the drama of our time.” The Mead Center for American Theater is planning an 11-hour dramatic reading of the Mueller report. Several lawyers have signed up to read, but we wonder who will get to say Don McGahn’s famous lines. [National Law Journal] * One woman may have settled her sex discrimination claims against Jones Day, but another just joined the gender bias class-action against the firm, bringing the total number of plaintiffs to eight. [Big Law Business] * Cravath partners: They’re just like us! Damaris Hernández, who became the first Latina partner at Cravath in 2016, got her own profile piece on how she spends her Sundays published in the paper of record this weekend. [New York Times]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 06.17.19

* “It's very simple. There was no crime. I did nothing wrong.” President Trump continues to believe that former special counsel Robert Mueller absolved him of any crimes, so that’s special. [POLITICO] * And as for the 1000+ former prosecutors who say that Trump would have been indicted for obstruction of justice were he not a sitting president, per Trump, “They're politicians. ... And these are all -- many of 'em are Trump haters.“ [This Week / ABC] * With just two weeks left, tensions are high as the legal community awaits the Supreme Court’s decisions in the 24 cases that remain on this term’s docket. What fresh hell will be unleashed upon society this week? [The Hill] * The Justice Department claims that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin didn’t break the law when he refused to turn over President Trump’s tax returns to Congress because he was just protecting their confidentiality. [Reuters] * Trump intends to nominate a Biglaw partner to the board of directors for the Legal Services Corporation, the organization whose budget he keeps trying to cut. [Big Law Business]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 06.07.19

* "We want him to testify openly. I think the American people need that. I think, frankly, it's his duty to the American people." House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler said that he could subpoena former special counsel Robert Mueller in the next two weeks if they can't come to an agreement for his public testimony. [POLITICO] * After refusing even more subpoena demands, it’s highly likely that the House is going to hold AG Bill Barr and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in contempt of Congress. Let’s see if this goes anywhere... [Washington Post] * Former Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden says that he no longer supports the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funds from being used for most abortions: “I can't justify leaving millions of women without access to the care they need and the ability to ... exercise their constitutionally protected right.” [CNN] * In case you missed it, just ahead of his sentencing, former Trump administration national security adviser Michael Flynn fired his entire legal team from Covington. He has new lawyers, but hasn't announced who they are. [National Law Journal] * Denver Law has been sued once again for allegedly paying its female professors less than its male professors, despite the school's consent agreement with the EEOC. This time around, an associate professor at the school claims she's being paid more than $30,000 less than the average salary among her male colleagues. [Law.com]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 06.03.19

* You better get ready, because the next month at the Supreme Court is going to be a complete sh*tshow. From the scandalous trademarks to the census citizenship question to partisan and racial gerrymandering to race in jury selection to double jeopardy, this could get pretty crazy. [CNN] * From the “totally not at all obstruction” file: According to a recently released transcript, one of Donald Trump’s lawyers asked Michael Flynn’s attorney for a “heads up” if any of the information Flynn planned to give Robert Mueller would be damaging to the president. [Big Law Business] * In somewhat related news, the Justice Department rejected a judge’s order to release transcripts of Michael Flynn’s conversations with the Russian ambassador during the presidential transition. [New York Times] * Want to feel old? Today is the last day that the LSAT will be administered as a fully paper-and-pencil test. The next administration will be a hybrid before the exam becomes all digital. [Law.com] * Another day, another Biglaw firm falling prey to a cyber scam. In case you missed it, the email accounts of two DLA Piper attorneys were compromised which led to some fishy monetary requests transactions occurring. [Am Law International]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 05.13.19

* According to President Donald Trump, former White House counsel Don McGahn “had a much better chance of being fired” than special counsel Robert Mueller because Trump claims he was “[n]ever a big fan” — but that’s probably because McGahn refused to issue a public statement saying he didn’t believe the president obstructed justice. [Washington Post] * President Trump wants to stop federal judges on lower courts from issuing nationwide injunctions that are screwing up his plans to make America gross again. Even VP Mike Pence hopes the Supreme Court will step in to put an end to the practice. [The Hill] * Ronald S. Sullivan Jr., the Harvard Law professor who is representing accused rapist Harvey Weinstein, has lost his job as a faculty dean at an undergraduate house thanks to his controversial client. [Boston Globe] * “ I know that when I walk into a room that I’ll be underestimated. I’m aware that I need to prove myself. It doesn’t bother me.” Hailyn Chen, a 43-year-old litigator of Chinese descent, is the new co-managing partner of Munger, Tolles & Olson. Congratulations! [American Lawyer] * Professor Ian Samuel of Indiana Law has resigned from his job following the conclusion of the Title IX misconduct probe against him, which “probably had the side effect of saving [his] life” because he “was becoming an ugly man.” [Big Law Business] * Now that its managing partner is taking his business to Blank Rome, Morris & McVeigh, one of New York City’s oldest law firms, will be closing its doors after about 157 years in business. [New York Law Journal]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 05.10.19

* With numerous contempt of Congress charges swirling thanks to the inaction of Trump administration officials, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has declared that the nation is in the midst of a constitutional crisis. It was only a matter of time before this happened. [New York Times] * Meanwhile, in the wake of Speaker Pelosi’s comments, President Trump now says that he’ll leave it up to AG Bill Barr to determine whether special counsel Robert Mueller will be permitted to testify before Congress. Frankly, he’s more concerned about Don Jr. now. [New York Times] * C. Allen Parker, former Cravath presiding partner turned Wells Fargo GC turned Wells Fargo acting CEO, has done something very wise in his short time leading the troubled bank: He created a regulatory and compliance group. Smooth move! [Corporate Counsel] * “I want my life back.” Jessica Crutcher has come forward as the formerly anonymous Mayer Brown partner behind the $20 million suit where she alleged that a bartender at a Houston restaurant raped her. [Texas Lawyer] * Paul Manafort has officially been disbarred in D.C. after his conviction for “tampering with witnesses while on pre-trial release,” a crime of moral turpitude. This poor crook lost everything thanks to his association with Donald Trump. [Big Law Business] * Conan O’Brien has settled a lawsuit that accused him of copyright infringement through joke theft, writing that he “decided to forgo a potentially farcical and expensive jury trial in federal court over five jokes that don’t even make sense anymore.” [Variety]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 05.08.19

* Feeling cute, might not allow Mueller to testify, idk: According to White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, President Donald Trump’s “feeling on the matter” is that special counsel Robert Mueller shouldn’t be permitted to testify before the House. [Huffington Post] * As it turns out, according to recently revealed tax transcripts for the years 1985 to 1994, Trump was in some deep financial doo-doo. His lawyer, Charles J. Harder of Gawker takedown fame, says the tax documentation is not only “demonstrably false,” but that the paper of record’s statements about it is “highly inaccurate.” [New York Times] * In case you missed it, former White House counsel Don McGahn is still following Trump’s orders. He ignored a House Judiciary Committee subpoena for his testimony and records, citing a letter from current White House counsel Pat Cipollone on executive privilege. [National Law Journal] * Michael Avenatti has been given right days to hire a defense attorney in the federal bank fraud case he’s facing, lest he wish to disclose his financials to the court for a public defender to be appointed. [Courthouse News Service] * Do we really need another law school? That’s the hope down in Shreveport, Louisiana, where Southern University may be opening another campus following a study to determine its viability. [710 KEEL]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 05.06.19

* President Donald Trump has officially objected to special counsel Robert Mueller testifying before Congress via Twitter (obviously), putting himself at odds with his own Attorney General Bill Barr, who previously said he’d have no problem with Mueller’s testimony. [New York Times] * Justice Clarence Thomas, the high court’s longest-serving justice, may finally be having his moment in the sun. As a member of the more conservative SCOTUS majority, his views are finally being given more credence as he “drags the court in his direction.” If he holds true to his refusal to retire, in 2028, he could become the longest-serving justice in history. [Associated Press] * “I don’t have anything to hide. This guy Cohen has muddied the record and tried to muddy our reputation. I won’t let that happen.” Michael Cohen’s ex-defense attorney says that not only has his former client sullied his name, but that he still owes $43K in legal fees. [New York Law Journal] * Meanwhile, Michael Cohen is heading to a prison today that’s been referred to as “a great place for white-collar Jewish guy,” with a menu that includes matzo ball soup and gefilte fish. Plus, he’ll get to hang out with Mike Sorrentino of Jersey Shore and Billy McFarland of Fyre Festival. [Reuters] * Greg Andres, a senior prosecutor on special counsel Robert Mueller’s team who served as lead trial lawyer in Paul Manafort’s case, is headed back to Davis Polk. [Big Law Business] * According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. economy added 263,000 jobs last month, but it looks like the legal profession was left out of all the fun, declining by 0.7 percent. Just in time for graduation... [American Lawyer]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 05.01.19

* Shortly after AG Bill Barr released his four-page summary of the Mueller report, special counsel Robert Mueller himself stepped forward to tell Barr that he objected to his conclusion that President Trump had been cleared of obstruction, "express[ing] a frustration over the lack of context." [New York Times] * Congressional Democrats can move ahead with their emoluments suit against Trump over his business thanks to a ruling by Judge Emmet G. Sullivan, where he found the narrow definition of emoluments championed by Trump to be "unpersuasive and inconsistent." [Washington Post] * Kannon Shanmugam may have been the first to leave Williams & Connolly to join the new Supreme Court practice at Paul Weiss, but he certainly isn't the last. Five of his colleagues followed him, and the group continues to grow. [National Law Journal] * Remember Am Law 200 firm Stinson Leonard Street? You should probably forget that name, because the firm is rebranding itself as Stinson. Going by one name is apparently the cool, new thing for Biglaw firms. [American Lawyer] * Biglaw money fight: The ex-chair of the government contracts practice at Dentons, a legacy McKenna Long partner, claims the firm owes her more than $390,000, but Dentons claims she owes the firm almost $2 million. [Big Law Business]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 04.26.19

* Donald Trump won't stop tweeting about the Mueller report, most recently claiming that he "never told then White House Counsel Don McGahn to fire Robert Mueller." Meanwhile, the president's allies would really like it if he just STFU about it. [POLITICO] * Federal prosecutors have charged Judge Shelley Richmond Joseph of Massachusetts with obstruction and perjury for allegedly allowing an undocumented immigrant to leave a courthouse through a back door to prevent immigration authorities from conducting an arrest. [USA Today] * Reed Smith, which represents Concord Management and Consulting, the Russian company indicted in special counsel Robert Mueller's probe, has asked that both Mueller and AG Bill Barr be held in contempt over the redacted release of the Mueller report. [National Law Journal] * The ugly side of fashion law: A senior in-house attorney at LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton Inc. has filed suit against the company, claiming that she was sexually harassed by a male coworker and punished for reporting it. [New York Law Journal] * Weil Gotshal is willing to pay big money to pre-law students who've been accepted at certain T14 schools for doing nonprofit work. The Biglaw firm is planning to fork over $1 million a year so these up-and-coming law students can work at public interest jobs. [Big Law Business]

By Staci Zaretsky