Russia Investigation

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 02.28.18

* "With respect, I dissent." Thanks to this Supreme Court opinion, asylum seekers and other immigrant aliens can now be held indefinitely without bond hearings. Justice Breyer was so pissed off that he read part of his 33-page dissent from the bench. [National Law Journal] * Was Trump compromised? In the latest phase of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, members of his legal team have been asking about Donald Trump's business activities in Russia prior to his campaign, when he was still considering running for president. [CNN] * Partner billing rates at the biggest of Biglaw firms (750 or more lawyers) continue to climb, and they're now 45 percent higher than those of slightly smaller Biglaw firms (501 to 750 lawyers). In fact, the gap between the two types of firm grew by 11 percent over 2016. We wonder what the highest hourly rate of all is. [American Lawyer] * The 2019 edition of the U.S. News law school rankings will be released on March 20, 2018. We repeat, the 2019 edition of the U.S. News law school rankings will be released on March 20, 2018. Prepare yourselves for the annual running of the deans after law schools drop in rank. [Morse Code/ U.S. News & World Report] * Karma is great: The Weinstein Company will be filing for bankruptcy following a failed deal with investors to sell the tainted film and television studio in the wake of Harvey Weinstein's sexual misconduct scandal. [DealBook / New York Times]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 02.26.18

* "Eat sh*t, Bob." Last Week Tonight's John Oliver convinced a judge to dismiss a defamation suit filed by Robert Murray of Murray Energy, finding that the comedian was well with his First Amendment rights to criticize the coal baron and his company on HBO. [Hollywood Reporter] * Former Skadden associate Alex van der Zwaan has already pleaded guilty to lying in the Russia investigation, but special counsel Robert Mueller isn't nearly done with the Biglaw firm. According to sources, "[l]awyers at Skadden are on edge," which means we should get ready for some juicy Skaddenfreude. [New York Times] * This weekend, Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee released their declassified rebuttal to Republican claims that FBI and DOJ officials abused their powers, calling those claims a "transparent" attempt to undermine the special counsel's investigation into Russian election interference. [NBC News] * "Do better NKU. Dont let him teach us." Students and alumni of Northern Kentucky University Law School are demanding action after former dean Jeffrey Standen was allowed to resign and then return as NKU's highest-paid full-time professor following sexual harassment allegations, but the school says it can't fire him. [Cincinnati.com] * How are you reacting to the scrutiny of sexual harassment in the workplace? That's just one of the questions the ABA Journal and Working Mother want you to answer in this important survey for women and men working in law firms. [ABA Journal]

By Staci Zaretsky