Serial

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 11.26.2019

* A federal judge has ordered former White House Counsel Don McGahn to testify in front of the House impeachment inquiry, stating that "Presidents are not kings." [CNN] * A North Carolina woman has been charged with pretending to be a lawyer in court. She probably told the judge her name was Jerry Callo (can't resit a good My Cousin Vinny reference) [Charlotte Observer] * It looks like there won't be any more episodes of "Serial" -- the Supreme Court announced yesterday that the high court would not be hearing the case of Adnan Syed, the subject of the viral podcast. [Vox] * Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was back at the Supreme Court yesterday after a brief stay at the hospital over the weekend. [Reuters] * More than a thousand American have signed onto a lawsuit against a number of companies for allegedly supporting terrorist groups. [Full Measure] * Devin Nunes has threatened to sue CNN and the Daily Beast over news stories about him. Mr. Nunes may want to brush up on his First Amendment law (or just watch John Oliver). [Vox]

By Jordan Rothman
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 08.21.19

* The House Ways and Means Committee has filed for summary judgment in its lawsuit against the Treasury Department and IRS over their refusal to turn over President Trump's tax returns and has also asked the judge to consider the case on an expedited basis. [The Hill] * Jones Day blasted plaintiffs in the new parental leave bias claims against the firm on social media, alleging that while one ignored “both the law and biology" to file suit, the other's performance was "below expectations." [American Lawyer] * New York adopted the Uniform Bar Exam to make it a little easier for law school graduates to pass the test. Well, uh... that didn't exactly work out as planned because the UBE had little to no impact on test performance. [New York Law Journal] * This just in from the Seventh Circuit: In case you were wondering, there's no such thing as a First Amendment right to lie on your bar applications. [Big Law Business] * In case you missed it, lawyers for Adnan Syed, subject of the "Serial" podcast, have applied for certiorari before the Supreme Court, asking that the justices reverse a Maryland Court of Appeals ruling where he was refused a new trial. [CNN]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 03.11.19

* According to House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), special counsel Robert Mueller is making “a mistake” by not putting President Trump under oath for in-person testimony, since “he's made plain in the past [that] he feels it's perfectly fine to lie to the public.” [NBC News] * Per his lawyer, Covington Catholic student Nick Sandmann will be suing CNN for at least $250M because the news network was “probably more vicious in its direct attacks” than the Washington Post. [The Hill] * Lynne Patton, purported “law school grad” and actual prop for Rep. Mark Meadows, will soon be seen on reality TV, with Trump’s permission, of course. [CNN] * Texas lawyers have filed suit against the State Bar of Texas, claiming that the use of their mandatory dues to fund diversity programming and other legislative initiatives is unconstitutional. [SE Texas Record] * Women are dominating the playing field at this year’s SXSW festival and conference, making up about 68 percent of the attorneys who will be featured as speakers or panelists during the event. [Texas Lawyer] * In a split vote, the Maryland Court of Appeals reinstated “Serial” podcast subject Adnan Syed’s murder conviction, ruling that even though he may have had ineffective assistance of counsel, that wasn’t enough to overcome the rest of the evidence against him. [Reuters] * Bill Powers, former UT president and former UT Law dean, RIP. [Statesman]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 03.30.18

* Attorney General Jeff Sessions won't be appointing a second special counsel to examine political bias in the handling of investigations by the FBI and DOJ just yet, but not to worry, because the Inspector General and the U.S. Attorney for Utah are on the case. [Politico] * Lawyer.com spokesperson Lindsay Lohan lost her invasion of privacy case against the maker of "Grand Theft Auto V" at the New York Court of Appeals in a unanimous decision penned by Judge Eugene Fahey, who said the video game character LiLo alleged was based on her was "not reasonably identifiable as plaintiff."  [Reuters] * As it turns out, Savannah Law School won't be immediately ceasing operations in early June. Now, the law school plans to move to another location within the city, and will close over the next five years without admitting any new students. [Savannah Morning News] * Adnan Syed, the subject of the hit podcast "Serial," had his murder conviction vacated by the Maryland Court of Special Appeals. His case has been remanded for a new trial on all charges. [New York Times] * "Mark, it hurts! You’re hurting me… Don't be so rough." In case you missed it, a juror fainted during trial after watching a video of graphic sex between a Texas attorney who traded sex for legal services and one of his clients. Yeehaw... [FOX News]

By Staci Zaretsky
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 04.26.17

* Today is World IP Day. Oh wait, that's wrong. "Today is World IP Day.TM" [World Intellectual Property Organization] * A pair of twins is graduating from UVA Law. In other news, it's a really slow news day at UVA. [UVA Today] * Alabama is voting to put an anti-abortion amendment in their state constitution because there's literally not a single other issue requiring the attention of Alabama lawmakers. [The Hill] * Johnny Depp's managers don't trust him. [USA Today] * This woman does not like xylophones. [Lowering the Bar] * For Serial fans in Minnesota, Sarah Koenig and Julie Snyder are speaking in your town on May 10. [Beth El Synagogue] * A tribute to death penalty litigator Steve Bright. [Katz Justice] * The Beast shouldn't be forgiven at the end of Beauty and the Beast. [The Legal Geeks] * Aaron Hernandez did not write a note to a prison lover, according to his lawyer. [CBS Sports]

By Joe Patrice
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 07.26.16

* Could it be? Could she really do such a thing? Rumor has it that Amal Clooney may be quitting her law firm job at Doughty Street Chambers to become a fashion designer for the likes of fashion house Oscar de la Renta. We may have more on this later today. [Inquisitr] * Maryland's AG intends to contest a ruling granting "Serial" podcast subject Adnan Syed a new trial, saying that the state would "defend what it believes is a valid conviction." Syed has been servicing a life sentence for the murder of Hae Min Lee since 2000. [Baltimore Sun] * Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert may be behind bars for a 15-month term for attempting to conceal secret payments to his underage sexual assault victims in a cover-up scheme, but that doesn't mean he's not going to fight a lawsuit seeking the full $3.5 million he allegedly said he would pay to buy a victim's silence. [Chicago Tribune] * Vermont Law School, which was hit relatively hard by the recession in terms of its ability to fill its seats, has applied for a $15 million loan from the federal government to help restructure its debts. Unlike what its students face in terms of their debt, the law school may be able to get a good interest rate upon approval. [VTDigger / Valley News] * "[A]ttempting to fit the sale of Bitcoin into a statutory scheme regulating money services businesses is like fitting a square peg in a round hole." Congratulations (or perhaps condolences?) digital currency aficionados, because a judge just ruled that Bitcoin isn't money for the purposes of money-laundering statutes. [WSJ Law Blog]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 07.01.16

* In case you haven't been keeping score like we have, these are the firms that recently raised salaries: Foley Hoag, Patterson Belknap, Venable (officially), and Seward & Kissel. If you’re worried you’ve missed any of our coverage on pay raises, you can check out our omnibus 2016 salary chart where we collect these stories. [2016 Salary Increase / Above the Law] * Thanks to the power of "a phenomenally strong public interest created by modern media" and an attorney who "fell below the standard of a reasonable professional judgment" in handling the case, Adnan Syed, whose murder conviction was the subject of the acclaimed first season of the "Serial" podcast, has been granted a new trial. [NPR] * First comes raises in the United States for the third-largest law firm by headcount, then comes yet another merger. DLA Piper is combining with Grönberg Advokatbyrå, a 21-lawyer Swedish boutique that practices litigation, corporate, and compliance work. If all goes well, the merger is expected to close in October 2016. [Big Law Business] * This list of the world's wealthiest lawyers includes several Biglaw celebrities, a few current and former television judges, a handful of ex cons, and even people who have been disbarred. Some lawyers have higher net worths, but they don't use their law degrees, so they weren't included on the list. [Money Inc. via ABA Journal] * What's it like to train for the Olympics and complete law school at the same time? Ask Ashley Higginson, who recently graduated from Rutgers Law. Today, the steeplechaser will be competing to qualify for the Rio Olympics. Best of luck from all of your friends here at Above the Law! You can do it! [NJ Advance Media for NJ.com]

By Staci Zaretsky
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 02.10.16

* Nope, Black History month still isn’t racist. Here’s an explanation one more time for those that need it. [Popehat] * Hey! Now there is science to back up what we all knew: Voter ID laws suppress the vote. [Talking Points Memo] * Not everyone gets access to the same justice: non-prosecution agreements are reserved […]

By Kathryn Rubino
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 02.08.16

* University of Iowa College of Law is heading to trial over an age discrimination case. [Tax Law Prof] * This is real: cop shoots teenager, cop sues the dead teen's estate for emotional trauma. That'll go well for everyone involved. [Chicago Tribune] * The family of Hae Min Lee is speaking out about the Serial podcast and Adnan Syed's new post-trial hearing. [Jezebel] * Do you have any legal options if you are sent by your job to a place with a Zika virus outbreak? [Reuters] * Everyone deserves a lawyer, even the bad guys. [The Atlantic] * Breaking down Bernie Sanders supporters and risk aversion. [Lawyers, Guns and Money] * A Q&A with the legal journalist who lost her job over a noncompete agreement. [Big Law Business Bloomberg BNA]

By Kathryn Rubino
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 11.09.15

* On Friday night, Judge Julie Kocurek, the presiding felony judge for Travis County, Texas, was shot outside her home. Her condition has been upgraded from critical to stable, and some say that she may have been a target of retaliation. We may have more on this terrible news later today. [American-Statesman] * Apparently it takes podcast stardom to get a post-conviction hearing these days: A Maryland judge has agreed to reopen the case against Adnan Syed, the man whose murder conviction received an in-depth look during the first season of "Serial." [CNN] * Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the legal sector added 700 jobs in October, bringing the industry to its highest level of employment all year. Don't get too excited -- we're still a long way from reaching pre-recession era glory. [Big Law Business / Bloomberg BNA] * It took almost 10 years without putting anyone to death, but California has finally proposed a one-drug alternative to its three-drug lethal injection protocol after it was struck down as unconstitutional in 2006. Was this worth the wait? [WSJ Law Blog] * Following a much-deserved public excoriation from our very own Elie Mystal, Mizzou Law's Student Bar Association has decided to do away with its absurd social media policy. In a media statement, the SBA even agreed that it was "poorly written." [Huffington Post]

By Staci Zaretsky
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 10.20.15

* What can you do to improve your relationship with your boss? [Fortune] * It's been 150 years since the reconstruction amendments were passed, but the debate over them still rages on. [The Atlantic] * Should former USC football coach Steve Sarkisian have been placed on FMLA rather than be fired? [JD Supra] * United has tapped their General Counsel, Brett Hart, as acting CEO. [Bloomberg Business] * Unfortunately, there is no one right answer to fix our Constitutional issues. [Lawyers, Guns & Money] * A lawyer got a notice of a random audit of his trust accounts, and now the North Carolina State Bar is involved. [Legal Profession Blog] * Hints about what next season's Serial will be about. [Huffington Post]

By Kathryn Rubino
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 10.15.15

* Daaaammmmn. Some serious shade as Greenberg Traurig CEO Richard Rosenbaum takes a swipe at Dentons. Video below the jump. * Lamar Odom is still technically married to Khloe Kardashian, thereby giving his estranged wife authority when it comes to medical decisions. Good, because I think we were all hoping a man's tragic health crisis could be fodder for May Sweeps. [Eonline] * Linklaters is "internally crowdsourcing" to find a solution to provide a better work-life balance. Jesus. Bring on the necessary resources to cap any individual's work week at 60 billable hours and move on. Anything less is just an invitation to rearrange deck chairs on the Titanic. [Law360] * Looks like NPR's hit podcast Serial is ready for a second season. [The Onion] * Dewey think these deliberations will ever end? [The Am Law Daily] * Ah, the life of in-house counsel: writing bitchy emails to customers telling them how stupid they are. [L.A. Times] * Rand Paul explains how "liberty" works for gay people. [Gawker] * Before joining a class action, make sure aren't advertising your own criminal behavior to authorities. [Times-Picayune] * And here's that Greenberg Traurig-Dentons swipe. This strikes me as an ill-considered decision given that Dentons is known as a firm that doesn't start fights, but sure as f**k ends them. [Big Law Business / Bloomberg BNA]

By Joe Patrice
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 08.25.15

* Too many students who still apply and attend law school, convinced they are the special snowflake that will beat the odds, are just lying to themselves. [Law and More] * A new motion in the case of Adnan Syed, featured in the inaugural and highly successful first season of the Serial podcast, casts doubt on key evidence used to convict him. [Gawker] * Attention in-house counsel: Please, please, please stop sending money to a Nigerian prince. It is, in fact, a scam. [Corporate Counsel] * The legal battle to define mayo has reached its conclusion. Cutting edge of the legal world people. [Slate] * Colleges are back in session and have to deal with the ramifications of incredibly offensive and juvenile behavior. Again. [Popehat] * Is it possible there will be a legal research competitor to Lexis and Westlaw? Or Nah? [William Ha]

By Kathryn Rubino