Sixth Amendment

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 11.01.16

* Is there a constitutional right to smoke weed? This defendant says he was prescribed medical marijuana to help him kick an opioid addiction, and his bail conditions must be revised to allow him to keep smoking it, lest his Sixth Amendment right to participate fully in his own defense be impaired. How high were the Katten Muchin lawyers who thought up this creative defense? [Reuters] * Baker Donelson plans to merge with Ober Kaler to create one of the largest Biglaw firms in the country. Effective January 1, the firm will have more than 800 attorneys, and one of the largest health law practices in America. The $400+ million in revenue expected to be brought in by the merger isn't too shabby, either. [Big Law Business] * "[N]o one is dragging their feet here. The Justice Department is committed to working with the FBI to move the case forward." AG Loretta Lynch and Deputy AG Sally Yates are trying to get FBI Director James Comey to wrap up his renewed interest in the Hillary Clinton email probe as quickly as possible before the election next week. [Politico] * "You haven’t been able to do it with trademark law. You haven’t been able to do it with patent designs. We are now going to use copyright law to kill the knockoff industry. I don't know that that's bad. I'm just saying." Differing opinions about the fashion industry emerged during oral arguments in the Star Athletica case. [New York Times] * "We are all feeling a little less confident. ... [T]here is an incredible amount of uncertainty that comes with this." Some U.S. firms with offices in London and Europe are contemplating what Brexit's effects will be on their business -- or if Brexit will have any effect on their business at all. At this point, no one knows. [Philadelphia Inquirer]

By Staci Zaretsky
In-House Counsel

Non-Sequiturs: 03.14.16

* Ivanka Trump is getting called out on Instagram. Seems one of the shoes in her eponymous line is a dead ringer for Aquazzura's Wild Thing fringe sandal. [The Fashion Law] * The billable hour actually makes law firms less competitive -- not that this revelation will stop firms from conducting business that way. [Lawyerist] * When people attack Judge Jane Kelly because she used to be a public defender, they are really taking a crack at the Sixth Amendment. [Slate] * All the things that in-house counsel really want from their outside attorneys. [Ten Things] * A contested convention looks increasingly likely, and the GOP establishment is busy planning for that eventuality. [Bloomberg Politics] * Our friends at Solo Practice U turn 7! Don't miss their anniversary special. [Solo Practice University] * Word to the wise: when you start looking to House Of Cards for political tactics, you might be one of the bad guys. [The Slot] * What it takes to pull off a career comeback. (Spoiler alert: it isn't easy.) [Law and More]

By Kathryn Rubino
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 09.23.15

* The Sixth Amendment guarantees access to attorneys in criminal cases, but what happens when you cannot afford a lawyer in civil cases? [Emerge Miami] * You've heard about the case of neighbors suing the parents of an autistic kid for being a public nuisance, but where'd they get the idea to make that legal move? [Law and More] * You're never going to get 5 whole minutes to concentrate in Biglaw, not when there are so many fire drills. [Daily Lawyer Tips] * Richard Hsu interviews a real partner emeritus (of a venture capital firm). [Hsu Untied] * Interesting analysis of Yale students' preference for efficiency over equality. [TaxProf Blog] * Should mindful lawyering be added to the CLE curriculum? [Katz Justice] * Yup, Martin Shkreli is still an ass, and Hillary wants to do something about it. [Dealbreaker] * Using your imagination to get to the next level. [What About Paris?] * Many in the legal world were touched by the loss of Carey Gabay; if you'd like to donate to his family in their time of need, you can do so here. [Carey Gabay Fund]

By Kathryn Rubino