Solicitors Regulation Authority

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 05.11.18

* Senator Chuck Grassley of the Senate Judiciary Committee really, really, really wants any Supreme Court justice who's considering retiring any time soon to speed things up and retire immediately so their successor can be confirmed ASAP before the midterms. You hear that, Justice Kennedy? You apparently need to announce your retirement "now or within two or three weeks." [Reuters] * Quinn Emanuel may face an investigation from the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the agency responsible for overseeing attorneys in the United Kingdom, in the wake of allegations concerning a dismissed partner's inappropriate behavior. The firm reported itself to the SRA, because it takes the allegations "extremely seriously." [Legal Week] * Squire Patton Boggs is really trying to distance itself from Michael Cohen. Remember that strategic alliance they had? Psshtttttt, please, forget about that. Under the bus you go, my friend: "At all times, Cohen maintained his independence, was not an employee of the firm, and did not maintain files or bill clients through the firm." [The Hill] * The Federal Communications Commission is planning to kill net neutrality on June 11, one day before the Senate is set to vote on Congressional Review Act resolution that seeks to overturn the FCC's repeal of net neutrality rules. [NPR] * Dr. Dre, the rapper, lost a trademark infringement fight against Dr. Drai, the gynecologist. These motherf**kers at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office act like they forgot about Dre. [Courthouse News Service]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 03.14.18

* Ever since Judge Alex Kozinski of the Ninth Circuit, who had been accused of sexual harassment by 15 women, retired, a working group within the federal judiciary has been trying to come up with reforms to be made as far as sexual harassment is concerned. Thus far, they've come up with about 20 reforms, and Chief Justice John Roberts is confident the group's work will "ensure an exemplary workplace for every court employee." [National Law Journal] * Time's up, UK: The Solicitors Regulation Authority of England and Wales has warned law firms not to use nondisclosure agreements to cover up sexual harassment and assault scandals. After all, these are instances of professional misconduct, so of course a professional regulatory agency wants to know about that. [American Lawyer] * Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will be turning 85 later this week, and she says she's "feeling fine." Many hope that the self-described "flaming feminist litigator" continues to feel that way until we find a way to turn her into a little RBG judicial bot that will never, ever short-circuit -- or until there's a Democrat in office. [USA Today] * Nichole Ashley Collins, the Pennsylvania lawyer who was fired for allegedly stealing money from her firm and then returned to the firm to allegedly steal more money to buy sex toys, has been disbarred. Who would've expected such a thing... [FOX 43] * Prosecutors in Florida will seek the death penalty against Nikolas Cruz for his role as the accused gunman in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre. Last week, Cruz was indicted by a grand jury on 17 counts of premeditated murder in the first degree and 17 counts of attempted murder in the first degree. [CNN]

By Staci Zaretsky