State Courts

Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 05.31.16

* Interesting piece by Donald Trump SCOTUS shortlister on how state high courts deal with the "Scalia problem," that is, potential stalemates or ties. [Wall Street Journal] * The Hulk Hogan verdict is looming over the latest addition to the New York rental market: for $15,000 a month, you can rent Nick Denton’s Soho apartment. [New York Post] * A look at the Supreme Court dissents that attack the majority opinion. Spoiler alert: they mainly come from Justice Thomas. [Empirical SCOTUS] * The FBI launched an intense investigation into foreclosure fraud in Florida after the financial collapse of 2008. Why did it only result in one conviction? [Vice] * 7 tips for developing business out of being a social media influencer. [Law and More]

Courthouses

The Race to the Courthouse (Bathroom)

In the past week or two, our bathroom coverage has exploded. We've written about a law firm and a law school experiencing toilet shortages, a law school that has a sense of humor when selling naming rights to its bathrooms, and a law firm that wants its employees to follow proper restroom etiquette. If you're tired of the toilet humor, stop here. But if you want to see a funny sign from a courthouse bathroom, keep reading....

Crime

Video Arraignments Save Money and Make Judges Feel Safer

Maybe I’m just naive, but I find the concept of conducting any courtroom business via video enthralling but also a bit unnerving. It seems so inconsistent with the mythical and timeless ideals of the hallowed halls of justice, yadda yadda yadda. Whether we like it or not, however, video conferencing is creeping into courthouses across […]

Election Law

Wisconsin Supreme Court Devolves Into Anarchy

There’s a simple rule in Wisconsin regarding judicial elections. You can’t make a campaign ad that knowingly misrepresents your opponent. While you’d imagine that reasonable people might disagree about what constitutes misrepresentation, one expects that judges wouldn’t really get anywhere close to the line. But not so in the election between Justice Michael Gableman and […]