Susan Collins

* If you’re following the Spider-Man movie rights kerfuffle, it’s worth remembering that this was entirely Disney’s fault for screwing up copyright law in the 1990s. [Screen Rant]

* Johnson & Johnson plan to appeal verdict suggesting that handing out heroin like candy might be a bad thing. [Law.com]

* Leonard Leo got himself a mansion in Maine apparently so he could raise money for Susan Collins (R-Federalist Society). Her campaign spokesperson declared that “The fact is, Senator Collins’ votes are not for sale” by which he means “they’ve already been bought.” [Central Maine]

* At the Greg Craig trial, Skadden folks are testifying that Craig had a “very passionate” aversion to foreign agent registration. In his defense just about every lobbyist will do anything in their power to avoid actually registering as a lobbyist. [National Law Journal]

* Explaining how the Brazilian rainforest fires link back to the trade war with China. [Huffington Post]

* Dallas has a new mayor and Locke Lord has a new partner and they are the same guy. [Dallas Morning News]

* The 2020 Census case is officially moving forward as the DOJ attempts to “re-evaluate all available options,” and the judge on the case is allowing plaintiffs to focus on whether the Trump administration’s decision to add a citizenship question was “steeped in discriminatory motive.” [NBC News]

* And the lawyers who had been representing the administration in the case are being swapped out — which could mean that some of them were having legal or ethical concerns about their continued involvement. [Washington Post]

* “You know that woman is lying, don’t you?” According to a new book written by Mollie Hemingway and Carrie Severino, that’s what Melania Trump allegedly said to Donald Trump of Christine Blasey Ford’s Senate Judiciary Committee testimony against Justice Brett Kavanaugh. [New York Post]

* ““I do not regret my vote in the least,” says Senator Susan Collins in reference to her controversial vote to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. She might regret it if that’s what gets her kicked out of her Senate seat… [The Hill]

* Billionaire playboy Jeffrey Epstein was arrested on Saturday and charged with one count of sex trafficking of minors and one count of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of minors, crimes which could could put him behind bars for up to 45 years. [New York Times]

* Reed Smith counsel Mark Goldstein imagined the worst case scenarios that could have happened after he told the legal world about his depression, but he was “heartened” by all of Biglaw’s progress in terms of lawyers’ mental health. [American Lawyer]

* Will Senator Susan Collins be persuaded by the campaign to get her to vote against Judge Brett Kavanaugh? Ed Whelan has his doubts. [Bench Memos / National Review]

* Speaking of the Supreme Court, Adam Feldman identifies his “Supreme Court All-Stars” (2013-2017): the lawyers and law firms with the most arguments — and wins — before the high court. [Empirical SCOTUS]

* Greg Lukianoff and Adam Goldstein offer tips for protecting freedom of speech on college campuses, inspired by a new book, The Coddling of the American Mind (affiliate link) by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt. [Volokh Conspiracy / Reason]

* Charles Glasser to news organizations, on the subject of self-policing: do better. [Daily Caller]

* How should we evaluate the success of law firm mergers? Madhav Srinivasan of Hunton Andrews Kurth has some thoughts on methodology. [Law.com]

* And Orin Kerr offers a proposal for applying the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination to compelled “decryption” of a locked phone, computer, or file. [SSRN]

* Speaking of privacy, Google is taking some heat in Arizona over its alleged practice of recording location data of Android device owners even if they opted out of such tracking. [Washington Post]

* When it comes to learning how to integrate technology into the delivery of legal services, American law firms can learn a thing or two from the Brits — as the latest move by CMS suggests. [Artificial Lawyer]

* Jeff Sessions assures people that the Justice Department won’t be intimidated by the administration. Trump responds with intimidation effort, blasting Justice for not doing enough about the “other side” and then just lists a bunch of Republicans he doesn’t like. [CNN]

* The White House is crowing over an unsealed Starr investigation report that “fully exonerates” Brett Kavanaugh… as a media leak. The collective delusion over there that being a leak is the worst possible sin, and not, you know sexual harassment issues, continues to astound. [National Law Journal]

* The Trump administration continues its efforts to raise taxes on Americans who didn’t vote for him. [Law360]

* After Debevoise offered a comically cozy report to help Ohio State keep winning football games, it’s worth remembering the school still has another internal investigation going on into sexual abuse claims against the wrestling staff. [Corporate Counsel]

* The Texas lateral market is making a whole lot of money. [Texas Lawyer]

* K&L Gates gets the go ahead on Singapore merger. [International]

* Ady Barkan, an ALS patient who has become an activist for patients, announced a campaign to raise money for Susan Collins’s next opponent if she supports the Kavanaugh nomination. Over the course of 3 days, he’s raised over $130K. [Crowdpac]

* RelativityOne announces Allen & Overy to its list of clients. [PR Newswire]

* Confirmation hearings for Judge Brett Kavanaugh will begin on September 4, which means that Justice Brett Kavanaugh will likely be ready and raring to go for October Term 2018. [Politico]

* If and when Kavanaugh is confirmed to the Supreme Court, he’ll be able to fulfill his hoop dreams at “the highest court in the land.” Unfortunately, as his fellow players and coaches have confirmed, white men judges can’t jump. [Wall Street Journal]

* In the meantime, liberal activists seem to be struggling in their attempts to rally the troops to convince Republican senators (like Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Dean Heller) to vote “no” on Kavanaugh’s SCOTUS nomination. [New York Times]

* Remember when Rudy Giuliani spoke to George Stephanopoulos about President Trump’s conversation with James Comey on Michael Flynn? Giuliani doesn’t. In fact, he’s now saying Trump’s conversation with Comey never took place. [CNN]

* Partner Connie Bertram has settled her $50 million gender discrimination suit against Proskauer Rose. Details on their agreement aren’t available, but let’s hope that the labor and employment leader is getting what she’s due. [American Lawyer]

* If you want to attend the Manafort trial but have no idea what to do with your electronics, the Cafe Gallery deli across the street from the courthouse will hold onto everything for you for just $2 per item. [Washington Business Journal]

* President Trump acknowledges he needs to pick someone “great” to replace Justice Kennedy on the Supreme Court. That person needs to be “extraordinarily well qualified” and have a “portfolio of solid academic writing,” but according to advisors, he doesn’t care about reading any of it, come on now. [Washington Post]

* “I’m really sorry that something we thought we had won for future generations instead we must leave for future generations to protect for themselves.” Sarah Weddington, the attorney who argued Roe v. Wade 48 years ago, is “really worried” about women’s reproductive rights now that Justice Kennedy is retiring. [Vox]

* Meanwhile, Republican Senator Susan Collins — whose vote on the next Supreme Court justice will be critical — says that any nominee who would contemplate overturning Roe v. Wade would “not be acceptable,” and that all nominees must have “respect for precedent.” Let’s see if any of her colleagues agree. [ABC News]

* Latham & Watkins announced that London-based partner Richard Trobman was elected as the firm’s next chair and managing partner. Trobman has been serving as the firm’s interim co-chair ever since Bill Voge Lathamed himself over inappropriate conduct involving “communications of a sexual nature.” [American Lawyer]

* Senators Cory Booker, Tim Scott, and Kamala Harris have introduced a bill that would make lynching a federal hate crime punishable by a sentence of up to life in prison. A law like this has never been passed. Per Sen. Booker, “This bill finally rights a wrong that should have been done a long time ago.” [New York Times]