U.S. Attorneys Offices

Non-Sequiturs

Non Sequiturs: 05.05.19

* If you shared my skepticism that the murder trial in the Dan Markel case will actually start next month, almost five long years after Markel's murder, then you won't be surprised by this latest development -- Saam Zangeneh, counsel to Sigfredo Garcia, has moved for a continuance. [Tallahassee Democrat] * As predicted, President Donald Trump just had his 100th Article III federal judge confirmed by the U.S. Senate; he's now up to 102 judicial appointees, as noted by Carrie Severino. [Bench Memos / National Review] * If my writeup of Preet Bharara's recent event at Cleary Gottlieb left you wanting more, check out Randy Maniloff's wide-ranging interview with the former U.S. attorney (including advice on how not to get hired at the S.D.N.Y.). [Coverage Opinions] * Jonathan Adler flags a thoughtful debate between Michael McConnell and Josh Chafetz on the battle over subpoenas between President Trump and Congressional Democrats. [Volokh Conspiracy / Reason] * Howard Wasserman identifies an interesting argument against police officers using body-worn cameras aka bodycams -- but as he also observes, we don't really have a better solution yet to the abuse of police discretion. [PrawfsBlawg] * My money's on Capital Loss Carryover in the Preakness Stakes. [TaxProf Blog] * Of course "real lawyers" take notes -- but there are some nuances here, which Joel Cohen explores. [New York Law Journal] * Frank Cross, a longtime professor of law at the University of Texas School of Law, rest in peace. [Balkinization]

By David Lat
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 01.12.18

Ed. note: We will not be publishing on Monday, January 15, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. * Will Geoffrey Berman, acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, recuse from Deutsche Bank matters? It sure sounds like he should.... [Bloomberg Politics] * Judge Shira A. Scheindlin and Joel Cohen offer advice to companies on how to handle sexual harassment allegations in a manner consistent with due process. [Guardian] * And Glenn Reynolds has this modest proposal, also related to the problem of sexual harassment (in the federal judiciary): abolish clerkships. [Wall Street Journal] * A quartet of tax law professors explain how a proposal to transform state and local tax payments into deductible charitable contributions to state and local government organizations could actually work. [Slate] * From Biglaw to big bucks: former associates Stephen Scanlan and Travis Leon sell their law-related startup, XRef, for a cool $10 million. [RollOnFriday] * Professor Eugene Volokh: "There's a fine line between being a 'badass' and...." [Volokh Conspiracy / Reason] * "Appeals court OKs F-Bombs for federal trademark protection." F**king finally. [Techdirt] * The Dewey & LeBoeuf criminal case ends with a whimper: former accounting manager Victoria Harrington just got sentenced to unconditional release (i.e., no prison time). [Law360]

By David Lat
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 01.04.18

* Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon has apparently "lost his mind," and now he's found himself on the receiving end of a cease-and-desist letter from President Trump's lawyers, with claims that he'd not only violated his employment agreement with the Trump Organization, but that he'd likely defamed Trump. [Washington Post] * According to Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York will be filing suit against the government over the new tax plan, contending that its limitation on SALT deductions constitutes unconstitutional "double taxation." Will other states with high local taxes get on board? [Big Law Business] * In an effort to beat a deadline, Attorney General Jeff Sessions is using his executive authority to appoint almost 20 interim U.S. attorneys. The jurisdictions where these appointments were made include districts in California, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, the Virgin Islands, and Washington. [NBC News] * There were 102 law firm mergers in 2017, topping a record that was previously set in 2015. Now, just a few days into 2018, law firm mergers are still going strong and show no sign of stopping, and it may be because younger managing partners have replaced their baby boomer predecessors. [American Lawyer] * Earlier this week, Judge Adrienne Nelson was appointed to the Oregon Supreme Court by Governor Kate Brown. Nelson is the first African-American to ever serve on the state's high court. Congratulations on making history, Your Honor! [Oregonian] * Yet another DOJ veteran is leaving for greener pastures in academia. This time, it's Doug Letter, director of the Civil Division appellate staff, who will bring 40 years of government service experience to Georgetown Law, where he'll join the school's Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection. [National Law Journal]

By Staci Zaretsky