U.S. Senate

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 05.19.21

* A lawsuit claims that candles made by a company owned by Gwyneth Paltrow exploded. Wonder if Serenity by Jan made similar products... [NBC News] * The St. Louis lawyer, who was infamously photographed wielding a gun in front of protesters last year, has announced his run for a U.S. Senate seat. [Kansas City Star] * The City of Sacramento has settled a lawsuit over a law that required people to stand during the national anthem. [Sacramento Bee] * An appeals judge in North Carolina has been issued a criminal summons for allegedly nearly hitting protesters with an SUV. [ABA Journal] * Since Above the Law has not had a "lawyerly lairs" segment in a while, wanted to relate that the home of the founder of 1-800-LAWYERS is on the market. [New York Post]

By Jordan Rothman
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 11.07.18

* Republicans' control over the Senate grew after the midterm elections, but Democrats managed to take the House. Here are six interesting reasons why that means President Donald Trump could be in "huge legal trouble" now. [Law & Crime] * Florida voters approved an amendment to their state constitution to restore felons' voting rights, which will now be automatically restored after prison time is completed and restitution paid. That's at least 1.4 million more voters! [Orlando Sentinel] * Remember Kim Davis, the Kentucky county clerk who was jailed after she refused to sign marriage licenses for same-sex couples? Last night, she lost her reelection campaign to Elwood Caudill Jr., a Democratic challenger. [Lexington Herald Leader] * In case you missed it, President Donald Trump chose former White House counsel and current O'Melveny of counsel A.B. Culvahouse to go Down Under to put another shrimp on the barbie serve as U.S. ambassador to Australia. [National Law Journal] * A California appellate court has paved the way for former Winston & Strawn partner Constance Ramos to get out of an "unconscionable" arbitration agreement with the firm. This may be the first Biglaw gender bias case to make it to trial. [The Recorder] * Sorry, but you can't deduct the cost of your law degree on your taxes because it qualified you for a new trade or business. The U.S. Tax Court says that even with a shiny new J.D. in your possession, you've only enhanced your current skills. [Law360] * Grab 'em by the public interest: Per a new Gallup survey, pre-law students don't care about Biglaw money; no, they say the top reason to go to law school is to "pursue a career in politics, government, or other public service." [Idaho Business Review] * A group of crypto investors has filed suit against rapper T.I., alleging that they could not have whatever they like because he tricked them into backing FLiK Token. The Rubberband Man's lawyer says, "Tip is truly disheartened by the lawsuit." [Complex]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 01.26.15

* Senate Republicans are contemplating abolishing filibusters for SCOTUS nominees. This could go one of two ways: it could work out nicely for them, or explode in their faces. It's like a choose your own adventure game. [POLITICO] * When it comes to the upcoming gay marriage cases before SCOTUS, "[e]very lawyer involved will want to argue." Remember, when you're given the chance to make history, you better hope that you're on the right side of it. [National Law Journal] * "[I]f there is one decision I would overrule, it is Citizens United." Even RBG thinks this campaign finance decision is one of the Supreme Court's "darkest hour[s]." [Salon] * SCOTUS refused to stay Charles Warner's execution, but it agreed to grant cert on his lethal injection case days after his death. Better late than never? [New York Times] * The NFL has drafted Ted Wells of Paul Weiss to blow up the absurd controversy that is "Deflategate." Come on, who cares if the Patriots cheated again? [WSJ Law Blog] * Do you know any chronic Biglaw firm-hoppers? How many firms are too many to lateral to? Three? Five? Seven? Jesus Christ, for this guy, try 10 firms. [Am Law Daily]

By Staci Zaretsky
Clarence Thomas

Morning Docket: 02.19.13

* Save for an unintelligible joke made last month, it’s been seven years since Clarence Thomas has spoken during oral arguments, much less asked a question, but with no offense to his colleagues, he’d rather “allow the advocates to advocate.” [Washington Post] * Sorry, members of the American public, but something like 95 percent of you are too stupid to understand what’s going on during Supreme Court hearings, so there’s no point in having cameras in the courtroom to film them. (Sotomayor, J.) [New York Times] * “Having an empty bench means people don’t get their cases heard,” but it seems like Senate Republicans could not care less. Obama’s facelift for the federal judiciary is going to have to wait a little while longer. [San Francisco Chronicle] * A lawgasm for prestige nerds: the Harvard Law Review received federal trademark protection, and with that, the number three law school in the country gained some bragging rights over Yale. [Daily Report (reg. req.)] * Oh my God, you guys, law school applications are down, no one can find jobs, and recent graduates are in debt up to their eyeballs. This is totally new information that no one’s heard before. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette] * Turning to your parents for law school advice is perhaps the worst idea in the world — after all, they’re the cause of your “special little snowflake” syndrome in the first place. [Law Admissions Lowdown / U.S. News]

By Staci Zaretsky