Unauthorized Practice of Law

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 03.28.16

* Kimberly Kitchen, the woman who was parading around and pretending to be a lawyer for a decade before she was caught in the act, was recently convicted of forgery, unauthorized practice of law, and felony records tampering. On the bright side, at least she doesn't have six figures worth of law school debt to worry about right now. [WSJ Law Blog] * President Obama published an op-ed in praise of SCOTUS nominee Merrick Garland on AL.com, pleading with Alabamians to let their senators know that it's their duty to give Scalia's would-be replacement a hearing and a vote, lest we "jeopardize our system of justice, hurt our democracy, and betray the vision of our founding." [AL.com] * Who is the real Merrick Garland? Not only does he have a “résumé that makes you want to cry," but he's also a pretty endearing gent. He used to want to be a doctor, he loves singing show tunes, and he was once so nervous when officiating a wedding that he began the ceremony before the bride even walked down the aisle. [New York Times] * "We are heartened by this development and look forward to the Committee making this request directly ... as is standard practice." Republicans may be willing to accept Merrick Garland's nominee questionnaire, but the White House has yet to receive one from Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley or Senator Patrick Leahy. [BuzzFeed] * Judge Pamela A.M. Campbell, who presided over Hulk Hogan v. Gawker, has had more decisions reversed on appeal than any other judge in her county, but "a judge who's not afraid to make a decision and a not afraid to be reversed, is quite naturally going to be reversed more, and that doesn't mean the judge is not a good judge." [Tampa Bay Times] * A judge has ruled that Ropes & Gray, the firm that once represented ex-New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez, must turn over the murder convict's cellphone to his new attorneys so they can analyze it for his defense in the double murder case he's being prosecuted for by the Suffolk County DA's Office in Massachusetts. [Boston Herald]

By Staci Zaretsky
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 10.16.15

* Lawsuit ahead for Rosie O'Donnell! The comedienne was sued by a former The View producer she was allegedly mean to. [Jezebel] * The Amazing Schneiderman is at it again! This time he's going after Martin Shkreli for antitrust violations. [Dealbreaker] * So Justice Breyer heard a case about a company he holds stock in. The self-monitoring SCOTUS does for conflicts seems to be working out swimmingly. [Fix the Court] * The IRS computers are still on Window XP. Good thing we don't give them super sensitive information or anything. [TaxProf Blog] * Looks like Clay County, Tennessee, schools will indeed stay open. Score one for litigation. [Slate] * Sure to get Second Amendment enthusiasts fired up: let's create a Mount Doom for guns! [Wonkette] * $5 for some [possibly] unauthorized legal advice? Still sounds like a raw deal. [The Associate's Mind] * A judge limits the questions a doctor can ask patients -- when they're about guns, that is. [Harvard Law And Policy Review] * Is it even possible to have non-lawyer friends? Don't they all leave you once you've canceled plans for the 800th time? [Daily Lawyer Tips]

By Kathryn Rubino
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 09.11.15

* Ellen Pao, formerly of Cravath, won't be appealing her gender discrimination case against Kleiner Perkins. Did she settle? Hell no! "Settlement might have provided me with financial benefits, but only at the great cost of silence.” [Re/code] * During a time when first-year law school applications are still low, Arizona State Law claims to have just welcomed its "largest class" in law school history. Spoiler alert: The school is counting all of its LL.M. students in that figure. [ASU News] * BU Law teamed up with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for clinic offerings that will provide entrepreneurs from both schools free legal advice. MIT students might "change the world," and BU Law students might... get jobs? [Boston Business Journal] * Per the latest report from the Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Legal Reform, East Texas is the nation's “least fair and reasonable litigation environment." With its huge tort awards, this pro-business lobby thinks it's simply the worst. Go figure. [WSJ Law Blog] * Leaford George Cameron, a man who allegedly practiced law without a license for more than a decade, has been indicted on federal charges. The "scary man" would-be lawyer reportedly defrauded clients across the country. [Daily Delco / Philadelphia Daily News]

By Staci Zaretsky