University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 01.04.16

* In his annual report on the state of the federal judiciary, Chief Justice John Roberts asked that lawyers stop treating each other like garbage and do their best to "avoid antagonistic tactics, wasteful procedural maneuvers and teetering brinksmanship." [New York Times] * Justice Antonin Scalia, the Supreme Court's "lightning rod for controversy," recently said during a small speaking engagement that the government not only can, but should, support religion. After all, "God had been very good to us." [AP] * Albany Law's dean says don't believe the horror stories you hear about law school, especially since "[t]his is a really good time to apply." It's worth noting that she wasn't able to pay off her loans until she was a tenured law professor. [Albany Times Union] * The Arkansas Law (Little Rock) professor who's suing his school over access to public records has added a retaliation claim to his complaint thanks to the "allegations of two rogue, race-baiting professors." Ooh, that sounds juicy! [Arkansas Democrat Gazette] * Is your favorite music streaming service screwing your favorite musicians out of their hard-earned cash? Spotify may soon be facing yet another multimillion-dollar class-action lawsuit over artists' royalty payments (or the lack thereof) in 2016. [Billboard] * Michael G. Oxley, co-sponsor of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, RIP. [New York Times]

By Staci Zaretsky
9th Circuit

Morning Docket: 01.23.14

* The Supreme Court isn’t sure how to address restitution in this child pornography case, but the justices agreed that they didn’t like the “50 percent fudge factor” offered by a government attorney. [New York Times] * No, stupid, you can’t strike a juror just because he’s gay. By expanding juror protections to sexual orientation, the Ninth Circuit recently added a new notch on the gay rights bedpost. Progress! [Los Angeles Times] * The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board says the NSA’s domestic surveillance program is illegal and should be stopped. Sorry, Edward Snowden beat you to the punch on that one. [New York Times] * While Blank Rome was busy denying a possible merger with Nixon Peabody, it picked up 21 attorneys from two small firms in California to open a San Francisco office. Sneaky. [Philadelphia Business Journal] * Dennis T. O’Riordan, the ex-Paul Hastings partner who faked his credentials, was disbarred — not in New York, where he claimed he was admitted, but across the pond in the United Kingdom. [Am Law Daily] * The ABA Journal wants to know if your law firm considers law school pedigree during its hiring process. Please consider the law schools your firm shuts out from OCI, and respond accordingly. [ABA Journal] * Word on the street is UALR School of Law is trying to push an affirmative action program that’s “likely unconstitutional.” It might also be insulting to prospective minority students, so there’s that. [Daily Caller]

By Staci Zaretsky