USC Gould School of Law

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 12.27.17

* Is SCOTUS walking back its landmark commitment to equal rights for the LGBTQ community? Considering what could happen in the Masterpiece Cakeshop case and the high court's refusal to grant cert in Pidgeon, it seems like it. It's not as if this hasn't happened before. ::coughBrownvBoardcough:: [New Republic] * A federal judge ruled that an American ISIS suspect who's been detained as a "enemy combatant" in Iraq for the last three months is, in fact, entitled to a lawyer, and called the Trump administration's quest to deny counsel in this case "both remarkable and troubling." [New York Times] * Everything really is bigger in Texas: According to the ABA, there are just 0.8 percent more first-year law students this year than last year, but entering classes at law schools in the Lone Star State were 4 percent larger than they were last year. Hopefully all these students will be able to lasso themselves jobs. [Texas Lawyer] * Lawsuits have been rolling out ever since Apple admitted that it was slowing down iPhones with older batteries, and one of them was filed by two students who currently attend USC Law and hope to get the suit certified as a class-action. This is an absolutely awesome use of winter break. [RT] * Which states are likely to legalize marijuana in the new year? Vermont, New Jersey, and Michigan may soon end their prohibitions on cannabis, either through legislative means or by puff-puff-passing a voter referendum. [Forbes] * If you're a journalist with three years of experience and cover the legal profession in your reporting, consider applying to be a fellow at Loyola Law School's annual Journalist Law School. There is no cost to attend. The application deadline is February 9, 2018. [Journalist Law School] * Judge Thomas Griesa, the Southern District of New York jurist who oversaw the Argentine debt battle in federal court, RIP. [New York Law Journal]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 12.28.15

* The lawsuit the Bernie Sanders campaign filed against the Democratic National Committee is far from over. Will a "full investigation from top to bottom" reveal that the DNC was trying to burn the Bern in the polls? [Yahoo!] * It seems like the whole two-year law school gambit isn't working out as planned, but maybe that's because it hasn't been properly executed yet. Sorry, Northwestern, but we're really not sorry for saying that. [DealBook / New York Times] * DraftKings and FanDuel threw the challenge flag after Illinois AG Lisa Madigan declared that daily fantasy sports betting was illegal in her state. Gibson Dunn and Boies Schiller hope review of the play won't result in another "Fail Mary." [Chicago Tribune] * "I thought I was the only person who felt that way." Feeling left out at law school? USC Law is trying to make legal education a little less intimidating for students who are the first in their family to attend institutions of higher education. [Los Angeles Times] * iDamages: If you thought Apple liked gouging its customers, then you should see what it does to its adversaries. Samsung just paid the company more than $548 million in patent infringement damages, but Apple wants about $180 million more. [Reuters]

By Staci Zaretsky
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 01.06.15

* Governor Chris Christie was worried America didn't realize he has no respect for his constituents and is a complete fake, so he's publicly rooting for the Dallas Cowboys over any of the three teams real New Jersey residents root for. He's also possibly violating ethics rules. [The Legal Blitz / ATL Redline] * Screech is going to trial. [Associated Press / Yahoo! News] * New dean at USC. Who is it? [USC Gould School of Law] * As the Supreme Court stares down the barrel of some highly political cases, will Chief Justice Roberts live up to his promise of non-partisanship? [Chicago Sun-Times] * Judge Richard Kopf reviews our own Mark Hermann's book, The Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law (affiliate link). The verdict? It's curmudgeon-y. [Hercules and the Umpire] * David appeared on MSNBC's The Docket today to discuss Supreme Ambitions (affiliate link). [MSNBC] * The GOP is very, very against using the popular vote to elect a president which they characterize as an effort to "steal the presidency." Seriously. [Concurring Opinions]

By Joe Patrice