University of Texas

Morning Docket

Morning Docket 01.06.20

* The criminal trial of Harvey Weinstein begins today in Manhattan. [New York Times] * A lawyer mistakenly handed an Austin musician legal papers after he performed a gig. Maybe this musician should apply the alternate definition of shredding to these documents. [Austin Chronicle] * A federal court has dismissed a lawsuit against the University of Texas over the removal of Confederate statues. [The Hill] * A disgraced San Antonio attorney who allegedly stole money from clients has taken a plea deal to try and avoid jail time. [KSAT.com] * Miley Cyrus has settled a copyright infringement lawsuit over her song "We Can't Stop." [Page Six] * A law school graduate who pretended to be an attorney to work in a public defender's office has been charged with unauthorized practice of law. At least she should be able to represent herself against the charges... [Fox News]

By Jordan Rothman
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 07.12.18

* Brett Kavanaugh built up around $200K in debt buying Washington Nationals tickets. This may be the Federalist Society's biggest vetting failure ever because all real conservative jurists would say they went $200K in debt buying Montreal Expos tickets. [Deadspin] * Ohio pulls obscure law out of a hat to harass Stormy Daniels for daring to point out that Donald Trump is a scumbag. [NY Times] * "Jesus never broke immigration law" says Evangelical Trumper whose religion is entirely based on a guy admitting he was an outlaw and getting the death penalty for it. [Vox] * Just when you were getting used to WestlawNext, WestlawEdge is here to radically change the game. [LegaltechNews] * Texas professors who don't want to die will take their case to the Fifth Circuit. [CBS News] * Lawyer says Shady orchestrated the assault on his ex. [Denver Post] * Trump pardoned the thugs who put the lives of firefighters in danger and then inspired an armed standoff with federal officers and then Mike Pence's buddy gave them a private jet home. [Oregon Live]

By Joe Patrice
Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 12.21.15

* Blame Kelly Drye for the lack of exotic snake regulations, because what could go wrong in an unregulated market for spitting cobras? [Slate] * New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is instating mass pardons for youthful offenders. [New York Times] * A Texas alumni group has apologized for calling Justice Scalia a racist. I guess scientists are made of sterner stuff. [Chronicle of Higher Education] * The founding fathers were better about defending the rights of Muslims than (some) modern Republicans. [Washington Post] * Preet Bharara's latest target -- the evils of auto-subscribing. [Law and More] * Ah, the Christmas season. That time of the year when customer service is paradoxically at its best and worst. [That's My Argument!] * The verdict against former White House counsel J. Michael Farren has been affirmed by the Connecticut Appellate Court. [Legal Profession Blog]

By Kathryn Rubino
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 07.13.15

* Has America been duped by the greatest double agent in history? That's one take on Eric Holder's return to Covington & Burling (they even kept his office waiting for him). [Rolling Stone] * The merger between Squire Sanders and Patton Boggs may have had a rocky first year, but the merged entity looks to get its lobbying game back on fleek. [Washington Post] * It's fairly unlikely Abigail Fisher has experienced discrimination a day in her life, but white privilege means this mediocre student will have yet another day in front of the Supreme Court. [For Harriet] * One lawyer's quest against the Commission on Presidential Debates and their implicit perpetuation of the two-party duopoly. [Law360] * An issue near and dear in the hearts of many of our readers: how do you stay married to a lawyer? [Lawyerist] * The top 4 funny [boo hoo] moments from the Dewey trial. [American Lawyer]

By Kathryn Rubino
Football

Non-Sequiturs: 10.23.14

* Does Chief Justice Roberts care enough about avoiding the appearance of partisanship that he’ll sink challenges to Obamacare? [Huffington Post] * Wow. In 1938, they arrested a woman for wearing pants to court. [LA Times] * LSAT takers were down AGAIN. It’s now down more than 40 percent since 2009. Maybe someday soon it really will be a good time to “Apply to Law School Now!” [Excess of Democracy] * Don’t go to jail in Alabama. Just a general rule. [Mother Jones] * Interesting. LexisNexis is partnering with Microsoft to create a cloud-based system for small law firms. [PR Web] * The remains of famed athlete Jim Thorpe will remain in the Pennsylvania town where he was buried, ruled Judge Richard Caputo. His family wanted the remains returned to his birthplace. Even in death this guy is getting jerked around. [Associated Press via ABC News] * Speaking of sports, Oklahoma State is suing New Mexico State alleging that its mascot looks “confusingly similar” to OSU’s mascot. There are only so many ways to depict a cowboy. Compare and contrast. [The Chronicle of Higher Education] * Man Okie State is litigious all of a sudden. Oklahoma State is suing the University of Texas for poaching the former Cowboys Offensive Line coach to be the Longhorns’ Offensive Coordinator. I can see the deposition now. Imagined transcript after the jump…. [ESPN] Attorney: And how old are you, describe yourself? Other Attorney: Objection, compound. Attorney: Go ahead and answer the question. Mr. Gundy: I’M A MAN! I’M 40!

By Joe Patrice
5th Circuit

SCOTUS Grants Cert in Affirmative Action Case: ‘Cause It’s an Election Year and They Like Power’

Last year, the Fifth Circuit upheld the University of Texas's affirmative action plan in Fisher v. University of Texas. But they did so in a petulant, childish manner, as if somebody was forcing them to eat their vegetables. At the time, Elie said they were openly begging for a right-wing Supreme Court to review and overturn their ruling. It looks like the members of the Fifth Circuit are going to get their wish. The Supreme Court granted cert on Fisher, and now we get to have an affirmative action debate right in the middle of an election cycle where a black man is running for reelection....

By Elie Mystal