Walter “Jay” Clayton

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 01.10.17

* The confirmation hearings for Jeff Sessions to serve as U.S. attorney general get underway today; here's what to watch for. [How Appealing] * Biglaw faces big challenges today, and even top law firms need to up their game. [DealBook / New York Times] * Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law (and also holder of an NYU Law degree), will serve as senior adviser to President Trump; Kushner's lawyer, Jamie Gorelick of WilmerHale, dismissed nepotism and conflict-of-interest concerns. [Washington Post] * Speaking of conflicts, it's probably a wise idea for Supreme Court justices to unload their holdings of individual stocks -- as a recent snafu involving Chief Justice John Roberts suggests. [New York Times] * Speaking of SCOTUS, the Court heard arguments yesterday in a case about a Colorado law making it more difficult for criminal defendants whose convictions get overturned to obtain refunds of fines and restitution they previously paid. [How Appealing] * Here is Chris Geidner's assessment of the where the Court is right now -- and how it might change after President Trump's first appointment, to be announced sometime after inauguration. [BuzzFeed] * And here is a detailed dossier on one of Trump's SCOTUS finalists, Judge Neil Gorsuch of the Tenth Circuit. [U.S. Law Week / Bloomberg BNA] * What can we expect from the SEC if Sullivan & Cromwell partner Jay Clayton is confirmed as chair? Thoughts from Peter J. Henning. [DealBook / New York Times]

By David Lat