In Today’s Legal News
posted by Sam Yospe
A Washington Post-ABC News Poll finds that a growing percentage of Americans think that the Supreme Court is too conservative.
Some counties are going to great lengths to find jurors.
If it reaches the Court, District of Columbia v. Heller may determine the meaning of the Second Amendment.
One man’s journey to law school and then away from the law.
July 30, 2007 at 10:50 am
Posted in: Current Events
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In Today’s Legal News
posted by Sam Yospe
Indian law is being added to the bar in some western states.
Instructors and students at Idaho Law School offer free legal representation to illegal aliens facing deportion. A former Idaho official claims that providing such aid is a felony.
The N.J. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a homeowners association which sought to ban residents from displaying political signs on their property.
The Houston Chronicle discusses the perception that most lawyers make six figure salaries.
A permanent injunction was issued by a federal judge against the anti-illegal-immigration ordinances in Hazelton, PA.
Unless NY gets a stay from a permanent injunction issued by a judge, advertisements for lawyers featuring slogans such as “heavy hitters” and showing lawyers doing things unrelated to legal competence will be back on the airwaves.
July 27, 2007 at 10:38 am
Posted in: Current Events
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In Today’s Legal News
posted by Sam Yospe
Time Magazine has paid a Canadian man $96,500 for misleading him in a promotional letter. The man returned the letter, thinking that he had won a sweepstakes, but instead was subscribed to Time Magazine.
Strike Tactic: A Union hires homeless people to picket. These “temporary workers” are paid $8 an hour.
A resort at Bryce Canyon in Utah has become its own town, and will now collect $300,000 in annual sales tax revenue from tourists.
Does due process apply in the NFL? With Michael Vick banned from training camp, should the NFL pass judgment before the legal system runs its course?
The Washington Post looks at the perks of being a summer associate.
California has created a new court to deal with prison overcrowding.
July 24, 2007 at 11:00 am
Posted in: Current Events
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In Today’s Legal News
posted by Sam Yospe
Ralph Papitto, the former chairman of the board of trustees at Roger Williams University, has asked to have his name removed from the university’s law school after he used a racial slur at a board meeting.
Defense attorneys in civil rights case lost a motion to prevent the plaintiff from mentioning President’s Bush name. The case involves a man arrested for displaying an anti-war sign at a Bush campaign event. The defense argued that Bush’s low approval ratings could prejudice the jury.
Backlogs in crime labs are leading to problems in many states, including the occasional miscarriage of justice.
Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeals has ruled an anti-sodomy law unconstitutional.
July 20, 2007 at 10:38 am
Posted in: Current Events
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In Today’s Legal News
posted by Sam Yospe
A new study shows that salaried public defenders perform better than court appointed attorneys who bill by the hour.
It’s been ten years since the blog was born. Prominent people from journalism, business, entertainment, and more discuss what blogs mean to them.
The NY attorney general is threatening legal action against a health insurance company which is planning to rank doctors by quality of care and cost.
How much does it cost to name a law school?
A bond between Orthodox Jews and Pentecostal Christians over discrimination based on religious dress requirements.
July 14, 2007 at 11:20 am
Posted in: Current Events
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In Today’s Legal News
posted by Sam Yospe
New Study: Look to Justice Roberts to determine outcomes in Supreme Court cases.
How not to get out of jury duty.
A NY Times op-ed discusses a way of getting around the Court’s school segregation ruling.
An online company that broadcasts cockfights has filed a First Amendment challenge against a federal law that bans depictions of animal cruelty.
The University of Florida has been sued by a Christian fraternity for not allowing it to be recognized as a student organization.
July 11, 2007 at 11:28 am
Posted in: Current Events
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Anon - July 11, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Great example of the Cretan paradox in the jury duty story:
“I said I’m frequently found to be a liar,” Ellis replied.
“So, are you lying to me now?” asked Nickerson.
“Well, I don’t know. I might be,” said Ellis.
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In Today’s Legal News
posted by Sam Yospe
The New York Times explores the world of TV judges.
A Massachusetts man is suing the Mass. bar over a question about gay marriage after he refused to answer the question and failed the exam.
The NY Times discusses Justice Thomas’ opposition to integration and affirmative action.
What responsibility do law firms have to fix the criminal justice system in New Orleans?
The Supreme Court’s term: a (conservative) activist Court?
July 9, 2007 at 9:48 am
Posted in: Current Events
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David - July 9, 2007 at 11:06 am
The Cohen editorial neatly sums up the breathtaking hypocrisy of those who level the epithet of ‘activist’ only against liberal judges. The conservatives on the Supreme Court stretched precendent and Constitutional arguments like silly putty to further their ruthless pro-corporate, anti-individualist agenda.
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Sam - July 9, 2007 at 11:36 am
I think that it’s an interesting argument. While I know that judges claim that they uphold the law, I often wonder how much of a role politics plays. I spent much of the last year researching the use of foreign sources in Supreme Court decisions. One thing that struck me is that Justice Scalia, who vehemently attacks the majority in the death penalty cases for citing foreign laws, has at times cited foreign laws when they agreed with his point of view.
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Dave - July 9, 2007 at 1:21 pm
Wow… “breathtaking” hypocrisy? Really? You can’t breath because some people call liberal judges activists, but not conservative judges? You may need to get some valium for a condition like that. I shudder to think of what something serious does to you.
And exactly how much stretching of the Constitution and precedent constitutes stretching it like silly putty? Can only anti-individualists stretch things like silly putty? Do you think the justices sit around and dream up schemes to destroy individuality while playing with silly putty? Hmmm….
Hyperbolically yours,
Dave
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In Today’s Legal News
posted by Sam Yospe
The WSJ reports that many large law firms are firing or “de-equitizing” partners.
The AP investigates the often terrible conditions in private, for-profit prisons.
Where are the Supreme Court justices this summer?
A lawyer is suing the state of Washingon over its ban of online poker, citing commerce clause violations.
July 7, 2007 at 11:07 am
Posted in: Current Events
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In Today’s Legal News
posted by Sam Yospe
Blogging can help law students get summer-associate positions.
Violations of underage drinking laws are not treated equally.
A Washington Post editorial discusses whether legal gay marriage in Massachusetts has had an effect on the institution of marriage.
Today, many papers ran editorials discussing the rightward shift of the Court this past term. Here is the San Francisco Chronicle’s take.
July 5, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Posted in: Current Events
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In Today’s Legal News
posted by Sam Yospe
A few times a week, I will post links that may be of interest to our readers.
More than 15 law schools have added gambling law courses to their curriculum.
David Holmberg, a journalist and adjunct professor, talks about receiving teaching evaluations from his students.
A quirky law in Boston will require the city to have a primary election for city council in September to narrow 9 candidates down to 8. The cost: $500,000.
In Chicago, a woman with Holt-Oram Syndrome (undeveloped hands) filed a lawsuit against McDonalds. She claims that the restaurant refused to serve her when she passed the credit card to the employee with her feet.
Jeffrey Rosen asks whether last week’s segregation case will have the same societal altering impact as Brown did in the 1960’s.
Linda Greenhouse summarizes the Supreme Court’s term and its rightward shift.
A new Tennesse law requires everyone to show ID when buying beer.
Barry Schwartz attacks New York City’s cash incentive plan to students, questioning whether monetary motivations will supercede the intrinsic motivations to do well in school.
A new law in Maine will pay college graduates (in the form of tax credits for college loans) to stay in the state.
July 2, 2007 at 11:39 am
Posted in: Current Events
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Patrick S. O'Donnell - July 2, 2007 at 1:00 pm
Welcome. And thanks for your contributions. I’d like to add something: A recent article in the Chronicle of Higher Education by Peter Monaghan notes “The Growing Field of Animal Law is Attracting Activists and Pragmatists Alike,” June 29, 2007: http://chronicle.com/temp/email2.php?id=xMrJgsdXhjHsVjrdP8CMsGjrcmtwt3dr If that doesn’t work, try bookforum.com (last para.): http://www.bookforum.com/news/ivorytower/433
[My "Animals: Ethics, Rights & Law—A Selected Bibliography," available upon request]
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Patrick S. O'Donnell - July 2, 2007 at 1:20 pm
And courtesty of CrimProf Blog: “Report Shows Large Prison Inmate Growth” http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/crimprof_blog/2007/07/report-shows-la.html#comments
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