Try our Advanced Search for more refined results
Courts
-
What To Know About Changes To Texas Judicial Ethics Panel
Lone Star State voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly supported a ballot measure that will eliminate the role of the State Bar of Texas in appointing members to a judicial misconduct commission and give more power to the governor, a move hailed by supporters as promoting accountability and derided by critics over politicization concerns.
-
Judge Slams DOJ's 'Indict First' Strategy In Comey Case
Federal prosecutors were given just over 24 hours to hand over all of the grand jury materials and anything seized under years-old warrants in the James Comey case when a Virginia federal judge said Wednesday that the government appeared to be pursuing an "indict first, investigate last" strategy.
-
Ethics Case Dropped After Fla. State Judge Steps Down
A Florida judicial ethics panel has dropped ethics charges against a state judge accused of improperly holding people in contempt, handcuffing an alleged crime victim and acting unprofessionally, days after the judge resigned.
-
Senate Confirms Jones Day Partner To 9th Circ. Bench
The Senate voted 52-45 on Wednesday to confirm Eric Tung, a partner at Jones Day, as a judge on the Ninth Circuit.
-
Ignore Circuits, Follow Scalia, Justices Told In Deadlines Duel
How can a U.S. Supreme Court advocate persuade the justices to spurn the near-universal views of circuit courts? One option appeared Tuesday at arguments over deadlines to vacate judgments, as a Williams & Connolly lawyer invoked Justice Antonin Scalia's influential methods — and seemingly found a receptive audience.
-
Pa. Dem Justices Survive GOP Retention-Denial Campaign
Three Democratic Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justices will remain on the bench after surviving a Republican-led campaign to oust them via a retention vote, according to preliminary election results Tuesday.
-
Bankruptcy Judge Taken Off GWG Case Amid Scandal Fallout
The federal judge overseeing GWG Holdings' bankruptcy case has been removed because of his professional relationship with embattled former U.S. Bankruptcy Judge David R. Jones, a decision the chief bankruptcy judge attributed not to the GWG judge's "own actions," but to Jones's "abuse" of judicial authority.
-
2nd Circ. Revives Habeas Petition Over Counsel's Mistake
A divided Second Circuit panel ruled Tuesday that because a convicted sex trafficker's counsel during his first criminal appeal made an admittedly "inexcusable" mistake, the convict should be granted a second chance via a habeas petition to challenge his sentence.
-
DOJ Ignores Court Discovery Order In Letitia James Case
The U.S. Department of Justice has refused to provide New York Attorney General Letitia James access to documents related to her October indictment on mortgage fraud charges, arguing Tuesday that a Virginia federal judge was too early in making the discovery order.
-
Confirmation Ends Dem-Appointed Judges' Lock On 1st Circ.
The Senate voted 52-46 on Tuesday to confirm Joshua D. Dunlap, a partner at Pierce Atwood LLP, to the First Circuit.
-
Conn. Firm Bookkeeper Asks To Delay Embezzlement Trial
A former law firm bookkeeper accused of embezzling $835,000 from the legal practice and from its managing partner's rental business asked a Connecticut federal judge on Monday to delay a scheduled January jury trial because of a health issue that requires surgery.
-
Ga. Justices Uphold Ex-Atty's Matricide Conviction
The Supreme Court of Georgia on Tuesday upheld the murder conviction of a disbarred Peach State attorney who was found guilty of killing his mother on the day he was due to report to prison for stealing clients' money, ruling that "ample" circumstantial evidence tied him to the scene of the crime.
-
2nd Circ. Hints Bankman-Fried's $11B Forfeiture Is Overkill
The Second Circuit suggested Tuesday that the government's $11 billion forfeiture order against Sam Bankman-Fried may be unconstitutionally large, noting that the staggering amount tops the raft of cases tasking the court with determining if such money judgments pass Eighth Amendment muster.
-
Feds Defend Cases Against James Comey, Letitia James
The U.S. Department of Justice on Monday took a swing at bids by former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James to get their indictments thrown out, telling a federal judge the appointment of interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan was valid.
-
The Lone Ranger Facing A BigLaw Powerhouse At High Court
It might seem curious for a solo practitioner to decline offers of professional assistance in his first U.S. Supreme Court case. It might seem risky to go it alone against a BigLaw team led by an appellate icon. But a legal lone ranger arguing Tuesday at the high court is feeling confident, and he does have a friend proofreading briefs, just to be safe.
-
'Frankly, They're Irrelevant:' ABA Ratings In Trump's 2nd Term
The American Bar Association, long considered the gold standard for rating judicial nominees, no longer gets to interview them as Trump officials claim the group's "not qualified" rating for some nominees during Trump's first term shows it is a biased and "leftist" organization. Ironically though, ABA ratings for President Donald Trump's second-term picks are mostly positive so far.
-
Justices Tackle Scope Of Military Contractor Liability
The U.S. Supreme Court appeared hesitant on Monday to completely shelter U.S. military contractors engaged in combatant activities from liability for state-based injury claims, as the justices questioned whether doing so could hurt troops.
-
Judge Reminds Gov't To Follow Media Rules In James Case
A Virginia federal judge has reminded the parties in the government's alleged bank fraud case against New York Attorney General Letitia James not to publicly discuss grand jury proceedings after U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan texted with a reporter about the case in October.
-
10th Circ. Affirms Atty Fees Award In Habeas Actions
The Tenth Circuit on Monday held that the Equal Access to Justice Act authorizes fee awards in habeas actions challenging immigration detention, affirming a Colorado federal court's ruling that a Guatemalan national can receive attorney fees after successfully petitioning for habeas relief from her immigration detention.
-
Court Orders Cannon To Act On Bid To Unseal Trump Report
The Eleventh Circuit has given U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon 60 days to rule on media groups' requests to unseal the final report from special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into President Donald Trump's handling of classified documents, ruling Monday that the organizations had established "undue delay" in resolving their motions.
-
Mich. Justices To Review If Indigent Defendant Must Pay Atty
Michigan's highest court has said it will review a judge's decision to order a homeless man convicted of assault to pay his court-appointed counsel.
-
DC Public Defender Funding To Halt Because Of Shutdown
Funding for public defender services in Washington, D.C., is about to run out as the government shutdown drags on, according to a recent letter from members of the D.C. Courts Joint Committee on Judicial Administration.
-
Black Man Granted New Trial In Mass. Over Lawyer's Bias
A Black man who pled guilty to firearms offenses in 2018 after consulting with his lawyer — who was found to have made racist social media posts — is entitled to a new trial, Massachusetts' intermediate-level appeals court said Monday, unanimously reversing a lower court's decision.
-
New Loan Forgiveness Rule Targets Trump Critics, States Say
Two lawsuits filed Monday, one by a coalition of states and the other by a group of cities, unions and advocacy organizations, are challenging a new Trump administration rule imposing "intentionally vague" and allegedly illegal restrictions on student loan forgiveness for public employees intended to stifle dissent.
-
Holtzman Vogel Grows In Miami With Former Fed. Prosecutor
Holtzman Vogel Baran Torchinsky & Josefiak PLLC announced Monday that it has tapped a former assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida to serve as a partner in its Miami office.
Expert Analysis
-
Series
Ask A Mentor: How Do I Build Rapport In New In-House Role?
Tim Parilla at LinkSquares explains how new in-house lawyers can start developing relationships with colleagues both within and outside their legal departments in order to expand their networks, build their brands and carve their paths to leadership positions.
-
What Attys Should Consider Before Taking On Pro Bono Work
Excerpt from Practical Guidance
Piper Hoffman and Will Lowrey at Animal Outlook lay out suggestions for attorneys to maximize the value of their pro bono efforts, from crafting engagement letters to balancing workloads — and they explain how these principles can foster a more rewarding engagement for both lawyers and nonprofits.
-
Opinion
NY Bar Admission Criminal History Query Is Unjust, Illegal
New York should revise Question 26 on its bar admission application, because requiring students to disclose any prior interaction with the criminal justice system disproportionately affects people of color, who have a history of being overpoliced — and it violates several state laws, says Andrew Brown, president of the New York State Bar Association.
-
7 Ways Attys Can Improve Their LinkedIn Summaries
Lawyers can use LinkedIn to strengthen their thought leadership position, generate new business, explore career opportunities, and better position themselves and their firms in search results by writing a well-composed, optimized summary that demonstrates their knowledge and experience, says Guy Alvarez at Good2bSocial.
-
How Law Firms And Attys Can Combat Imposter Syndrome
Imposter syndrome is rampant in the legal profession, especially among lawyers from underrepresented backgrounds, leading to missed opportunities and mental health issues — but firms can provide support in numerous ways, and attorneys can use therapeutic strategies to quiet their inner critic, says Helen Pamely at Rosling King.
-
The Law Firm Qualities Partners Seek In Lateral Moves
.png)
In 2022, partners considering lateral moves have new priorities, and firms that hope to recruit top talent will need to communicate their strategy for growth, engage on hot issues like origination credit and diversity initiatives, and tailor their integration plans toward expanding partners’ client base, says Gloria Sandrino at Lateral Link.
-
Small Steps Can Help Employers Beat Attorney Burnout
Lawyers are experiencing burnout on a massive, unprecedented scale due to the pandemic, but law firms and institutional players can and should make a difference by focusing on small, practical solutions that protect their attorneys’ most precious personal resource and professional commodity — time, says Chad Sarchio, president of the District of Columbia Bar.
-
The Evolving Role Of The Law Firm Legal Secretary
.jpg)
Technological shifts during the pandemic and beyond should force firms to rethink how legal secretaries can not only better support timekeepers but also participate in elevating client service, bifurcating the role into an administrative support position and a more elevated practice support role, says Lauren Chung at HBR Consulting.
-
Series
Ask A Mentor: How Can I Ace My Upcoming Annual Review?.jpg)
Jennifer Rakstad at White & Case highlights how associates can emphasize achievements and seek support before, during and after their annual review, despite the pandemic’s negative effects on face time with colleagues and business development opportunities.
-
How Your Law Firm's Brand Can Convey Prestige
In order to be perceived as prestigious by clients and potential recruits, law firms should take their branding efforts beyond designing visual identities and address six key imperatives to differentiate themselves — from identifying intangible core strengths to delivering on promises at every interaction, says Howard Breindel at DeSantis Breindel.
-
How Dynamic Project Management Can Help Law Firms
.jpg)
Law firms looking to streamline matter management should consider tools that offer both employees and clients real-time access to documents, action items, task assignee information and more, overcoming many of the limitations of project communications via email, says Stephen Weyer at Stites & Harbison.
-
Series
Ask A Mentor: How Can I Successfully Switch Practices?
Associates who pivot into new practice areas may find that along with the excitement of a fresh start comes some apprehension, but certain proactive steps can help tame anxiety and ensure attorneys successfully adapt to unfamiliar subjects, novel internal processes and different client deliverables, say Susan Berson and Hassan Shaikh at Mintz.
-
Why Firms Should Help Associates Do More Pro Bono Work
Associates may hesitate to take on the added commitment of pro bono matters, but such work has tangible skill-building benefits, so firms should consider compensation and leadership strategies to encourage participation, says Rasmeet Chahil at Lowenstein Sandler.
-
A Road Map For Creating Law Firm Sustainability Programs
Amid demands from clients and prospective hires for greater sustainability efforts, law firms should think beyond reusable mugs and create programs that incorporate clear leadership structures, emission tracking and reduction goals, and frameworks for reporting results, says Gayatri Joshi at the Law Firm Sustainability Network.
-
Confronting The Stigma Of Alcohol Abuse In Legal Industry
The pandemic has likely exacerbated the prevalence of problem drinking in the legal profession, making it critical for lawyers and educators to address alcohol abuse and the associated stigma through issue-specific education, supportive assistance and alcohol-free professional events, says Erica Grigg at the Texas Lawyers' Assistance Program.