Yesterday, a panel from the Fifth Circuit, comprised of Judges Jennifer Walker Elrod, James C. Ho, and Cory T. Wilson, delivered a ruling on the accessibility of the common abortion medication mifepristone. The all-Republican appointee panel ruled favorably for the plaintiffs aiming to overturn the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s long-standing approval of the medication….
Former state legislator and judge of the Atlanta-based Georgia Court of Appeals, Christian Coomer, was removed from office by the Georgia Supreme Court following an investigation into allegations of campaign finance rule violations and unfair exploitation of an elderly client. According to Reuters, the court’s decision was based on findings that Coomer acted in bad…
Once dubbed a phenomenon in its arena, the law defector firm that splintered from Lewis Brisbois is now shutting down. In May, 140 attorneys exited Lewis Brisbois to join forces with Barber Ranen, an employment boutique firm piloted by John Barber and Jeffrey Ranen. The firm leaders promised to bring about novel perspectives and fresh…
In a recent case of gender bias in Continuous Legal Education (CLE) training, Maine-licensed attorneys experienced difficulty in having their programs approved for Harassment and Discrimination (H&D) credit. The programs dealt with discrimination against women and mothers in the courtroom, one of them presented by ABA Past-President Paulette Brown, discussing COVID trends that adversely affect…
In an era characterized by rapid technological advancement and ever-evolving global regulatory landscapes, the legal sector finds itself at the crossroads. As corporations and law firms expand their activities across multiple jurisdictions, they face increasingly complex legal challenges, some of which have global implications. Take, for instance, the impact of the European Union’s General Data…
Pop star Britney Spears is reportedly on the path towards divorce from her husband, Sam Asghari, rounding out a challenging personal year for the singer. For this litigation, Spears has reportedly brought in the legal expertise of Laura Wasser, a well-known attorney often dubbed the ‘divorce lawyer to the stars’. Spears’ existing legal counsel continues…
The world lost Joan Meyer last week. After facing the stress of a police raid on her home and newspaper office—Marion County Record—this respected journalist and co-owner of the 153-year-old publication died amid significant difficulties. Despite their small-town origins, Meyer’s paper had been undaunted in raising potentially controversial local issues, something that brought them head-to-head…
A Texas woman identified as Abigail Jo Shry has been recently detained over threats she issued to District of Columbia judge Tanya Chutkan. Judge Chutkan is currently presiding over legal proceedings relating to the case of former President Donald Trump and the issue of false electors. This marks another worrying event in an already tense…
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on Friday it will reduce the administrative fee that providers and insurers are required to pay when initiating a reimbursement dispute under the No Surprises Act. The announcement follows a week after the Texas Medical Association’s successful court challenge against the Department of Health and Human…
The Seattle-based legal tech startup Clearbrief is set to introduce two artificial intelligence (AI)-powered features that will enhance the user experience for legal professionals. The features will allow users the unprecedented ability to create hyperlinked timelines and query documents. Originally built to improve brief writing in Microsoft Word, Clearbrief quarries through a case’s discovery, exhibits,…
In an intriguing compilation of events this week, we’ve witnessed how the term “jerk” has redefined its context in the legal world. From ethically questionable dealings to reputational woes, a few legal personalities garnered attention, rightly or wrongly. Justice Clarence Thomas grabbed headlines after securing the finance for his RV from a health care executive….
In a recent turn of events, judges from the Fifth Circuit have made a controversial move, opting to intercede in pharmaceutical matters. They have questioned the FDA’s understanding of mifepristone, a decision that raises alarming concerns given the FDA’s statutory and regulatory powers. In effect, the Fifth Circuit judges are stepping out of their judiciary…
The legal industry is renowned for its high earning potential, and nowhere is this more apparent than among the elite ranks of Biglaw firms. According to data collected during the New York Law Journal 100 ranking, it’s been revealed that two prominent New York firms have Revenue Per Lawyer (RPL) which surpasses the $2 million…
Former Donald Trump attorney, Michael Cohen, is reported to be considering a run for Congress, as he revealed in comments given to Semafor. “I am interested and there’s a multitude of folks encouraging me to run,” he stated. Notably, Cohen, a former Trump loyalist, has turned into a critic of the former president, undergoing a…
Sanctioning employees for late timesheet submissions is not a new concept, but one large legal firm appears to be adopting an unusually tough stance. According to reports “This Biglaw firm is cracking down on late timesheet submissions“. Elsewhere, flexibility in working conditions is increasingly becoming a contentious issue. Inspired by the shift in working habits…
Just earlier this week, a grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia made great strides and managed to indict former President Donald Trump along with 18 others for suspected attempts to manipulate the results of the state’s 16 electoral votes in the 2020 election. Trump’s former chief of staff, Mark Meadows, quickly sprang into action and…
Judge Brantley Starr recently attracted considerable attention, leading to a misconduct complaint, when he ordered a group of Southwest Airlines in-house attorneys to participate in training courses provided by an established Anti-LGBTQ group. His reasoning for doing so ignited considerable controversy and has resulted in an appeal. This decision underscores concerns about the misuse of…
Former President Donald Trump’s myriad legal troubles continue to make headlines. Recently, a fourth indictment has been filed against Trump in Georgia over election fraud. This case comes alongside other ongoing legal battles including alleged financial crimes from hush money involvement, problematic handling of classified documents, and the infamous January 6th insurrection. As is customary,…
In recent times, there appears to be a trend among Republican-appointed judges to distinguish themselves with ostensibly unconventional behavior. Former President Donald Trump’s appointee, U.S. Circuit Judge James Ho, demonstrates this trend clearly in his latest court proceedings. This news from Reuters reports his stark deviation from his peers’ views when he was the lone…
In the landscape of American politics, one may not expect a shift in support from the legal community towards Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, yet that appears to be the case. Despite what some view as a waning presidential campaign, DeSantis is garnering attention through his campaign donations, notably from attorneys, outdoing former President Donald Trump…
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has reportedly asked Disney to drop its ongoing lawsuit against him, claiming that he’s “basically moved on” from the dispute. This plea follows numerous unsuccessful attempts by his legal team to counter the legal onslaught from the multinational entertainment conglomerate. Above the Law discussed the legal back-and-forths between the governor and…
In a world where time equates to billable hours, law firms are taking stringent action to ensure prompt and regular time entry submissions by their associates. Hinging their revenue on the daily timesheets, any delinquency adversely affects the collection of fees from clients. Firms have been combating such procrastination by introducing policies that potentially decrease…
ILTACON, one of the most anticipated events in the legal tech sphere, is fast approaching. And this year, it is expected to offer even greater content and format changes that have legal professionals across the globe buzzing with excitement (Above the Law). In prior years, ILTACON offered six educational tracks. This year, a seventh track…
Virtual meetings on platforms like Zoom and Skype have become an integral part of our professional and personal lives, accelerating particularly in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic. From establishing a professional backdrop to wearing appropriate attire, etiquette around virtual meetings continues to evolve. Within this dynamic, a question on growing significance centers around…
The increase in cyber threats in recent years has prompted businesses and law firms alike to heighten their emphasis on cybersecurity strategies. But a crucial yet overlooked factor is the potential impact a firm’s cybersecurity strategy can have on its client base. As observed in this article, such a strategy can sometimes deter clients rather…