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: New York Supreme Court Criminal Term Library

Selections from National Law Journal Daily Headlines July 2, 2009

By David Badertscher, PLL

Source: NLJ.com, July 2, 2009.

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For jurors in Michigan, no tweeting (or texting, or Googling) allowed

"The Michigan Supreme Court has laid the hammer down on gadget-happy jurors in banning all electronic communications by jurors during trial, including tweets on Twitter, text messages and Google searches. The ruling, which takes effect Sept. 1, will require Michigan judges for the first time to instruct jurors not to use any handheld device, such as iPhones or Blackberrys, while in the jury box or during deliberations."

 

Law school pays students to stay away

"The unstable economy created a tricky situation for law school admissions offices this year. The University of Miami School of Law underestimated the percentage of accepted students who enroll ? and is offering incentives for students to sit out a year. Those who opt to delay until the fall of 2010 will receive a $5,000 scholarship when they complete 120 hours of public service and will have a better chance at receiving a $75,000 scholarship, among other incentives."

 

9th Circuit: Web ad blockers have broad shield from suits

"Software companies that help computer users halt Internet ads and viruses have a broad immunity from lawsuits brought by companies whose Web pages are blocked, the 9th Circuit ruled last week in Zango v. Kaspersky Lab. But the federal appellate court sounded a cautionary note about the breadth of immunity the software companies enjoy. "

 

A flurry of suits in Illinois over social services cuts

"As wrangling over a state budget continues, lawsuits against the State of Illinois have piled up in the past week as social service organizations push back against state funding cuts affecting children and the disabled".

 

Firm accused of duping malpractice claimants

"Former clients of a Cleveland-based law firm have convinced an Ohio appeals court to revive their claim that the 45-attorney shop duped them into a low-ball settlement in a legal malpractice case. Reversing a lower court, the three-judge panel threw out summary judgment in favor of Javitch, Block & Rathbone, a collections and bankruptcy firm with four offices in Ohio and Indiana."

 

THE PRACTICE

In opening a case, grab the jurors' attention

"A strong, accurate and interesting opening that clearly states the theme of your case is a good way to grab the attention of the audience, whether composed of laypeople or judges. With a bit of concentrated effort and imagination, the creative advocate can usually find an appealing ? even universal ? theme even in the most mundane of cases."

 

Full post as published by New York Supreme Court Criminal Term Library on July 02, 2009 (boomark / email).