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Justice Ginsburg on the Bench as Supreme Court Reconvenes

Legal Times

Looking strong and cheerful, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg returned to the bench Monday morning, just 18 days after major surgery related to her diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Ginsburg took her place on the bench with a smile and, almost immediately after arguments began, started asking questions of the advocates before her. Some had predicted that Ginsburg would be too weak to resume work so quickly, but her appearance confirmed her determination to continue work without interruption.

Federal Judge Pleads Guilty to Obstruction, Steps Down

The National Law Journal

Federal Judge Samuel B. Kent, indicted in January for alleged sexual abuse of two court staff members, pleaded guilty to obstruction and resigned his lifetime post on Monday. He is the first federal judge ever indicted for alleged sexual crimes. The Texas judge faced trial on three counts of sexual abuse of two female employees, which carried a potential life prison term, two counts of sexual contact and a single count of obstruction of justice.

Liberals Use Supreme Court Gun Case to Bolster Other Rights

Legal Times

The Supreme Court's ruling in D.C. v. Heller was a constitutional earthquake, and its aftershocks are beginning to transform the constitutional landscape well beyond gun rights, in ways that have liberals cheering and even joining hands with one-time adversaries like the National Rifle Association. A progressive legal group and liberal law professors have joined gun-rights advocates on the same side of a 7th Circuit case that, no matter what its outcome, is likely to be appealed to the Supreme Court.

Former Pfizer VP Ordered to Pay Victim in Child Porn Case

The Associated Press

A Connecticut federal judge on Monday ordered a man convicted of distributing child pornography to pay about $200,000 in restitution to a woman who was photographed being sexually abused when she was a child. Judge Warren W. Eginton said his ruling was the first in a criminal case in which someone convicted of possessing illegal images -- but not creating them -- is required to pay restitution. The case involves Alan Hesketh, a former Pfizer vice president who was sentenced in October to 78 months in prison.

Bilzin Sumberg Cuts Attorney, Staff Positions

Daily Business Review

Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod has cut some attorney and staff positions, managing partner John Sumberg has confirmed. Sumberg declined to say exactly how many positions were cut, but sources say at least two attorneys and two secretaries in the firm's corporate and real estate areas lost their jobs. Sumberg said the firm expects to have moderate growth going forward. "Our primary focus right now for growth is in litigation," he says. "We're actively looking for lawyers in that area."

Bail Denied for Chicago Lawyer in Double Slaying

The Associated Press

The attorney accused of killing New York Knicks player Eddy Curry's ex-girlfriend and her daughter was an abusive boyfriend who disputed $23,500 in legal fees with his victim, prosecutors alleged Monday. Fredrick Goings is charged with first-degree murder in the slayings of Nova Henry and her 10-month-old daughter, who both died of multiple gunshot wounds. A judge denied bail at a hearing Monday, where prosecutors said Goings and Henry became romantically involved after he represented her in a paternity case with Curry.

Law Firms Charging Up to $995 an Hour for Newspaper Publisher Bankruptcies

The American Lawyer

On Sunday, two more newspaper publishing companies joined the Tribune Co. and others in the news business in filing for bankruptcy. Philadelphia Newspapers has signed up Proskauer Rose and Dilworth Paxson for the work. Proskauer partners will charge up to $975 an hour; the lead Dilworth partner on the case will charge $675, court papers show. The Journal Register Co. tapped Willkie, Farr & Gallagher as lead counsel. Partners will be billing a maximum of $995 per hour, court records show.

Former Merrill Lynch CEO Ordered to Testify About Billions in Bonuses

The Associated Press

A New York judge has ordered former Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain to testify about $3.6 billion in bonuses paid to Merrill employees before the company was sold to Bank of America. Initial reports of the bonuses came just days after BofA received $20 billion from the government that it said it needed to help offset the losses it was absorbing from the Merrill acquisition. New York's attorney general subpoenaed Thain last month in connection with his office's investigation into the timing of the bonuses.

Proskauer's Profits Fall 10 Percent, Revenues Up Slightly

The American Lawyer

Proskauer Rose's profits per equity partner dropped 10 percent in 2008 to $1.4 million. Revenues increased marginally, by 1 percent, to $634 million in 2008. Still, firm Chairman Allen Fagin echoes other law firm leaders when commenting on his firm's performance this past year, saying that, given the challenges, he is satisfied. Unlike most Am Law 100 firms, Proskauer's financial year ends Oct. 31, so the numbers only cover about a month and a half of the financial crisis prompted by Lehman Brothers' collapse.

D.C. Circuit Grants Obama (Another) Extension in Subpoena Case

Legal Times

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on Monday gave the Obama administration another week to decide its course in a case involving one of President George W. Bush's most expansive claims of executive privilege. The briefing schedule has changed three times in the last two weeks, after two motions by the Justice Department for more time to allow for an out-of-court settlement in the House of Representatives' lawsuit against former White House counsel Harriet Miers and chief of staff Joshua Bolten.

Lawyers Face Off With Governments in India, China

The American Lawyer

In separate incidents, lawyers in both India and China are complaining of rough state treatment. In the southernmost Indian state of Tamil Nadu, all courts have been closed since last Thursday's violent clashes between police officers and a group of lawyers on the grounds of the Madras High Court. Meanwhile, in Beijing, a prominent human rights law firm is facing a six-month government-ordered shutdown, ostensibly for employing an unlicensed lawyer as an assistant.

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The Struggle Over 'Net Neutrality'

E-Commerce Law & Strategy

The debate about "net neutrality" continues to rage in legal and business publications, on the Internet and in blogs throughout the world. Recent actions and changes in position by primary parties, plus the inauguration of a president who favors net neutrality, have heated up this debate.

Visit Legal Technology

GCs Share the Pain With Outside Counsel

Corporate Counsel

The worst economic crisis in years is forcing everyone to look for ways to save money, and general counsel are no exception. Some are cutting their internal expenses -- not filling an open position, for example, or reducing the travel budget. But the main place that many GCs hope to save money is in their outside counsel spending. So they're dropping law firms, and demanding lower bills and fixed fees from the ones they keep. Top GCs explain how law firms can hold on to their business.

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Remain 'Bold and Valiant' in Your Job Search

The National Law Journal

Law firm mergers, delayed start dates and rescinded job offers are rattling even the most positive and self-possessed law students and attorney job seekers. Although it may seem counterintuitive in this environment, candidates should, as Horace said, "be bold and valiant" to succeed, according to Steve Langerud, University of Iowa College of Law's assistant dean for career services. Like investing in a down market, the reward for taking the risk to seek that dream job may be stunning, according to Langerud.