Shows
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Thurs 7/10 - Battle over Birthright Citizenship, Harvard Accreditation Attack, USDA DEI Rollback and Federal Lawsuit Against CA Egg LawsThis Day in Legal History: Second Bank of the United States VetoedOn July 10, 1832, President Andrew Jackson vetoed legislation that would have renewed the charter of the Second Bank of the United States, setting off a fierce political and constitutional conflict known as the “Bank War.” The Bank, originally chartered in 1816, acted as a quasi-governmental financial institution and played a central role in stabilizing the U.S. economy. Jackson, however, saw the Bank as a symbol of entrenched privilege and a threat to democratic values. In his veto message, he argued that the Bank was unconstitutional—even though...2025-07-1007 min
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Thurs 6/26 - Judge Blocks Trump's Job Corps Shuttering, Meta Wins AI Copyright Case not on Merits, and IRS Strained but Successful 2025 Filing SeasonThis Day in Legal History: United States v. VirginiaOn this day in legal history, June 26, 1996, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its landmark decision in United States v. Virginia, striking down the Virginia Military Institute’s (VMI) male-only admissions policy. The 7–1 ruling held that the exclusion of women violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Writing for the majority, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg emphasized that gender-based government action must demonstrate an “exceedingly persuasive justification” to be constitutional.VMI had long argued that its adversative, military-style education would be compromised by the inclusion of women...2025-06-2606 min
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Weds 5/21 - State AGs Sue Trump Over Tariffs, DOJ Probe into Cuomo, Judge Tosses Treasury's Case Against IRS Worker UnionThis Day in Legal History: House of Representatives Passes 19th AmendmentOn this day in legal history, May 21, 1919, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. The amendment stated simply: "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex." After decades of organizing, lobbying, and protest by suffragists—including Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Alice Paul—this marked a major legislative victory in the long fight...2025-05-2105 min
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Thurs 5/7 - Jenner and Block Battles, EPA Renews Superfund Push, Jeh Johnson Leaves Paul WeissThis Day in Legal History: Petition of RightOn May 8, 1628, the English Parliament formally presented the Petition of Right to King Charles I, marking a key moment in the development of constitutional law and the rule of law in England. This pivotal document emerged in response to growing discontent over the king’s use of extrajudicial practices—most notably, the levying of taxes without Parliament's approval and the imprisonment of individuals without cause. Parliament asserted that such actions violated established legal norms rooted in Magna Carta and the common law. The Petition of Right articulated four principal grie...2025-05-0806 min
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Weds 5/7 - Trump's EO Sunk By His Own Social Media Statements, Cost of Pardon: $1m, Samsung Audio Acquisition and Court Halting Agency Layoffs under APAThis Day in Legal History: Salmon P. Chase DiesOn May 7, 1873, Salmon P. Chase—former Chief Justice of the United States and one of the most prominent legal minds of his generation—died at the age of 65. Chase was a towering figure in antebellum legal and political life, best known for his ardent antislavery positions and constitutional rigor. A fierce abolitionist, he earned the nickname “Attorney General for Runaway Slaves” for his pro bono work defending fugitives in Ohio. Decades before the Civil War, Chase and Abraham Lincoln had crossed paths not as allies, but as legal adversar...2025-05-0706 min
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Tues 4/29 - Jenner & Block Fight Against Trump EO, Trump Admin Moves Against Sanctuary Cities/States, Tax Change Could Put Atlanta Braves $19m in HoleThis Day in Legal History: Los Angeles RiotsOn April 29, 1992, the Los Angeles riots erupted following the acquittal of four LAPD officers charged with excessive force in the beating of Rodney King, an African American motorist. The brutal 1991 beating had been captured on video and widely broadcast, leading to public outrage. However, when a largely white jury in suburban Simi Valley found the officers not guilty of assault and use of excessive force, it sparked immediate and widespread unrest. Over six days, riots, looting, arson, and violence resulted in more than 60 deaths, thousands of injuries, and nearly $1...2025-04-2905 min
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Tues 4/15 - Wrongful Deportation, Biosimilar Antitrust Lawsuit vs. Amgen, Federal Probe into DGE Changes at SECThis Day in Legal History: President Lincoln DiesOn this day in legal history, April 15, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln died from a gunshot wound inflicted the night before by actor and Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth. The assassination occurred at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., where Lincoln was watching a play with his wife. He was shot in the back of the head and never regained consciousness, dying the next morning at 7:22 a.m. His death was the first assassination of a U.S. president and triggered a constitutional transition of power during a critical moment in...2025-04-1506 min
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Thurs 3/27 - BNPL Rule Walk Back, Trump Fails to Disqualify Judge Howell, Mass Federal Worker Reinstatement, and Italy's Social Media VAT TaxThis Day in Legal History: President Johnson Vetoes Civil Rights Act of 1866On March 27, 1866, President Andrew Johnson vetoed the Civil Rights Act of 1866, an extraordinary move that underscored his deep hostility to racial equality and his resistance to Reconstruction efforts. The bill, which Congress had passed in the wake of the Civil War, aimed to grant full citizenship to formerly enslaved people and guarantee their basic civil rights. Johnson, a Southern Democrat who remained loyal to the Union, used his veto power to block progress for freedmen, claiming the bill infringed on states' rights and unfairly favored...2025-03-2708 min
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Weds 3/26 - Trump Targets Jenner & Block, SCOTUS Eyes FCC USF Fund, Musk-backed PACs Spend Big in WI, Exit Gas Taxes, Enter kWh TaxesThis Day in Legal History: Sandra Birth-Day O’ConnorOn this day in legal history, March 26, 1930, Sandra Day O’Connor was born in El Paso, Texas. Raised on a remote Arizona ranch, O’Connor would go on to become the first woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court. After graduating near the top of her class at Stanford Law School in 1952, she struggled to find legal work due to widespread gender discrimination, eventually beginning her career in public service and Arizona state politics. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan nominated her to the Supreme Court, fulfilling a campaign promis...2025-03-2607 min
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Fri 2/14 - AGs Defend DEI, Judges Weigh Limits on Musk Infiltration, Court Restores Foreign Aid Funds and SCOTUSBlog Goldstein Released AgainThis Day in Legal History: Bell and Gray File PatentsOn February 14, 1876, both Alexander Graham Bell and Elisha Gray filed patent applications for the invention of the telephone, setting off one of the most famous legal battles in U.S. history. Bell’s lawyer submitted his paperwork to the U.S. Patent Office just hours before Gray’s, leading to a dispute over who truly invented the device. Gray’s filing was a "caveat," an intention to patent, while Bell’s was a full application, giving him a legal advantage. When the patent was granted to Bell on March...2025-02-1421 min
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Weds 1/8 - CFPB vs. Experian, TikTok at SCOTUS, Alaska Lawsuit on Arctic Drilling and Column Tuesday on Pittsburg 'Jock Tax'This Day in Legal History: District of Columbia Suffrage ActOn this day in legal history, January 8, 1867, the U.S. Congress overrode President Andrew Johnson's veto to enact the District of Columbia Suffrage Act. This landmark legislation granted African American men the right to vote in the nation's capital, making it the first federal law to extend voting rights to Black men. This milestone occurred three years before the ratification of the 15th Amendment, which would prohibit racial discrimination in voting nationwide.  The Act was a significant step during the Reconstruction era, as the United St...2025-01-0807 min
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Mon 11/25 - Trump Wants Cases Dropped, Google's Antitrust Trial, Chavez-DeRemer for DOL and RFK Jr. Tea Leaf ReadingThis Day in Legal History: President Johnson Impeachment InquiryOn November 25, 1867, the U.S. Congress took a historic step by convening a commission to investigate the potential impeachment of President Andrew Johnson. Johnson, who assumed the presidency after Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, had clashed repeatedly with the Republican-controlled Congress over Reconstruction policies aimed at rebuilding the South and securing rights for freed slaves. His lenient approach toward former Confederate states and frequent vetoes of civil rights legislation had alienated many lawmakers. Tensions escalated further when Johnson violated the Tenure of Office Act by attempting to dismiss Secretary of...2024-11-2507 min
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Weds 11/13 - Trump Wants Sycophantic AG, Nvidia Fights to Dodge Securities Fraud Suit, SCOTUS Debates "Crime of Violence," and Tax Loss HarvestingThis Day in Legal History: SCOTUS Ends Bus SegregationOn November 13, 1956, the U.S. Supreme Court took a pivotal stand against racial segregation by refusing to hear the appeal in Browder v. Gayle, a landmark case challenging bus segregation laws in Alabama. This action upheld a ruling from the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, which had declared state and local bus segregation laws unconstitutional. This legal victory effectively ended the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a 381-day protest sparked by Rosa Parks' arrest for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white...2024-11-1308 min
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Fri 11/1 - Trump Sues CBS Over 60 Mins Harris Interview, State SC Races, Abbott Wins Premie Formula Trial and Private Credit BoomingThis Day in Legal History: NYC Rent ControlOn November 1, 1943, New York City implemented rent control for the first time, under the federal Office of Price Administration (OPA), in response to housing scarcity and skyrocketing rents caused by World War II. As millions flocked to urban centers for war-related jobs, New York’s housing demand surged, outpacing supply and creating a crisis of affordability. To protect tenants from exploitative rent increases, the OPA set strict limits on rent hikes, freezing rates at March 1, 1943 levels. This marked one of the first large-scale interventions by the federal government in th...2024-11-0117 min
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Mon 10/28 - Apple Wins $250 from Masimo, Alibaba $433m Antitrust Settlement, Republican Election Setbacks and Musk's NLRB Court WinThis Day in Legal History: Volstead Act SignedOn October 28, 1919, the United States Congress passed the Volstead Act, formally known as the National Prohibition Act, over President Woodrow Wilson's veto. Named after Congressman Andrew Volstead, who championed it, the Act provided the legal framework to enforce the 18th Amendment, which had been ratified earlier that year. This amendment prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors, marking the start of the Prohibition era in the United States.The Volstead Act defined "intoxicating liquor" as any beverage containing more than 0.5% alcohol, which was stricter than...2024-10-2806 min
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Thurs 8/8 - Fed Judge Reduces Fees in Google Case, Girardi Hid $53m, Delta Inadequate Refunds, FCC v. FEC on AI and Ripple LosesThis Day in Legal History: Nixon ResignsOn this day in legal history, August 8, 1974, President Richard Nixon announced his resignation from the office of the President of the United States, becoming the first and only president to do so. This unprecedented event followed the Watergate scandal, a complex political affair that began with a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and led to a series of revelations about abuses of power by the Nixon administration. Facing almost certain impeachment by Congress on charges of obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of Congress, Nixon chose...2024-08-0809 min
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Thurs 7/25 - Carano vs. Disney, Senate Voting on Two "Child Online Safety" Bills, Boeing 737 MAX Guilty Plea and Updates to FTC Health Breach RuleThis Day in Legal History: National Security Act of 1947On July 25, 1947, Congress passed the National Security Act of 1947, a landmark legislation that restructured the United States' military and intelligence operations in the post-World War II era. This pivotal act established the National Security Council (NSC), which would advise the President on security matters, and created the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to gather and analyze foreign intelligence. The Act also led to the formation of the Department of Defense, unifying the previously separate Department of War and Department of the Navy, and creating the National Military Establishment. This...2024-07-2508 min
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Thurs 6/20 - Accounting Firms Push Back on Reporting, Big Tech Shifts to On-Device AI, Families Urge $24b Fine Against Boeing and Moore DecisionThis Day in Legal History: Lizzie Borden AcquittedOn June 20, 1893, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Lizzie Borden was acquitted of the notorious axe murders of her father, Andrew Borden, and stepmother, Abby Borden. The trial had gripped the nation, with its sensational details and the prominent social standing of the Borden family. On the morning of August 4, 1892, Andrew and Abby were found brutally slain in their Fall River home, each having suffered multiple axe wounds. Lizzie, the prime suspect, was arrested and charged with their murders.The prosecution presented circumstantial evidence, including Lizzie's alleged attempts to...2024-06-2008 min
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Thurs 5/16 - Ghostwriting Legal Briefs, Quinn Emanuel All-In with AI, Biden 401(k) Rule Repeal Attempts and Boeing Shareholder Challenges to Executive CompensationThis Day in Legal History: President Johnson AcquittedOn May 16, 1868, a significant moment in U.S. legal and political history occurred when President Andrew Johnson was acquitted in his impeachment trial. Johnson, who had ascended to the presidency following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, was charged with high crimes and misdemeanors, primarily stemming from his violations of the Tenure of Office Act. This law, which was later repealed, had been designed to restrict the power of the President to remove certain officeholders without the Senate’s approval.The crux of the case against Johnson was hi...2024-05-1608 min
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Mon 4/15- Changes to Underwriting Processes on Wall Street Coming (?), Divided SCOTUS Debates Jan 6. Capitol Riot Statute, and Trump Stumps in PennsylvaniaThis Day in Legal History: Unsinkable SinksOn this day in legal history, April 15 marks the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912, a maritime disaster that led to significant legal repercussions. After striking an iceberg in the North Atlantic, the Titanic sank, resulting in the loss of over 1,500 lives out of the 2,228 passengers and crew aboard. This tragedy not only devastated families but also precipitated a flurry of lawsuits against the White Star Line, the ship's owners. The legal battles focused on issues of negligence and inadequate safety measures, such as the insufficient number of l...2024-04-1507 min
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Weds 3/27 - DOJ Chose NJ for Antitrust Lawsuit Against Apple for a Reason, TX Blocked Deportation Law, Apple Beats Crypto Payment Case and Hunter Tax Case Rolls OnThis Day in Legal History: Andrew Johnson is a Scoundrel On this day in legal history, March 27, 1866, President Andrew Johnson enacted one of the most consequential vetoes in American history. Johnson vetoed the Civil Rights Bill, a pivotal piece of legislation intended to extend full U.S. citizenship to all former slaves and to fundamentally reshape the landscape of civil rights in the aftermath of the Civil War. This bill was a direct response to the Black Codes, laws passed by Southern states that severely restricted the rights of newly freed African Americans.Johnson, a S...2024-03-2708 min
Minimum CompetenceLegal News for Weds 3/13 - Judge Shopping Curtailed, Debate on Unionizing Student Athletes, NY's Tax Proposals and Big Law Recruiting Hits 11 Year LowThis Day in Legal History: Lots of Things On March 13th, various significant events have unfolded in the realm of legal history, reflecting the ever-evolving landscape of law and justice across the globe. On this day in 1781, Sir William Herschel's discovery of Uranus led to international legal discussions on the naming rights of celestial bodies, a precursor to modern space law debates. In 1868, the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson began, marking the first time a U.S. president faced such proceedings, underscoring the constitutional checks and balances in American governance.Fast forward to 1961, the U...2024-03-1308 min
Minimum CompetenceFri 11/10 - ATF Ghost Gun Rule Gone, Backlog of Labor Permits, Trump Wants Fraud Trial Tossed and a Tax Prof Claims Age DiscriminationOn this day in legal history, November 10, 1919, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a pivotal decision in Abrams v. United States, a case that profoundly impacted the interpretation of the First Amendment regarding free speech. This ruling upheld the 1918 Amendment to the Espionage Act of 1917, making it a criminal offense to urge the curtailment of war material production intended to hinder the U.S. war effort against Germany. The case originated when Hyman Rosansky was arrested for distributing leaflets in New York City, denouncing American intervention in Russia and advocating for the cessation of weapon production against...2023-11-1007 min
Minimum CompetenceMon 10/16 - Bankruptcy Judge Resigns, CA Bill to Regulate Crypto, Menendez Indicted, More Shushing of Trump and Microsoft Acquires ActivisionOn this day in legal history in 1946 the Nuremberg executions were carried out, following the trials of ten high level officials of the Third Reich.On October 16, 1946, a somber chapter in the aftermath of World War II closed with the Nuremberg executions. Ten prominent members of the Nazi regime were hanged, marking the end of the historic Nuremberg trials that sought justice for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide. The executed men included Hans Frank, Wilhelm Frick, Alfred Jodl, Ernst Kaltenbrunner, Wilhelm Keitel, Joachim von Ribbentrop, Alfred Rosenberg, Fritz Sauckel, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, and Julius...2023-10-1613 min
Minimum CompetenceFri 10/13 - Rite Aid Needs Aid, WGA Wins Restrictions on AI Usage, Judge in MT Calls TikTok Ban Paternalistic, Citi New ESG Initiative, SCOTUS May Provide Cover for Racial GerrymanderingOn this day in legal history, October 13, 1952 the Supreme Court denied certiorari in the appeal of the death penalty by Julius and Ethel Rosenberg–each convicted of espionage.Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were American citizens who gained notoriety in the early 1950s for being accused of espionage during the Cold War. They were alleged to have passed atomic secrets to the Soviet Union, a charge that was particularly sensitive given the heightened tensions between the U.S. and the USSR at the time. The couple was arrested in 1950, and their trial took place in 1951. They we...2023-10-1310 min
Minimum CompetenceThurs 10/12 - Ban on High Capacity Gun Magazines Mostly Stays Alive in CA, Blum Drops Perkins Coie Affirmative Action Case and Pzifer Agrees to $50m EpiPen SettlementOn this day in legal history, October 12, 1977, the US Supreme Court heard arguments in the landmark case of Allan Bakke, which centered around the contentious issue of "reverse discrimination." Bakke, a white student, had been denied admission to the University of California Davis Medical School, with the school reserving a specific number of seats for minority applicants. Bakke argued that this affirmative action policy amounted to racial discrimination against him. The case was seen as a significant challenge to affirmative action programs aimed at redressing past racial injustices.During the oral arguments, the justices grappled...2023-10-1207 min
Minimum CompetenceWeds 10/11 - SCOTUS Declines to Take up GOP Issues, a Dissent Is Formatted as a Majority Opinion, Chevron Doctrine May Not Have Long and SBF Trial Rolls OnOn this day in legal history, October 11, 1872, Chief Justice Harlan Stone was born – but he wasn’t born the Chief Justice. He was appointed much later when he was an adult. Harlan Fiske Stone was an American jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1925 to 1941 and then as the 12th Chief Justice of the United States from 1941 until his death in 1946. Born on October 11, 1872, in Chesterfield, New Hampshire, Stone was initially a law professor and later the dean at Columbia Law School. He was appointed by President Calvin Cooli...2023-10-1108 min
Minimum CompetenceTues 10/10 - 23andMe Data Breach Class Action, Former Starbucks CEO Labor Law Violation, Sonos Loses Patent Dispute and Column Tuesday on the Sales Tax GapOn this day in legal history, October 10, 1967, a pivotal moment in the history of space exploration occurred as the Outer Space Treaty officially entered into force. Outer Space Treaty's legal significance is profound. When it entered into force on October 10, 1967, it established a set of binding international laws and principles that continue to shape the legal framework governing outer space to this day. This historic agreement, signed and ratified by numerous nations, was a remarkable step in ensuring the peaceful use of outer space. The treaty set forth several key principles that aimed to prevent the militarization...2023-10-1010 min
Minimum CompetenceFri 10/6 - Challenges to Naval Academy’s Admissions Policy, SEC Tries to Force Musk to Testify, Continued Legal Drama at Bed, Bath & Beyond and Alex Jones Demands BackpayOn this day in legal history, October 6, 1981, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was assassinated in retaliation for signing a peace treaty with Israel. The assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat on October 6, 1981, had profound legal and political ramifications for Egypt. Prior to his assassination, Sadat had initiated a crackdown on opposition figures, including Islamists and intellectuals, arresting more than 1,500 people. This move was highly unpopular and was seen as a suppression of civil liberties, including freedom of the press. Despite the crackdown, the government failed to apprehend a key cell within the military that was plotting S...2023-10-0610 min
Minimum CompetenceThurs 10/5 - 9th Circuit reviewing Meta’s “Citizenship Bias,” Trump-era CMS rule struck down, SBF’s Trial Rolls on and Trump's Judge FrustrationOn this day in legal history, October 5, 1941, Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis died at the age of 84. Louis Brandeis was born on November 13, 1856, in Louisville, Kentucky. He graduated from Harvard Law School at the age of 20 with the highest grade point average in the school's history. In 1890, he gained recognition for developing the "right to privacy" concept through an article in the Harvard Law Review. Brandeis was a prominent figure in the antitrust movement and was known for his resistance to monopolies, particularly in the New England railroad sector. He also advised Woodrow Wilson and w...2023-10-0508 min
Minimum CompetenceWeds 10/4 - Trump Gagged, SCOTUS Might not gut CFPB, Hunter Biden Pleads Not Guilty, SBF Trial Resumes and Column Tuesday on Software Development ExpensesOn this day in history, October 4, 1974, the trial of key Watergate conspirators began, marking a seminal moment in American political history. The defendants were H.R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman, John Mitchell, Robert Mardian, and Kenneth Parkinson. Each played a significant role in the Nixon administration and faced serious charges related to the Watergate scandal.H.R. Haldeman, Nixon's Chief of Staff, was accused of conspiracy and obstruction of justice. He was ultimately convicted and served 18 months in prison. John Ehrlichman, a close advisor to Nixon, faced similar charges and was also convicted, serving 18 months. John...2023-10-0410 min
Minimum CompetenceTues 10/3 - Kirkland Promotes a Ton of Partners, X Sued by X, and Trump Reaped $100m Through FraudOn this day in legal history, October 3, 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed into law the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965.The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, also known as the Hart-Celler Act, marked a shift in U.S. immigration policy. Signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, the act abolished the National Origins Formula, which had been in place since the 1920s and favored immigration from Western and Northern Europe. This change came during the height of the Civil Rights Movement and was seen as a step toward ending racially discriminatory immigration policies. The act...2023-10-0307 min
Minimum CompetenceMon 10/2 - Congress Avoids Shutdown, Gas Furnace Efficiency Requirements, Big Law Firm Middle East Expansion, Trump to Appear in NY Court and SCOTUS Decision May Help Hunter BidenOn this day in legal history, October 2, 1967he first African-American Supreme Court justice. On this day in legal history, October 2nd, we commemorate a monumental moment: the swearing-in of Thurgood Marshall as the first African-American justice of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1967. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1908, Marshall was the great-grandson of an enslaved person. He faced racial barriers early in his life, being rejected from the University of Maryland Law School due to his race. However, he found his place at Howard University, where he excelled and graduated first in his class in 1933.2023-10-0210 min
Minimum CompetenceFri 9/29 - Suffolk Law is Awesome, IRS May Furlough Staff, NLRB Nationwide Ruling Against Starbucks, USPTO Stays Open if Gov Shuts Down and SCOTUS Case on 2AOn this day in legal history, September 29, 1983, the War Powers Act was invoked for the first time – by President Ronald Reagan in order to keep a U.S. Marine presence in Lebanon.On September 29, 1983, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 270 to 161 to invoke the War Powers Act concerning the deployment of American Marines in Lebanon for an additional 18 months. The resolution had bipartisan support, including from President Reagan. This marked the first time the House invoked the War Powers Act, a law designed to limit the President's war-making powers, which was enacted a decade ea...2023-09-2911 min
Minimum CompetenceThurs 9/28 - Mobile Sports Betting in FL in Question, GOP Impeachment Hearing Against Biden, Menendez Won't Step Down, and Judge Recuses in Amazon Antitrust CaseOn this day in legal history, September 28, 1850, President Millard Fillmore signed an appropriations bill that abolished flogging as a punishment in the Navy. Flogging, carried out with a cat-o-nine-tails—a whip made of nine knotted ropes—was a common method for maintaining discipline on naval ships. The move to end flogging was influenced by public opinion, which had been galvanized by two significant publications: "Two Years Before the Mast" by Richard Henry Dana, Jr. in 1840, and "White-Jacket" by Herman Melville in 1850. Between December 1849 and June 1850, the Senate received 271 petitions from citizens urging the end of this...2023-09-2807 min
Minimum CompetenceWeds 9/27 - O'Hagan Meyer Grows, SCOTUS tells Alabama to Redraw District, Trump Liable for Fraud in NY and SCOTUS Prepares for New TermOn this day in legal history, September 27, 1964, the Warren Commission released its report on the Kennedy assassination, concluding that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the plot.The Warren Commission report, released after a thorough 10-month investigation, aimed to provide definitive answers regarding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Headed by Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren, the commission concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted as a lone gunman, dismissing any theories of domestic or international conspiracy in the assassination. The report also addressed the role of Jack Ruby, a nightclub owner who killed...2023-09-2708 min
Minimum CompetenceTues 9/26 - Trump Attorney Sues Wessmann, Zombie Funds, CFPB Expanding Influence, and Column Tuesday on Software Development ExpendituresOn this day in legal history, September 26, 1789, John Jay was made the first Chief Justice of the United States after the Senate confirmed his nomination.On this day, September 26, we commemorate a cornerstone moment for the American judicial system: the passing of the Judiciary Act of 1789. Signed by President George Washington, this landmark legislation established the Supreme Court of the United States, laying down the legal framework that would ultimately make it the most significant judicial body in the world. The Judiciary Act provided for a Supreme Court comprised of six justices, and on that...2023-09-2609 min
Minimum CompetenceFri 8/22 - Racist Juror Removed in District Court, Big Pharma Prepares to Negotiate with CMS, Anti-DEI Comes for Scholarships, Cisco Acquisition and Trump Fraud Trial DramaOn this day in legal history, September 22, 1692, eight people were executed for witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts during the so-called “Salem Witch Trials.”The Salem Witch Trials were a series of witchcraft cases brought before local magistrates in a settlement called Salem, which was a part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 17th century. The trials took place between February 1692 and May 1693 and are one of the most notorious episodes in early American history. It all began when a group of young girls claimed to be possessed by the devil and accused several local women of w...2023-09-2209 min
Minimum CompetenceThurs 9/21 - Judge Newman Suspended 1 year, UFC Monopsony Suit, Judiciary has 2 weeks Funding, $10k/hour Legal Fees in Tesla Case, America Supports Strikes and Authors Sue OpenAIOn this day in legal history, September 21, 1981, the United States Senate approved the nomination by President Reagan of Sandra Day O’Connor to the United States Supreme Court–making her the first female Supreme Court justice. O'Connor, who often leaned conservative, used her political experience from her time in the Arizona state Senate to shape her judicial views. She was known for filing concurring opinions that aimed to limit the scope of majority rulings. She faced opposition from the time of her nomination from anti-abortion and religious groups. During her tenure, O'Connor was known...2023-09-2110 min
Minimum CompetenceWeds 9/20 - AMC Legal Fees Reduced, Alex Jones Still Lives Opulently, Lawsuit Alleges Invasive Grass Growth Exacerbated Maui Fire, Hunter to Plead Not Guilty and Arnold and Porter to BostonOn this day in legal history, September 20, 1884, American suffragists formed the Equal Rights Party on the platform plank of recognizing women’s right to vote. On this day in legal history, September 20th, we cast our gaze back to a significant milestone in the fight for gender equality in the United States. The Equal Rights Party, a political entity deeply rooted in the advocacy for equal rights and opportunities for all, irrespective of gender, convened for its national convention in the vibrant city of San Francisco, California. In a groundbreaking move during this convention, the par...2023-09-2009 min
Minimum CompetenceTues 9/19 - New Cooley CEO, IRS Open During Shutdown, CFPB Needs to Calm Down, Citi & Crypto & Column Tuesday on Property Tax ReassessmentsOn this day in legal history, September 19, 2002, President Bush wrote Congress and requested authority to invade Iraq.On September 19, 2002, President George W. Bush submitted a resolution to Congress seeking authorization to use "all means he determines to be appropriate, including force" to disarm Iraq and remove Saddam Hussein from power. This move came amidst escalating international tensions and Bush emphasized that if the UN Security Council failed to address the issue, the US and its allies would take action. The day saw intense activities with Secretary of State Colin Powell and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld...2023-09-1909 min
Minimum CompetenceMon 9/18 - Litigation Finance Sale, Oklahoma Town Can't Get Enough Federal Prosecutors, and Lyft Fined by SECOn this day in legal history, September 18, noted jurist and Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story was born. He got a lot of things right, and a lot of things wrong.Joseph Story, born on September 18, 1779, in Marblehead, Massachusetts, hailed from a family with a rich history of involvement in significant events leading up to the American Revolution. Despite initial aspirations in poetry, Story eventually focused on a career in law, spurred by early setbacks in his literary endeavors. His legal journey began under the mentorship of prominent attorneys Samuel Sewell and Samuel Putnam, culminating in his bar...2023-09-1808 min
Minimum CompetenceFri 9/15 - Sinema Opposes NLRB Rule, 1/6 Cases Reach SCOTUS, Smith Rejects Trump's Judge Removal Demand, Paxton Impeachment Nears EndOn this day in legal history, September 15, 1935, the Nuremberg Laws of Nazi Germany went into effect, reorienting German citizenship around the exclusion of Jewish residents and laying the groundwork for what was to come.  As we’ve tried to make clear in previous “this day in legal history” segments where we’ve focused on Germany in the 1930s, the lesson to be learned from a legal perspective derives from the Third Reich’s focus on using the rule of law to give a color of civility and process to their gross violations of human rights and atrocities. As much as g...2023-09-1510 min
Minimum CompetenceThurs 9/14 - Hackers Target MGM and Caesars, Law Firm DEI Initiatives in Flux, Citi Undergoes C-Suite Rejigger, and a Connecticut Town Sues the IRSOn this day in legal history, September 14, 1918, Eugene Debs was sentenced to ten years in prison for opposing the United States entry into World War I. In the early 20th century, Eugene V. Debs, a prominent socialist and labor organizer, rose to prominence as a vocal critic of capitalist structures and the American involvement in the First World War. Born to French immigrants in Indiana, Debs left school at 14 to work on the railways, a decision that sparked his lifelong commitment to labor rights. Over the years, he became a significant figure in the labor movement, aligning w...2023-09-1410 min
Minimum CompetenceWeds 9/13 - PwC Not Separating Consulting and Audit Business, SBF Stays in Jail, Paul Weiss Wins, NextGen Bar Exam Details, and the 6th Circuit Defers Liability for CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, etc.On this day in legal history, September 13, 1971, the Attica Correctional Facility prison revolt came to an end when National Guardsmen took back control of the prison–in so doing 43 people died, all but four from law enforcement’s efforts to regain control.The Attica Prison Uprising, a grim milestone in the history of prisoners' rights movement, occurred from September 9 to 13, 1971, at the Attica Correctional Facility in New York. Rooted in a growing wave of prison activism and exacerbated by appalling living conditions and racial brutalization occuring at the prison, the revolt began with approximately 1,281 inmates taking control of t...2023-09-1311 min
Minimum CompetenceTues 9/12 - Burford Makes 37,000%, Microsoft to Defend Copilot Customers in Copyright Suits, Conservatives Want CFPB Gutted by SCOTUS and Column Tuesday on Low-income Energy CreditsOn this day in legal history, September 12, 1958 the Supreme Court unanimously rejected Kansas’ challenge to the court’s authority to desegregate schools. The decision was authored by all nine justices – the only time that had happened to that point or since. The Cooper v. Aaron case, decided on September 12, 1958, was a significant milestone in the civil rights movement in the United States. Following the landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education (1954), which declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional, there were numerous attempts by state governments to resist the imp...2023-09-1210 min
Minimum CompetenceMon 9/11 - Executives go Mum on DEI, Eastman Tries More Tricks, Gas-to-crypto on the rise, Biden Admin's Social Media Muzzle Loosened and Meadows Fails to Remove to Federal CourtIn terms of this day in history generally, specifically American history, September 11th is synonymous with the terrorist attacks in 2001. In terms of legal history, however, while it gave rise to a lot of changes in the American legal system, it is of somewhat less import as the days that followed and policy changes that were made in response to the attacks. For that reason, today in legal history we’ll focus on another September 11th. On this day in legal history, we turn our attention to a pivotal moment that unfolded on September 11, 1998. In the midst of...2023-09-1109 min
Minimum CompetenceFri 9/8 - Kavanaugh Optimistic About Self-Policing SCOTUS Ethics, Navarro Guilty, and ex-Big Law Partner vs. TikTok InfluencerOn this day in legal history, September 8, 1974, President Ford pardoned President Nixon, establishing the doctrine of “we haven’t held our elected leaders accountable to this point and we sure as heck aren’t starting now.”So, on this day in history, we revisit September 8, 1974, when President Gerald Ford issued Proclamation 4311, granting his predecessor, Richard Nixon, a full and unconditional pardon for any crimes he might have committed during his presidency, particularly concerning the Watergate scandal. Ford believed this step was necessary to heal the nation, stating it was a move to write an end to a national...2023-09-0808 min
Minimum CompetenceThurs 9/7 - MoFo Amends DEI Criteria, DeSantis Sued by Fired Prosecutor, Biden Rejects Gitmo Plea Conditions, Trump off State Ballots?This day in legal history, September 7, 1977, President Carter signed the Panama Canal Treaty, setting the relinquishment date for the Panama Canal back to Panama for January 1, 2000. In the early 20th century, the U.S. secured rights to build and operate the Panama Canal, initially through the Hay-Herrán Treaty with Colombia, but eventually through the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty with Panama, post its independence which was supported by the U.S. The Canal opened in 1914, but the legitimacy of the treaty was questioned by many Panamanians. As the century progressed, tensions escalated between the U.S. and Panama over th...2023-09-0707 min
Minimum CompetenceWeds 9/6 - Elliott Broidy Sues, 3M PFAS Settlement, Apple Execs to Testify Against Google, Oregon Bar Exam Alternative and Play Store SettlementThis day in legal history, September 6, is a dark one – but one that should not be ignored just because it is difficult to talk about. On September 6, 1941, German authorities announced the adoption of a regulation requiring all Jewish people in German territories to wear the Star of David. For our purposes here on a legal news website, we’ll talk about how it highlights and exemplifies the Nazi regime’s obsession with committing their atrocities under the color of law.From 1935, the Nazi regime utilized the law as a tool for the systemic persecution of the Jewish people...2023-09-0610 min
Minimum CompetenceTues 9/5 - Hogan Lovells CEO, EU Set to Crack Down on Anticompetitive Behavior, Paxton Impeachment Trial and Navarro Contempt Trials Begin, and Column Tuesday on Millionaire Tax-Funded Student LunchesOn this day in history, September 5, 1774, about 9 miles as the crow flies from where I’m writing this, the first Continental Congress convened to discuss the Intolerable Acts of 1774.On September 5, 1774, the First Continental Congress convened at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, marking a pivotal moment in America's journey to independence. Representatives from twelve of the thirteen American colonies gathered to deliberate on the future of the colonies amidst escalating British aggression. Notable figures such as Samuel Adams, George Washington, and John Adams were among the delegates who discussed potential strategies, including boycotting British goods to assert the ri...2023-09-0509 min
Minimum CompetenceFri 9/1 - Justice Thomas Discloses Crow Gifts, Proud Boys Sentenced, Apple and USPTO Settle in "Smart Keyboard" Trademark DisputeOn this day in history, September 1, 1807, Aaron Burr, former Vice President and notable shooter of Alexander Hamilton, was acquitted of treason. Aaron Burr's 1807 treason trial was a landmark case and one of the earliest tests of the U.S. Constitution's Treason Clause, outlined in Article III, Section 3. The clause was carefully crafted to limit the charge of treason to the most serious of crimes, requiring "the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act" for a conviction. The trial featured key figures from the Constitutional Convention, including Edmund Randolph and Luther Martin, who were part of B...2023-09-0107 min
Minimum CompetenceThurs 8/31 - X Wants Your Eyes, Trump Can't Get Insurer to Pay For Pollution, 3M Litigation Investors Unmasked, Rejected Law School Applicants Find New Path and Giuliani Defamed GA Election WorkersOn this day in history, August 31, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson, the B. stood for Baines don’t you know, signed a law illegalizing the burning of draft cards. The act, known as the Draft Card Mutilation Act of 1965 carried with it steep penalties: Individuals found to have violated the restriction could be subject to a five year prison sentence and $1000 fine. In the United States v. O'Brien case of 1968, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Draft Card Mutilation Act, rejecting a First Amendment challenge. The law was ostensibly aimed at ensuring the efficient operation of the Sel...2023-08-3110 min
Minimum CompetenceWeds 8/30 - AMC Shareholder Update, Thiel Insider Trading Accusations, Big Win for Crypto, Proud Boys Sentencing, AI in Law School Exams and iFixIt Takes Aim at McDonald's Shake MachinesOn this day in history, August 30, 1967 Thurgood Marshall was confirmed as a Supreme Court Justice, becoming the first African-American to be seated on the court. Thurgood Marshall was a pioneering American civil rights lawyer and jurist, serving as the first African-American associate justice on the U.S. Supreme Court from 1967 to 1991. Before his time on the bench, he was a leading attorney for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, where he played a crucial role in the fight against racial segregation in American public schools. His most notable achievement came with the landmark 1954 case Brown v. B...2023-08-3012 min
Minimum CompetenceTues 8/29 - Medicare Drug Negotiations Begin, "Opportunity Transparency" Gains Traction at State Level, ABA Announces AI Task Force, and US Judge to Decertify Google Play Class ActionFind links to all the following stories as well as other law and legal-adjacent stories at esq.social Links. On this day in history August 29, 1957, the Civil Rights Act of 1957 was passed by congress – the first piece of federal legislation aimed at civil rights since reconstruction.Prompted by the Supreme Court's landmark 1954 ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, which ignited public debate on school desegregation, the act aimed to address the widespread disenfranchisement of African Americans in the Southern United States. President Dwight D. Eisenhower initially proposed the bill to bolster federal protection for Af...2023-08-2908 min
Minimum CompetenceMon 8/28 - ADHD Medication Generic Approved, 3M Settles Earplug Lawsuit, Tesla Readies for Autopilot Death Case, WSJ Reporter in Russian Jail Updates, and GA GOP to Retaliate Against Trump ProsecutorOn this day in history August 28, 2003, the Supreme Court of Alabama removed a monument of the Ten Commandments from its courthouse. The Ten Commandments monument in the Alabama Supreme Court building was initially installed by Chief Justice Roy Moore, garnering support from evangelical Christians nationwide. However, Moore's refusal to comply with a federal court order to remove the monument by August 20 led to divisions among religious conservatives. Prominent figures like Pat Robertson criticized Moore for undermining the rule of law, while others like James Dobson praised him for prioritizing "God's law." Eventually, the monument was moved to a...2023-08-2808 min
Minimum CompetenceFri 8/25 - Biden Admin Restores Medicaid to TX Individuals, JPMorgan Wins Under Howey, RFK Loses to YouTube, Starbucks Vs. NLRB and Big Don Gets His MugshotOn this day in history, August 25, 1921, the U.S.–German Peace Treaty was signed in Berlin, marking a significant moment in the aftermath of World War I. The treaty was necessitated by the U.S. Senate's refusal to ratify the multilateral peace treaty signed in Versailles, leading to a separate peace agreement with Germany. The U.S. had declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917, and was part of the Allied Powers that defeated the German Empire. The end of the war saw the overthrow of the German monarchy and the establishment of a republic. Spoiler alert for those that ha...2023-08-2509 min
Minimum CompetenceThurs 8/24 - Dollar Tree Settles with OSHA, Trump Surrenders in Georgia, Law Schools Change Admission Essays, and Kirkland & Ellis Sex Discrimination Lawsuit ContinuesOn this day in history, August 24, 1894, the US Congress passed the first graduated income tax law, 2% on all income over $4,000, which lasted a year before it was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court and overturned. The tax, which was imposed under the Wilson-Gorman Tariff Act, slightly reduced U.S. tariff rates from those set in the 1890 McKinley tariff and imposed a 2% tax on income over $4,000. Named after William L. Wilson and Senator Arthur P. Gorman, both Democrats, it marked the first peacetime income tax, affecting fewer than 1% of households. The income tax was introduced to compensate for r...2023-08-2408 min
Minimum CompetenceWeds 8/23 - Perkins Coie Sued Over DEI, JPMorgan Bigwigs Sentenced, WV Denied Cert in CFPB Case, Meta Problems in Norway and WGA Strike UpdatesOn this day in legal history, August 23 1927, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were executed in the United States. They were Italian-born American anarchists who were controversially convicted of murdering a guard and a paymaster during an armed robbery in 1920. Their trial and execution sparked protests and debates about the justice system, immigration, and political radicalism.Many were critical of the trial and its outcome, including Felix Frankfurter, who was at the time a professor at Harvard Law School and would go on to be appointed to the Supreme Court by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The trial o...2023-08-2307 min
Minimum CompetenceTues 8/22 - Law Firm of the Future, NJ Needs Judges, Activision Sells Cloud Gaming to Ubi, SCOTUS May Review HS Diversity Program and Column Tuesday on HydrogenOn this day in legal history, August 22 1996, welfare as we knew it was ended and millions of folks living in precarity had the rug ripped out from under their feet.The so-called "Welfare to Work" bill signed by President Bill Clinton in August 1996 was a contentious piece of legislation that aimed to move individuals from welfare to employment, premised on the flawed notion that those unable to work were simply unwilling to work. The downsides of this reform were significant. Critics, including three assistant secretaries at the Department of Health and Human Services who resigned in protest...2023-08-2208 min
Minimum CompetenceMon 8/21 - No Copyright for AI Art, Federal Judge Rejects Settlement for Tesla Roofs, AMC Shareholder Drops Suit, California DMV Investigating GM CruiseOn this day in legal history, August 21, 1878, the American Bar Association or ABA was formed.The American Bar Association (ABA) was established on August 21, 1878, in Saratoga Springs, New York, marking a pivotal moment in American legal history. At a time when the legal profession was primarily comprised of sole practitioners, 100 lawyers from 21 states founded the ABA with the stated aim of advancing jurisprudence, promoting justice, and ensuring uniformity of legislation. Since its inception, the ABA has grown to represent approximately half of all lawyers in the United States, with additional categories of associate and international memberships.2023-08-2106 min
Minimum CompetenceFri 8/18 - Student Loans vs. 401(k), AMC Stock Conversion Challenge, Eastman's Disciplinary Trial, Congressional Probe into Hunter and Kroger's Big MergerOn this day in legal history, on August 18, 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified by the states – beginning in earnest the path to women’s suffrage. The fight for women's suffrage in the United States began after the war for independence, where most states denied women the right to vote. Throughout the 19th century, leaders like Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony worked tirelessly for women's voting rights, organizing protests, marches, and lobbying efforts. In 1878, a women's suffrage amendment was introduced, but it was rejected by the Senate in 1887. However, many...2023-08-1809 min
Minimum CompetenceThurs 8/17 - Threat Against Trump DC Judge, Allstate $90m Settlement, Youtube/Reddit Sued for Radicalizing, T-Mobile Sued for Bad Security and a Trial Date for Trump in GeorgiaOn this day in legal history, August 17, 1870, Esther Morris became the first female magistrate appointed in the United States. Esther Hobart Morris was the first female Justice of the Peace in the U.S., appointed in Wyoming Territory in 1869. Though some credit her with the success of the woman's suffrage amendment in Wyoming, she credited William H. Bright. Born in 1814 in New York, she was a seamstress, abolitionist supporter, and successful businesswoman. Married twice, she faced challenges like not being able to own property, moving her family to South Pass City, Wyoming in 1869 with her second husband. T...2023-08-1706 min
Minimum CompetenceWed 8/16 - DeSantis Popular with Lawyers, Davis Polk Bets on Back to Work, VMWare Appraisal Suit, ABA Free Speech Guidelines for Law Schools and Angel Hernandez Loses AppealOn this day in legal history, August 16, 1918, Lothar Witzke was convicted of espionage in the United States on behalf of Germany and became the first German spy convicted during World War I. Lothar Witzke was a junior officer in the German Imperial Navy during World War I, who became a spy and saboteur in the United States and Mexico. After escaping internment in Chile, he reached San Francisco in 1916 and began sabotage activities with another agent, Kurt Jahnke. They were involved in various missions, including suspected connections to significant explosions, though later investigations ruled out their involvement i...2023-08-1608 min
Minimum CompetenceTues 8/15 - Trump Indicted (4), Youth Climate Plaintiffs in MT Win, Binance Maneuvers v. SEC, ABA Recommends Pay for Law Journal Editors and Column Tuesday on Retirement EquityOn this day in legal history, we have a low point in American history. On August 15, 1876, the US Congress passed a “starve or sell” bill that cut off support for the Sioux Indian nation unless they gave up the gold-laden Black Hills. This was two months after the US army was routed at the Battle of Little Bighorn and brought to an end the Great Sioux War of 1876. In the years leading up to the Battle of Little Bighorn, Lt. Col. Custer's discovery of gold in the Black Hills led to a surge of white prospectors, despite the T...2023-08-1507 min
Minimum CompetenceMon 8/14 - Indian Nationals Sue for H-1B Denials, NLRB Hates Starbucks Civility Rule, Liability in Maui Fires, McDonalds Abandons ESG Language and SBF Jailed in BrooklynOn this day in legal history, August 14, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act. The act created unemployment insurance, pension plans for the elderly and what would become “Aid to Families with Dependent Children” (AFDC). In the midst of the Great Depression, the Social Security Act was conceived to provide economic security for the aged. Early in January 1935, the Committee on Economic Security (CES) submitted a report to President Roosevelt, and congressional hearings followed in the House Ways & Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. While some provisions faced close votes in committees, the bill passe...2023-08-1407 min
Minimum CompetenceFri 8/11 - EPA Union Says No to Back to Work, EEOC Settles AI Discrimination in Hiring Case, SCOTUS Considers Overturning Purdue Pharma Settlement and Trump Challenges Evidence Sharing RestrictionOn this day in legal history, August 11, 1792, the Supreme Court delivered its first reported decision in Georgia v. Brailsford.It arose from a debt dispute between the state of Georgia and a British creditor, and it is renowned for being one of the first cases in which the Supreme Court exercised its original jurisdiction as well as being the first reported decision. In this case, the court allowed a jury trial to be conducted to determine the facts, a rarity in original jurisdiction cases and the only jury trial in the history of the Supreme Court. The...2023-08-1105 min
Minimum CompetenceThurs 8/10 - Religious Accommodations and Pronouns, Southwest Fights Training Order, Apple Interim Win v. Epic, Special Counsel Searched Big Don's TwitterOn this day in legal history, August 10, 1993, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was sworn in as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, becoming the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court. Her work has had a lasting impact on U.S. law, particularly in the areas of gender equality and civil rights. Ruth Bader Ginsburg's tenure on the U.S. Supreme Court was marked by significant decisions that shaped American law. In "United States v. Virginia" (1996), she authored the majority opinion that struck down the Virginia Military Institute's male-only admissions policy, emphasizing that gender equality is a constitutional r...2023-08-1005 min
Minimum CompetenceWeds 8/9 - Southwest Airlines Lawyers ADF Training, ABA Looks at Mental Health in Judiciary, Google Antitrust Updates and Column Tuesday on Jewel-Box MuseumsOn this day in legal history, Richard M. Nixon resigned the office of the presidency, effective at noon. We covered that in yesterday’s episode, so we won’t go in to detail here. Instead, let’s talk about Charles Manson.On this day in legal history, the Manson Family murdered actress Sharon Tate and four others in Los Angeles, California. The Manson Family murders not only shocked the nation but also presented an unprecedented challenge to the legal system. The subsequent trial was one of the longest and most widely publicized in American history, highlighting the diffic...2023-08-0907 min
Minimum CompetenceTues 8/8 - 9th Circuit 2A Butterfly Knife Ruling, NJ vs. NY in Remote Work Tax Rule, Biden Admin Rule on Fraudulent Schools Blocked and More DOJ Action ComingOn this day in legal history, President Richard Milhouse Nixon announced his resignation of the office of the presidency, effective the following day at noon. On August 8, 1974, President Richard Nixon addressed the American public from the Oval Office to announce his resignation, marking the end of the infamous Watergate scandal. This scandal began with a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in 1972, followed by the Nixon administration's attempts to cover up its involvement. The Watergate saga eroded Nixon's popular and political support, leading him to the brink of almost certain impeachment. In his speech, Nixon explained t...2023-08-0806 min
Minimum CompetenceMon 8/7 - Kirkland Partner Out, Trump Drops GA Lawsuit and Targets Federal Judge, RFK v. YouTube, Law Firm Demand is Up and X Will Pay For It (No They Won't)On this day in legal history, August 7, 1789, Congress passed an act known as the 9th Act of the First Congress, which established the Lighthouse Service. This marked a crucial commitment to maritime navigation safety in the United States and was a key piece of legislation designed for the establishment and support of lighthouses, beacons, buoys, and public piers. Remarkably, this was the first non-revenue responsibility assigned to Collectors of Customs. They were tasked with the design, construction, staffing, and management of lighthouses within their Customs districts, broadening their role beyond mere revenue collection. Two centuries later, the i...2023-08-0707 min
Minimum CompetenceFri 8/4 - Trump Pleaded Not Guilty, Kagan Says SCOTUS Not Imperial, SCOTUS Ruling Imperils Waterways, and Reenactment in ParklandOn this day in legal history, August 4, 1735, a significant victory for the free press was achieved in the United States. Publisher John Peter Zenger was acquitted of libel charges against New York's colonial governor, William Cosby, in a case that became a landmark moment for American liberty. The New-York Weekly Journal, printed by Zenger, had consistently criticized Governor Cosby, leading to various attempts by the governor to shut down the paper. When two grand juries failed to indict Zenger, Cosby resorted to a legal tactic called an "information" to bring Zenger before the court. The case took an unexpected...2023-08-0406 min
Minimum CompetenceThurs 8/3 - State AI Regulation, Congressional Maps Decide 2024, Tesla Class Action Range Lawsuit, SocGen Reaches a SettlementOn this day in legal history, we have a dark one. On August 3, 1934, the German Parliament combined the offices of President and Chancellor, raising Adolf Hitler as the supreme leader of Germany.  President Paul von Hindenburg, a key figure in German politics, died at the age of 87 on August 2, 1934, marking a dark turning point in German history. Hindenburg had been a decorated military officer and served as the President of the Weimar Republic, providing a stabilizing force during a turbulent period. Shortly after his death, Adolf Hitler, who was already serving as Chancellor, announced a significant change in...2023-08-0307 min
Minimum CompetenceWeds 8/2 - Trump Indicted Again, Big Law Layoffs and Delays, X vs. India and Attorneys General Ask EPA for Controls on PlasticsOn this day in legal history, August 2, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia. The process of adopting the Declaration of Independence began with the appointment of a committee of five, including notable figures like Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin, on June 10, 1776. Jefferson drafted the statement, and after revisions, it was presented to Congress, with the independence section of the Lee Resolution being adopted on July 2nd. The Declaration was officially adopted on July 4th, and printed copies were distributed to various assemblies and Continental troops. On July 19th, Congress ordered the Declaration to b...2023-08-0207 min
Minimum CompetenceTues 8/1 - Bipartisan Green Card Fix, Alito Wants to Gut Disclosure Requirements, Disney and NBC Eyeing AI bill, and Column Tuesday on EV BacklogOn this day in legal history, August 1, 1833 the British Empire abolished slavery with the passage of the Slavery Abolition Act. Put differently, despite huge shortcomings to the act and its enforcement, the empire probably responsible for the most death and destruction worldwide got the message regarding the atrocities of slavery about 3 decades prior to the United States, which is pretty damning. The Slavery Abolition Act was passed by the British Parliament on August 29, 1833, and came into effect on August 1, 1834. It marked a significant milestone in British history by abolishing slavery in most parts of the British Empire, i...2023-08-0107 min
Minimum CompetenceMon 7/31 - CoComelon Wins, DNC and Big Law, Prosecutors Want SBF Jailed, Trump's "Big Lie" Suit Against CNN DismissedOn this day in legal history, July 31, 1919 the Constitution of the German Reich was signed in Weimar, Germany. The Constitution of the German Reich, commonly referred to as the Weimar Constitution, was the governing document for Germany during the Weimar Republic era from 1919 to 1933. It was drafted following the end of World War I by the lawyer and liberal politician Hugo Preuss, who played a crucial role in the shaping of the new democratic federal republic. The constitution was deliberated and framed by the German National Assembly, which gathered in the town of Weimar, Thuringia, after the F...2023-07-3107 min
Minimum CompetenceFri 7/28 - Taylor Swift Wins, Mastercard Says no Debit Cards for Marijuana Purchases, Mac and Cheese Class Action Lawsuit and Trump in Trouble Again Again AgainOn this day in legal history, July 28th, 1868, Secretary of State William H. Seward declared the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to the US Constitution, granting citizenship to former slaves and protecting due process of law and equal protection of laws in the States..The journey to the ratification of the 14th Amendment was a difficult one. Many southern states, recently defeated in the Civil War and undergoing the Reconstruction period, were initially opposed to the amendment, largely because of its implications for the rights of freed slaves.However, the Republican-controlled Congress passed the Reconstruction...2023-07-2807 min
Minimum CompetenceThurs 7/27 - Hunter Plea Deal Delay, Teamsters Win vs. UPS, Covington Must Disclose, Lawsuits in TX Over Book BanOn this day in legal history, July 27th, 1974, the House Judiciary Committee voted 27-11 to recommend impeachment for President Richard Nixon. The events surrounding President Richard M. Nixon's impeachment proceedings date back to June 17, 1972, with the instigation of the Watergate scandal. A group of burglars were arrested at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee, located within the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C. The burglars were caught wiretapping phones and stealing documents. Significantly, one of the individuals arrested was the security officer for Nixon's re-election campaign, which linked the scandal directly to the president's office.2023-07-2706 min
Minimum CompetenceWeds 7/26 - North Face v. IRS, Meta Australia Fine, Musk v. SEC goes to SCOTUSOn this day in legal history, July 26th, in 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act, a comprehensive civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. It covers five main areas, including employment, public services, public accommodations and commercial facilities and telecommunications. The act mandates that employers, public services, and businesses provide reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities, ensuring equal opportunities in all facets of society. It represents a significant advancement in guaranteeing the rights of individuals with disabilities, protecting them from exclusion, segregation, and unequal treatment. In employment, the...2023-07-2607 min
Minimum CompetenceTues 7/25 - Lawyers on Boards, X Trademarked by Many, Quinn Emanuel Data Breach, US Sues TX Over Drowning Border, Column Tuesday on 501c3sIn this day in history, July 25th, the National Security Act of 1947 was passed. The act linked the military and national security organizations and set the tone for the relationship between the two that persists to this day. The National Security Act of 1947, a cornerstone in the reorganization of the United States' foreign policy and military institutions, led to the establishment of significant bodies such as the National Security Council (NSC) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The NSC was formed to discuss long-term and immediate national security issues, composed of high-ranking officials including the President, Vice P...2023-07-2508 min
Minimum CompetenceMon 7/24 - Remote Employment Checks OK, SBF, Gagged, Claims Didn't Witness Tamper, UPS and Teamsters to Resume Negotiations, NJ Sues Biden Admin and Omegle SuedOn this day in history, July 24th, 1929, the Kellogg-Briand Pact took effect. It was ambitious, as pacts go, because get this – it was an international agreement outlawing war as an implement of foreign policy. In addition to everything else, in typical Nazi fashion, the Third Reich just brazenly ignored the agreement. The Kellogg-Briand Pact, also known as the Pact of Paris, was an international agreement for peace first established in 1928. The formal name for the pact was the General Treaty for Renunciation of War as an Instrument of National Policy, which committed signatory states to refrain from usi...2023-07-2408 min
Minimum CompetenceFri 7/21 - NYC Settles With Protesters, FTX Sues SBF, Twitter Subpoenas Warren, and KPMG Generative AIOn this day in history, July 21, the North Atlantic Treaty, of NATO fame, was ratified in the Senate.In the wake of World War II, the United States emerged as an unrivaled superpower, boasting a robust military, thriving economy, and moral ascendancy. Despite a history of isolationism, encouraged since the time of George Washington, shifts in policy started to emerge. On March 12, 1947, President Harry S. Truman issued his doctrine of containment, signaling a departure from the U.S. tradition of avoiding non-domestic conflicts. Truman promised aid to all "free people" under threat, marking a shift with financial...2023-07-2106 min
Minimum CompetenceThurs 7/20 - Cotton v. DEI, DoorDash Hourly Wages, Gun Advocates v. MA, Trump stuck in state court and Elon's EmailsOn this day in history, July 20, 1990, Supreme Court Justice William Brennan retired. William Joseph Brennan Jr., an influential American jurist, served as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States from 1956 until 1990, making him the seventh-longest serving justice in history. To add some color to that run, he was appointed by President Eisenhower and his successor was appointed by George H. W. Bush. Brennan, originally from Newark, New Jersey, pursued economics at the University of Pennsylvania before studying at Harvard Law School, later practicing law privately in New Jersey and serving in the U.S...2023-07-2007 min
Minimum CompetenceWeds 7/19 - Wachtell Exoduses, Universities Fight Endowment Tax, Visa and Mastercard Antitrust v. Square, Ethics for SCOTUS and Trump J6 Probe TargetOn this day in history, July 19 1911, the first state law in the US allowing for censorship of movies was passed in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania State Board of Censors, established on July 19, 1911, under P.L. 1067 by Governor John Kinley Tener, was the first such organization in the United States and was renowned for its stringency. The Board's main responsibility was to review all films before they were released in Pennsylvania, approving only those that met moral standards and rejecting films deemed corruptive. Although the board was funded in 1913, it wasn't until 1914 that the first board members were appointed b...2023-07-1906 min
Minimum CompetenceTues 7/18 - US Pillar 2 Reprieve, Trump's Lawyers Back in FL Court, CA Hands Uber Drivers Big Win, Column Tuesday on State Film CreditsOn this day in history, July 18 1956, the Narcotic Control Act was passed. The Narcotic Control Act of 1956 and similar legislation have faced significant criticism for their punitive approach to drug offenses. Critics argue that this model of severe mandatory sentences, particularly for nonviolent drug offenses, exacerbates issues related to over-incarceration without effectively addressing the root causes of drug addiction and the societal harms associated with drug use. Instead, they posit that these resources would be better spent on prevention, education, and treatment initiatives to help curb substance misuse. Furthermore, some critics point to the social and racial d...2023-07-1806 min
Minimum CompetenceMon 7/17 - Big4 AUS Scandal, Meta Fines in Norway, Dershowitz Fines Here, MS Reports Email Leaks from Government AgenciesOn this day in history, July 17, 1862, Abraham Lincoln signed the second Confiscation Act. The act allowed for the confiscation of property of confederate sympathizers.The Confiscation Act of 1862 was a significant piece of legislation passed by the United States Congress during the American Civil War, at least rhetorically if not practically. The act aimed to target the property of Confederate sympathizers and supporters. It authorized the Union government to seize the assets, including land and slaves, of individuals engaged in rebellion against the United States. The act played a crucial role in undermining the economic and social...2023-07-1705 min
Minimum CompetenceFri 7/14 - Ripple Wins, Disney Wants a Dismissal, IRS v. The Rich Cheats and Twitter Ex-Employee LawsuitOn this day in history, July 14 1798, Congress passed the Sedition Act. The Sedition Act of 1798 was a controversial law that criminalized the propagation of false or defamatory statements against the federal government. It was primarily deployed as a tool by the Adams administration to control dissenting speech, especially from the Jeffersonian press that took issue with the ideologies of the Federalist Party. Interestingly, the Act did not cover criticism aimed at the Vice President, a position held by Thomas Jefferson at the time, due to his adversarial stance against the Federalist-dominant Congress. In 1800, the Sedition Act was d...2023-07-1405 min
Minimum CompetenceThurs 7/13 - Lewis Brisbois Successor Firm Falters, Musk v. Wachtell Lipton, Senate Confirms Young Judge and IRS Goes After Tax Cheats in Puerto RicoOn this day in history, in 1787, the Congress of the Confederation, the body operating under the Articles of Confederation and precursor to the United States Congress, passed the Northwest Ordinance. The Northwest Ordinance, officially titled "An Ordinance for the Government of the Territory of the United States, North-West of the River Ohio," was an act passed by the Confederation Congress of the United States on July 13, 1787. This legislative act created a structured process for territories to evolve into states, outlining the path from political wilderness to full statehood. The ordinance addressed the territories that had been obtained f...2023-07-1306 min
Minimum CompetenceWeds 7/12 - MS Activision Moves Forward, Teamsters Expand, Corporate and Tax Firms Eye Energy Credits and /r/WallStreetbets Moderator Loses SuitOn this day in history, in 1909, the Sixteenth Amendment was passed, which gave Congress the power to collect income taxes. Passed in 1909, the Sixteenth Amendment was ratified on February 3, 1913. This came after a series of economically destabilizing events, including a period of economic disparity between eastern industries and farmers in the south and west post-Civil War. The first federal income tax had been imposed in 1861 to fund the Civil War, but it was repealed in 1872. From that point, several political organizations, like the Grange and the Populist Party, pushed for a graduated income tax....2023-07-1206 min
Minimum CompetenceTues 7/11 - Trump Asks for Delay, No Workplace Protection for DACA Recipients, TX Cuts Property and Franchise Taxes and AI TaxOn this day in history, in 1921, William Howard Taft was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court after having served a term as president ten years prior. Taft remains the only person to have been both president and a Supreme Court Justice, much less Chief Justice.William Howard Taft was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1857. He graduated from Yale University and Cincinnati Law School, then began his career in private practice. He served as an assistant prosecutor, a judge, and the Solicitor General of the United States. In 1901, he was named Civilian Governor of...2023-07-1106 min
Minimum CompetenceMon 7/10 - No MAGA Hats for Mail Carriers, Greenberg Traurig Moves Towards Private Credit, IRS Changes to Dirty Dozen, SVB Sues FDIC and Van Houten ReleaseOn this day in history, in 1991, Boris Yelstin was elected Russia’s first popularly elected president. Boris Yeltsin, a Soviet and Russian politician, served as the first president of Russia from 1991 to 1999. Initially a member of the Communist Party, he later distanced himself from the party and aligned himself with liberalism and Russian nationalism. Yeltsin was born in Butka, Ural Oblast, and after studying at the Ural State Technical University, he worked in the construction industry. Rising through the ranks of the Communist Party, he became known as an anti-establishment figure when he resigned from the Politburo in...2023-07-1006 min
Minimum CompetenceFri 7/7 - Lewis Brisbois Exodus, SCOTUS Takes Up Gun Rights for DV Perps, Nauta Pleads Not Guilty, CA Bar Fees Raised and Musk C&Ds MetaWe have a this day in history from north of our border here in the United States. On this day, July 7th, in legal history, Canada enacted the Official Languages Act which made French equal to English as an official language of the state.The Official Languages Act of 1969 was a significant piece of legislation in Canada. It declared English and French as the official languages of Canada for all purposes of the Parliament and Government. The Act mandated that all rules, regulations, and proclamations of the Parliament of Canada be published in both official languages. It...2023-07-0706 min
Minimum CompetenceThurs 7/6 - UPS Strike Incoming, DOE Mulls Investment in Hydrogen, Biden Social Media Questions, Nauta to Enter Plea and Conservatives Sue Law SchoolOn this day, July 5th, in legal history, a death sentence for a Florida man convicted of a racially motivated murder was upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States. In the case of Barclay v. Florida (1983), the petitioner and a group of men aimed to indiscriminately kill white individuals and incite a racial war. They murdered a white hitchhiker in Florida. The petitioner was found guilty of first-degree murder by a Florida state court jury. According to Florida's death penalty statute, a separate sentencing hearing was conducted before the same jury, which recommended life imprisonment. H...2023-07-0608 min
Minimum CompetenceWeds 7/5 - UPS Moves Towards Strike, Paul Hastings Sued, Paxton Won't Testify and Column Tuesday on Senior Property Tax Relief Being Bad PolicyOn this day, July 5th, in legal history, jury selection began for the trial of the Chicago “Black Sox” baseball players accused of throwing the 1919 World Series.The Black Sox scandal, which unfolded during the 1919 World Series, was not an isolated incident in the history of baseball and gambling. The sport had a long-standing and often troubled relationship with gambling, with instances of game-fixing dating as far back as 1865. The integrity of postseason championship play had also been questioned, with rumors surrounding the honesty of games in previous World Series.The exact architects of the Blac...2023-07-0508 min
Minimum CompetenceFri 5/26 - BigLaw Return to Office Continues, Oath Keepers Leader Sentenced, Breaking up Large Banks and Tax Provisions in Debt Ceiling TalksWe have another Andrew Johnson-related “this day in legal history” for today – on May 26 in 1868, the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson concluded without conviction. In 1868, President Johnson faced impeachment, and his fate rested on a single vote in the Senate trial. Johnson had become president after Abraham Lincoln's assassination and had a strained relationship with Republican leaders, particularly the Radical Republicans. The House of Representatives impeached Johnson on charges of violating the Tenure of Office Act by removing Secretary of War Edwin Stanton without approval. The Senate trial required a two-thirds majority to convict Johnson.Senat...2023-05-2606 min
Minimum CompetenceTues 5/16 - SVB Omitted EVE, FTC Blocking Amgen Acquisition, Dropbox Patent Infringement, Musk Tweets Remain MuzzledWe have an interesting this day in legal history entry for today, on this day, May 16, in 1868 President Andrew Johnson was acquitted in his impeachment trial. President Johnson was Abraham Lincoln’s running mate in the 1864 election and was a sop to the south – prior to sharing a ticket Lincoln had never met him. After the Civil War, President Johnson clashed with Congress over the reconstruction of the South. He vetoed legislation aimed at protecting the rights of former slaves, leading to tension and disagreement with his own party. In 1868, the House of Representatives impeached Johnson, accusing him of viol...2023-05-1608 min
Minimum CompetenceMon 5/1 - Exit First Republic, Enter JPMorgan, Energizer and Walmart Battery Antitrust, DeSantis vs. Prosecutor, Alito Knows Leaker and Trump Wants MistrialJPMorgan Chase & Co has agreed to acquire First Republic Bank in a government-led deal after it was seized by regulators. The transaction will see the acquisition of around $173bn of First Republic’s loans, $30bn of securities and $92bn in deposits. The deal makes JPMorgan even larger, and critics have said it will likely lead to consolidation in the financial industry. The transaction is expected to generate more than $500m of incremental net income a year.JPMorgan's acquisition will increase its size, which goes against the government's efforts to prevent further consolidation in the financial industry. Due to...2023-05-0105 min
Minimum CompetenceTues 3/7 - SCOTUS prayer vigil appeal, Biden admin taxes to fund Medicare, trouble in cheese paradise and Column Tuesday!In today’s episode hosted by @gina@esq.social we have the Supreme Court declining to hear a prayer vigil establishment clause case, the Biden administration looking to increase taxes to fund Medicare, trouble in cheese paradise and Column Tuesday, where we invite you to read co-host Andrew’s latest column at Bloomberg Tax.Thanks so much for listening to Minimum Competence. If you have any questions or story suggestions, find us on Mastodon on the esq.social instance. We also have a link aggregator in the fediverse, at links.esq.social, where some of our stor...2023-03-0708 min
Minimum CompetenceWeds 2/1 - TX Arbitration Clauses, GA Home Inspectors, Title 42 and BaseballTexas Homebuyer Arb Clause - https://www.law360.com/articles/1570968/texas-justices-mull-if-homebuyer-gets-seller-s-arb-pactGeorgia Wrongful Death Property Inspector - https://www.law360.com/employment/articles/1571388/ga-home-inspectors-escape-wrongful-death-suit-on-appealTitle 42 Suits May Die Alongside Nat’l Emergency - https://www.law360.com/articles/1571334/title-42-suits-may-die-alongside-nat-l-emergencyBaseball and Antitrust - https://www.bloomberglaw.com/bloomberglawnews/us-law-week/X96F33HS000000?bwid=00000186-0932-d7fe-a3c6-3dba252c0001 & https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/75600/baseballs-antitrust-exemption-a-brief-primer/Find today’s host on the fediverse, just head on o...2023-02-0105 min
Minimum CompetenceTues 1/31 - J&J, Hermes, Trump v. WoodwardJohnson and Johnson BKHermes International v. Rothschild - NFTS and TrademarkTrump v. Bob Woodward et alFind me on the fediverse, for now just head on over to @andrew@esq.social and give me a shout. News stories can be submitted to me there or via our link aggregator at links.esq.social.#lawfedi #law @law@a.gup.pe @podcast@a.gup.peThanks so much for listening to Minimum Competence. If you have...2023-01-3104 min