NATIONAL LAW JOURNAL - UPDATED



THIS ENTRY WILL BE UPDATED AS NEW AS NEW ARTILES ARE RECEIVED. PLEASE KEEP RE-CHECKING


'I Saw You Kick Him': Greenspoon Marder Partner Intervenes in Alleged Police Abuse

Deborah Baker-Egozi said she was on her way from court Wednesday when she saw a law enforcement officer assault a young... Read More

Rudy Giuliani Resigns from Greenberg Traurig

After taking an unusual unpaid leave from the firm to represent the president, Rudy Giuliani and Greenberg Traurig have... Read More

Two New Suits Challenge Gig Worker Classification, And This Is Just the Beginning

The predicted spike in worker classification litigation—following the California Supreme Court's big gig economy ruling—is... Read More


SOCIAL MEDIA | NEWS

RBG Movie Highlights Ginsburg's Life, Struggles and Fight for Equality

By Tony Mauro
The RBG documentary captures the human and professional sides of an increasingly larger-than-life judicial icon, now... Read More


Michael Cohen Referral Was Top 10 Lobbying Client of Squire Patton Boggs This Year

Whatever Squire Patton Boggs expected from its association with Michael Cohen, it's gotten more than it bargained for. Read More



Rachel Kovner, Veteran Supreme Court Lawyer, Snags Trump Nod for EDNY Bench

Rachel Kovner, a former assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, clerked for the late Justice... Read More

Cohen's Attorneys Say Avenatti Shouldn't Be Allowed to Appear in Manhattan Federal Court

In a letter filed late Wednesday, McDermott Will & Emery partner Stephen Ryan said recent statements made by Stormy... Read More


Schneiderman Hires Lawyer Known for Criminal Fraud, Assault Cases

The former AG has retained Isabelle Kirshner, a prominent New York defense attorney whose law firm, Clayman & Rosenberg,... Read More

Facebook is Banning Foreign Ad Buys Around an Irish Referendum. Could it Do the Same in the US?

Facebook Inc.'s strategy around Ireland's Eighth Amendment referendum could also apply to U.S. elections this November,... Read More


CIVIL APPEALS | NEWS

Don't Shortchange Workers on Short Breaks, DOJ Tells Supreme Court

By Erin Mulvaney
Short breaks of 20 minutes or less are "properly understood to be part of the compensable workday," the U.S. Justice... Read More

Judge Shuts Down Accused Leaker’s Defense Over Subpoenas Linked to 2016 Election Hacking Document

The team has petitioned Chief Judge Randal Hall of the Southern District of Georgia to reverse an April 28 decision... Read More


Rudy Giuliani Resigns from Greenberg Traurig

Ending his unusual unpaid leave arrangement from the firm to represent the president, Giuliani and Greenberg Traurig... Read More

Trump Administration Backs Apple in Supreme Court Antitrust Suit Over Apps

"The importance of the question presented will only grow as commerce continues to move online," the U.S. Department... Read More

Roster of Legal Leaders in #MeToo Scandals Grows

In light of the Eric Schneiderman debacle, here's a rundown of legal leaders involved in some of the more notorious... Read More

CONTRACTS | NEWS

JPMorgan Loses Another Ruling in Labor Department's Gender Pay Discrimination Case

By Mike Scarcella
Lawyers for JPMorgan, represented by McGuireWoods, argued that the Labor Department waited too long to tell the bank... Read More

Ninth Circuit Nominee Expresses Regret for Undergraduate Writings, but Insists He Didn't Hide Them

Ryan Bounds, the Oregon assistant U.S. attorney President Donald Trump nominated to the Ninth Circuit, expressed regret... Read More

LAW FIRMS - LARGE | NEWS

Reed Smith's Russia Work in Mueller Case Gets Closeup in Court

By C. Ryan Barber
Two Reed Smith partners had entered an appearance for Concord Management and Consulting in April, but not for a second... Read More

Underwood, Hailed as 'Brilliant,' Takes Helm as Acting NY AG at Critical Hour

It's only the latest role for the well-respected litigator, who's worked in state, district and U.S. attorney offices,... Read More

3 Things to Watch For at Potentially Contentious 9th Circuit Confirmation Hearing

Ryan Bounds, an assistant U.S. attorney from Oregon, has been nominated for the Ninth Circuit bench by President Donald... Read More

COURT ADMINISTRATION | NEWS

Read Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Full Charge to America's Newest Citizens

By Marcia Coyle
"Though we have made huge progress, the work of perfection is scarcely done. Many stains remain," Justice Ginsburg said... Read More

EDITOR'S LETTER

Elite Trial Lawyers: Three Weeks Left to Apply

By Lisa Helem
The National Law Journal's Elite Trial Lawyers recognizes U.S.-based law firms that have performed exemplary work on... Read More

CIVIL APPEALS | NEWS

Baltimore State's Attorney Mosby Can't Be Sued by Cops in Freddie Gray Death Prosecution, Circuit Rules

By Michael Booth
"We soundly reject the invitation to cast aside decades of Supreme Court and circuit precedent to narrow the immunity... Read More

CRIMINAL LAW | NEWS

Former Tax Prosecutor Jay Nanavati in DC Joins Manafort Defense Team

By C. Ryan Barber
Jay Nanavati, a partner at Kostelanetz & Fink in Washington and a former U.S. Justice Department prosecutor, formally... Read More


NATIONAL LAW JOURNAL
Supreme Court Brief
POWERED BY LAW.COM
Tony Mauro
Marcia Coyle
May 09, 2018
This week may well be the lull before the storm of highly anticipated decisions. The justices meet in conference Thursday—the traditional change in conference days from Fridays to Thursdays in May—and they are back on the bench May 14 for orders and perhaps decisions. This morning we look at a petition dealing with a subject dear to the hearts of lawyers everywhere—attorney fees. We also checked in with the federal judiciary working group on sexual harassment. Also: a television series is in development featuring Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sandra Day O'Connor. Thanks for reading SCB. We welcome your feedback, tips and suggestions: mcoyle@alm.com and tmauro@alm.com.
Solicitor General's Social Security Switch
U.S. Solicitor General Noel Francisco has changed Obama administration positions in three high-profile cases in the current Supreme Court term. On Thursday, the justices will take a first look at another switch in a under-the-radar case whose outcome could be welcomed by certain group of practicing attorneys.

Francisco's office is siding with Richard Culbertson, an Orlando, Florida, attorney who represents Social Security claimants. Culbertson challenges how fees are awarded to attorneys under the Social Security Act for their work recovering past-due benefits before the agency and in federal district court.

The federal circuit courts are split on whether a 25 percent cap on fees for representation of claimants in court are only for in-court work or a cap on total fees earned for court and agency representations.

Culbertson is arguing against a cap on total fees. Three circuits—Sixth, Ninth and Tenth—hold the cap is only on fees for court representation. But the Fourth, Fifth and Eleventh circuits hold that the cap applies to total fees awarded for court and agency representations.

For Culbertson, the Eleventh Circuit decision in his fee case meant the difference between a fee award of $4,488.48 for reversing the agency's initial decision in court, and an ultimate award of $1,623.48 under the overall cap of 25 percent for both his agency and court work.

The case, if it's granted review, would require the justices to work their way through the statutory language, structure and legislative history of two fee provisions in the act.

In addition to his statutory arguments, Culbertson’s lawyer, Daniel Ortiz of the University of Virginia School of Law’s Supreme Court Litigation Clinic, tells the justices in his petition that attorneys who represent claimants in these cases “do not do so to get rich.” And he offers some data from the Office of the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration to back up that statement.

Of the attorney and non-attorney representatives of claimants before the agency, 91 percent made less than $100,000 in annual income in the 2013 tax year. Their median annual income related to direct payments by the agency was only $7,800 in that tax year.

Francisco tells the court that the government has been “on both sides of the issue.” In 1994, the government argued against a 25 percent cap on total fees. But by 2007, it was defending an overall 25 percent cap and argued against Culbertson in the Eleventh Circuit.

“The government has now reconsidered its position in light of the certiorari petition,” Francisco tells the justices. “For that reason, if the court grants plenary review, the court may wish to consider appointing an amicus curiae to defend the judgment of the court of appeals.”

That was music to the ears of Ortiz and his client, no doubt.

“We’re very happy that the government has come round to our view of the case for the same reasons and hope that those same arguments ultimately prevail at the court,” Ortiz says.
Working Group on Harassment Will Issue ReportThe federal judiciary's working group on sexual harassment is still on schedule to issue a full report this month on reforms to address workplace harassment throughout the federal judicial system, according to David Sellers of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

The working group, created in the aftermath of the harassment scandal involving Judge Alex Kozinski of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, released an interim report in March that identified nearly 20 reforms to address.

The group last met in April and established a mailbox on uscourts.gov to receive comments from current and former judiciary employees.

James Duff, director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, told members of a U.S. House committee in April:
“What we’ve been hearing—and what’s supported by all the studies we’ve examined up to this point—employees need and want a less formalistic process. The formal complaint process works—to the extent it’s utilized. But many employees want guidance and counseling and we think intervention earlier on in the process so that you don’t need to get to the formal complaint process. We are going to create other outlets for employees within the branch both at a national level and throughout the circuits.”
Duff said the working group implemented “immediate improvements” regarding confidentiality provisions in place for judiciary employees and law clerks.
SCOTUS TV Stars?While the big screen documentary about Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg continues to draw rave reviews since its official opening May 4, the small screen—television—soon may be the next medium conquered by the justice and her friend, retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

The news broke last week that actress Alyssa Milano's company, Peace Productions, is joining with PatMa Productions to develop a limited television series about the lives of the court's first two female justices.

The series reportedly will draw on the book, "Sisters in Law: How Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Went to the Supreme Court and Changed the World," by Linda Hirshman.

The New York Times and Washington Post have reviews of the new RBG movie, and Big Law Business looks at how the filmmakers got access to Ginsburg.
In Case You Missed It: Kagan Embraces New Law Clerk Hiring Plan

• At the annual meeting of the Seventh Circuit Bar Association and Judicial Conference, Justice Elena Kagan signaled her support of the new law clerk hiring process by saying she will "take into account" in her own clerk hiring whether judges and law schools are complying with the plan.

• "The four-year absence of U.S. Supreme Court justices on the law school commencement circuit is over," our colleague Karen Sloan reports. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is set to give New York Law School’s commencement address at Carnegie Hall on June 1.

• "Opinions related to orders" generally don't get the amount of attention that goes to opinions on the merits of argued cases, but those rulings can offer clues to the justices' personalities and the issues that they would like the court to address, according to a new report by Bloomberg Law.

• Fix The Court reports that the justices have recused themselves 198 times this term—194 times at the certiorari stage and four times at the merits stage. Most of the recusals—137 of them (133 cert stage, four merits stage)—were because of previous work. Justice Neil Gorsuch not surprisingly leading the group with 72 (71 cert., one merits), followed by Justice Elena Kagan with 33 (31 cert; two merits) and Justice Sonia Sotomayor with 16 (all cert).



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