In a remarkable move, Trump-appointed judge Aileen Cannon vacated (cancelled) the May 20th trial date in Donald Trump's stolen classified documents/obstruction of justice/Espionage case in Florida, and she announced that she will be setting no trial date. This is particularly outrageous given that Trump's own lawyers had previously suggested an August trial date.
Cannon's conduct is reminiscent of some of the evidence in Trump's New York case: David Pecker, head of Enquirer tabloid magazine, was involved in a crooked scheme with Trump to catch and kill damaging stories to help the criminal in the 2016 election. Now, it sure looks like Judge Cannon is Catching and Killing Trump's Espionage case, which undoubtedly will help Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
Regarding Judge Cannon's pro-Trump bias, the recusal cup runneth over. Hopefully, Special Counsel Jack Smith agrees, and finally files a motion to REMOVE Judge Aileen "Pecker" Cannon from presiding over Trump's Florida prosecution.
#LegalEthics Tidbit: Don’t use your client’s confidential information for your true crime novel
A WI lawyer’s client was convicted of murder. He wrote to her in jail offering to forgive a $19k bill if she waived attorney client privilege so he could publish book about the case. He threatened to sue her grandparents if she didn’t sign. She didn’t sign. The lawyer self-published the book, chock full of client confidential information. License revoked.
Big difference between allowing details of unwanted sex in Weinstein and Trump trials. Trump paid to silence Daniels, allegedly to protect his chances of winning a presidential election. A key component of the case is persuading the jury that he would have been motivated to do that. If he was boorish or insistent with Daniels or otherwise badly behaved, then he had that much more reason to pay to keep her quiet. #LawFedi
In my column this week I discuss the general idea of injecting progressivity into the property tax regime.
When property values go up, income doesn’t always follow suit. This gives rise to myriad breaks from the FMV—assessment paradigm, which brings with it … problems.
Key it to income. (Property) tax the rich. Full stop.
It has been quite a while since I read a hard copy of newspaper. Took a tea break at a cafe, and was greeted by this pleasing headline and story. #ethics#LegalEthics#LawFedi
"Goodwin Procter LLP's chair and managing partner told lawyers and business professionals in an email that the firm would be using new technology to monitor time spent in the office as it looks to promote compliance with its hybrid work policy, the firm confirmed to Law360."
Big news: We'll have one more reason to celebrate at our May 15 event, the news that Cathay Smith will be joining the #ChicagoKentIP faculty this fall!
If you are (or will be) in Chicago, you can register here by May 8:
«At one event, a far-right German politician with a history of racially inflammatory and anti-immigrant statements made a presentation to dozens of judges. At others, judges heard from an advocacy group that uses lawsuits in federal court to change environmental policy, as well as from corporate CEOs in the oil and pharmaceutical industries.»
Many judges fail to fully disclose free luxury trips, NPR finds
Dozens of fed judges attended wk-long seminars at luxury retreats -receiving free rms, free meals, free $ for travel worth 1000s - & failed to fully disclose as required.
Judges w disclosure issues incl some big names.
Aileen #Cannon, currently presiding over #Trump’s docs case, attended 2wk-long seminars at lux resort near Yellowstone Nat Park...failed to upload disclosure w/in 30 days as required.
Is there a platform for exchanging long-form text with short-term data deletion features baked-in? Something like Signal or Whatsapp but with a UX optimized for longer-form text discussions (eg, maybe even assuming IRL keyboard, desktop-client-first.)
(Yes, I realize that no such system is perfect, because bad actors can always screenshot or copy-paste; but I want to raise the bar for retention and build in a default assumption that group members don’t keep archives.)
“It is important that other lawyers who might be tempted to engage in similar misconduct be aware that doing so will cost them their privilege to practice law. It is also important for the courts and the legal profession to state clearly that the ends do not justify the means; that process matters; and that this is a society of laws, not men.”
Vice taxation (marijuana, gambling, etc.) is being treated by states as "free money" to patch over revenue shortfalls -- while victims of the last great idea (locking up substance users) remain in prison.
#LegalEthics Tidbit: Can inhouse corporate counsel represent the corporation’s customers?
An inhouse lawyer for a tax consulting company wanted to represent the company’s clients in tax proceedings. The OH Bd. Of Prof. Conduct opines that this is a bad idea because the lawyer’s duty to one client will be limited by the duty to the other, i.e., a conflict of interest; & because a non-law firm corps can’t practice law.
On Thursday, the #scotus will be hearing arguments where lawyers for the criminal defendant are arguing that all former presidents are forever immune from criminal prosecution for any official acts done in office.
Failure to respect the election of a new President, is the ultimate crime against the people, who are the basis of government. The President, by constitutional design, should have no role- official or unofficial-in the determination of the people's
vote. Immunity for the crimes here alleged would be most abhorrent to the Framers, because immunity would upset the constitutional scheme and aid a President in overriding the people's power over him.
The Framers would also have been appalled that Trump, despite having left office, seeks permanent immunity. As a Federalist wrote for the Maryland ratifying convention:
It seems, however, that the president may possibly be continued for life. He may so, provided he deserve it.
The Framers did not put an immunity clause in the #Constitution.They knew how to, and they did not. They did not provide immunity to the president. Wasn't the whole point that the president was not a monarch and the president was not supposed to be above the law.
The Biggest Criminal in American History.
Twice impeached, adjudicated fraud, adjudicated sexual abuser-rape and defamation of victim, four times arrested and five times indicted Donald Trump. A bigot, a misogynist, a liar. He incited Americans to attack fellow Americans with his knowing lies.
Track the criminal cases of this morally bankrupt thug.
✅ Federal Election Interference & Crimes Case
✅ Georgia Election Interference Case
✅ Stolen, Concealed Natl Defense Docs Case
✅ Hush Money Case Election Fraud
Criminal defendant Trump is not just an INDICTED DEFENDANT in four criminal cases, but he’s now an unindicted co-conspirator in #Arizona and #Michigan. What does it mean to be an unindicted co-conspirator.
The legal principles must be enforced even on the most notorious lawbreaker in American annals. -skykiss
The unindicted co-conspirator criminal Donald in #Arizona and #Michigan. What does it mean to be an unindicted co-conspirator: a person who is named in an indictment for their crimes as one who took part in a conspiracy to commit a crime but who is not charged in the indictment, YET. But soon for the biggest criminal in American History.
Please help me understand how Clarence Thomas can rule on Trump's absurd immunity appeal when Thomas' wife Ginni was an insurrectionist directly advising Trump and Meadows to not concede the election. Trumps appeal is seeking immunity for the criminal charges related to their Jan6th crimes.