ABA Journal

Latest Features

Following pay changes with Idaho public defender’s office, agency saw more than 1,000 withdrawals

Updated: Recent Idaho public defender pay rate changes led to many counsel heading for the exits, and the Idaho State Bar issued a formal ethics opinion due to concerns. It recognizes financial hardships can cause conflicts in legal representation but notes that counsel cannot leave a case without the court’s approval.



  •  
  •  
  •  
  • Print

Leonard Leo, Trump aide Mike Davis spar over Supreme Court retirements

An influential conservative lawyer who advised Donald Trump during his first term forcefully pushed back Friday on talk that one or more conservative Supreme Court justices might retire after Trump again takes office in January.



  •  
  •  
  •  
  • Print

St. Thomas College of Law and fired professor reach settlement

The St. Thomas University Benjamin L. Crump College of Law and a professor at the school have “agreed to amicably part ways,” according to a statement from the Florida-based law school to the ABA Journal.



  •  
  •  
  •  
  • Print

Bar pass rates climb nationwide for July exam

Bar pass rates for the July 2024 bar exam are strong throughout the country. The expectations were high for the class of 2024. In 2021, the year that this class entered law school, applications increased by 13%.



  •  
  •  
  •  
  • Print

Ex-fiancee must return $70K ring after failed engagement, court says

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on Friday ruled that, from now on, an engagement ring must be returned to the buyer if the wedding falls through, regardless of who’s at fault.



  •  
  •  
  •  
  • Print

Legal Ed council adds diversity and inclusion language back into law school standard proposal

The council of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar is reversing course, adding specific language regarding diversity and inclusion back into a contentious accreditation standard after an earlier attempt to broaden it drew criticism.



  •  
  •  
  •  
  • Print

Federal judge suspends deadlines in Trump criminal case

The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s election-interference case in D.C. federal court suspended all remaining deadlines Friday—the latest sign that the federal prosecutions of the president-elect are winding down.



  •  
  •  
  •  
  • Print

Evidence of judge's 'poisonous antisemitism' entitles Jewish death row inmate to new trial, top Texas court says

The top criminal court in Texas has ordered a new trial for a death row inmate because of evidence that the judge was actually biased against the defendant because he is Jewish.



  •  
  •  
  •  
  • Print

Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy

This is a day to appreciate the fact Americans voted in large numbers. As citizens and lawyers, we are thankful for all who exercised their right to vote. We are particularly thankful for the election workers for their efforts to ensure the election was fair and the results are safe, secure and accurate.



  •  
  •  
  •  
  • Print

Supreme Court appears split in Facebook lawsuit tied to data breach

The Supreme Court on Wednesday appeared closely divided over whether to allow shareholders to proceed with a lawsuit accusing Meta’s Facebook of misleading investors about risks from a massive data privacy breach.



  •  
  •  
  •  
  • Print

Read more ...