Afternoon Briefs: Bus driver sues for squelched cop talk; more online bar exams ahead
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Bus driver’s suit says talk of cop transit concerns squelched
A Chicago bus driver has filed a lawsuit alleging he was ordered to stop discussing concerns about the transportation of police officers and arrested protesters during the COVID-19 pandemic. Erek Slater alleges the Chicago Transit Authority violated his First Amendment rights. (The Chicago Sun-Times, Courthouse News Service, the June 8 lawsuit)
Two more jurisdictions announce online bar exams
Louisiana bar candidates will have the option of taking an in-person or online exam, the state supreme court announced June 3. Besides the July administration, Louisiana is offering an October bar, also in person and or online. Meanwhile, Washington, D.C., announced Monday that the bar it had scheduled for September has been moved up to October, and it will be online, Bloomberg Law reports. Exam questions will be prepared by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. (Louisiana Supreme Court announcement, Bloomberg Law)
Death-row inmate wins release after he is deemed likely innocent
An inmate who spent 23 years on death row was released from prison on Friday after a judge vacated his conviction. The Philadelphia District Attorney’s office had concluded Walter Ogrod was likely innocent. The prosecutors said the case against Ogrod was tainted by a coerced confession, unreliable jailhouse informants and evidence withheld by police. (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Former MSU recruiter sues Jones Day over probe
Former Michigan State football recruiter Curtis Blackwell has sued Jones Day over its investigation of the university’s handling of sex assault allegations. Blackwell claims the law firm investigation was manufactured and staged to make him look like the bad guy, and he was falsely accused of violating university policy for conducting his own investigation into the sexual assaults. (Law360, the Detroit News)
