Afternoon Briefs: Trump seeks to intervene in SCOTUS election case; new LA district attorney touts reforms
President Donald Trump. Photo from Shutterstock.com.
Trump seeks to intervene in Supreme Court election case
President Donald Trump on Wednesday sought to intervene as a plaintiff in Texas’ bid to get the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the election results in four states. Separately, lawyers for 17 states urged the Supreme Court to accept the suit, which invokes the court’s original jurisdiction to hear disputes between the states. (Reuters, the lawsuit)
New Los Angeles district attorney announces sweeping reforms
The new district attorney in Los Angeles, George Gascón, announced sweeping criminal justice reforms Monday. Gascón will no longer seek the death penalty, will no longer send juveniles to adult court, and will no longer seek cash bail in nonserious cases. He also plans to review lengthy prison sentences and claims of innocence. He also called for a review board to review fatal use of force by police. (NBC News, CNN, NPR)
Suspension recommended for former Vedder Price lawyer
A disciplinary hearing board in Illinois has recommended a 20-month suspension for a former Vedder Price shareholder accused of creating false invoices for legal services, crediting the payments to an unrelated dormant account, and then diverting the money to himself by submitting false expense reports. Robert John Hankes had admitted responsibility and repaid the law firm nearly $80,000 for money that it had used to reimburse the affected clients. (Law360)
Quinn Emanuel will hire lawyers who won’t work at its offices
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan won’t limit lawyer hiring to cities where it has offices. Name partner John Quinn told Law.com that the firm will hire the best litigators, no matter their location. In some locations where the firm is growing, the firm might open a physical office space. In others, the new hire may work at home or in a workshare space. (Law.com)
