Appellate Practice

‘The Practice’ vs. ‘Boston Legal’: How the original stacks up to the spinoff, part 3

Over my past two columns, I’ve focused on reviewing two related television series, The Practice and Boston Legal, with the ultimate goal of comparing them. To conduct my review, I utilized the top-rated episode from each series as calculated by episodeninja.com. So, which series came out victorious? The Practice? Boston Legal? Not so fast.

Dec 9, 2021 8:55 AM CST

7th Circuit reprimands lawyer for skipping oral arguments, relying on opposing counsel

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at Chicago has reprimanded a New York lawyer for skipping oral arguments in a late-settled case and relying on opposing counsel to represent the parties’ joint views on costs.

Dec 8, 2021 12:36 PM CST

If trends persist, there won’t be gender parity among lawyers arguing at 7th Circuit until 2059

The gender gap among lawyers arguing before the federal appeals court in Chicago barely improved over the last decade, according to a report published by the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession.

Dec 8, 2021 8:44 AM CST

‘The Practice’ vs. ‘Boston Legal’: How the original stacks up to the spinoff, part 2

In October, I reviewed The Practice. It’s now time to take a look at Boston Legal, compare the two related series and crown the better “legal TV” option. As was the case with The Practice, I am going into this viewing session blind; I'd never before watched an episode of Boston Legal. Let’s dig in.

Nov 30, 2021 9:09 AM CST

Supreme Court should reverse decision in Texas ineffective counsel case, ABA says

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals’ consideration of a Texas death row inmate’s case deviated from the U.S. Supreme Court’s prior instruction regarding ineffective assistance of counsel and conflicted with its precedents, the ABA told the Supreme Court on Thursday.

Nov 19, 2021 11:54 AM CST

‘The Practice’ vs. ‘Boston Legal’: How the original stacks up to the spinoff, part 1

In April, Screen Rant published its list of the 10 best legal drama shows of all time, ranked according to IMDb. After review, I realized two of the 10 were very closely related. Boston Legal was a spinoff of The Practice, and also according to IMDb, the byproduct is better than the initial offering.

Oct 25, 2021 1:28 PM CDT

Typo in 1928 Supreme Court opinion created ‘reign of error,’ law prof says

A tiny typographical error in a 1928 U.S. Supreme Court opinion had a big impact after it was picked up in subsequent opinions and used to bolster arguments for property rights, a law professor has found.

Oct 19, 2021 1:18 PM CDT

Breyer explains reason for late-night opinions, comments on once-secret summary reversal custom

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer has shed light on late-night decisions on emergency requests in an interview with CNN.

Oct 18, 2021 3:16 PM CDT

Weekly Briefs: Lawyer censured over false time sheets; California law allows ‘stealthing’ suits

Lawyer censured for seeking no-show pay Lawyer Laura Cail, of Rensselaer County, New York, has been censured for filing false time sheets to collect more than $12,000 for work that she didn’t perform at the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. Cail had previously resolved criminal charges…

Oct 15, 2021 1:44 PM CDT

Senate Democrats criticize SCOTUS ‘shadow docket’ in hearing; Republicans see attempt at justice intimidation

Is the U.S. Supreme Court’s “shadow docket” of emergency orders and summary decisions being misused in a way that undermines the court’s legitimacy? Or are Democrats who are criticizing the docket trying to intimidate the justices?

Sep 30, 2021 12:59 PM CDT

Supreme Court’s new hybrid argument format allows justices to continue taking turns

When the U.S. Supreme Court resumes in-person oral arguments Oct. 4, it won’t return to the pre-pandemic questioning format.

Sep 23, 2021 9:22 AM CDT

Supreme Court will resume in-person oral arguments, but the public can’t attend

The U.S. Supreme Court announced Wednesday that it will resume in-person oral arguments when its term begins Oct. 4, but members of the public will not be allowed to be there.

Sep 9, 2021 10:35 AM CDT

Limit on food distribution to homeless people in parks violates First Amendment, 11th Circuit rules

A federal appeals court on Tuesday sided with a nonprofit organization that provides free food to homeless people in a park in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, finding that a city rule that limits the practice is unconstitutional.

Sep 3, 2021 10:16 AM CDT

9th Circuit orders lower court to review decision over accessibility at baseball stadium

A federal appeals court on Wednesday ruled in favor of plaintiffs who alleged that spectators using wheelchairs at T-Mobile Park, the home of the Seattle Mariners Major League Baseball team, had inadequate sightlines under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Sep 3, 2021 9:14 AM CDT

At least 2 federal appeals courts require vaccinations for oral arguments; other circuits differ

Federal appeals courts “are implementing wildly different responses to the delta variant surge," according to an analysis by Law360.

Aug 27, 2021 10:00 AM CDT