New lawsuits by transgender people challenge bans on name changes for those convicted of crimes

Alexandra Carson thought the interview had gone well. Her experience managing a restaurant more than qualified her for the server position at a buffet chain near her rural Texas home, she said, and the friendly conversation made her feel like the job was secure. But the hiring manager’s demeanor changed…

Feb 5, 2020 3:58 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Perkins Coie sued over Steele dossier; Facebook agrees to $550M privacy settlement

Ex-Trump aide sues Perkins Coie, DNC over Steele dossier Carter Page, a former campaign adviser for President Donald Trump, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Perkins Coie and the Democratic National Committee over the so-called Steele dossier alleging links between Russia and the Trump campaign. The unverified dossier, which later…

Jan 30, 2020 3:39 PM CST

Fired partner is accused of double billing, charging personal expenses to firm

A former Vedder Price partner in Chicago is accused in an ethics complaint of double billing for legal services and charging the firm for personal expenses.

Jan 15, 2020 10:26 AM CST

‘Transient’ charged in stabbing death of asbestos lawyer who is being hailed as a hero

Police have charged a man described as a “transient” in the home invasion and stabbing death of an Illinois lawyer Saturday.

Jan 7, 2020 12:15 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Biden likes Obama for Supreme Court; ex-law student among successful GirlsDoPorn plaintiffs

Biden would consider Obama as Supreme Court nominee Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden said Dec. 28 he would appoint former President Barack Obama to the U.S. Supreme Court, if he would take the position. Biden spoke in response to a question at a campaign event. Biden,…

Jan 6, 2020 4:32 PM CST

First Amendment defense claims could threaten ‘revenge pornography’ statutes

Dec 19, 2019 6:30 AM CST

Lawyer who allowed client to write appeals brief is sanctioned for ‘incoherent’ document

A federal appeals court has ordered an Aurora, Illinois, solo practitioner to pay attorney fees and double costs to his opponent for allowing his client to write and submit an “incoherent” appellate brief using his electronic signature.

Dec 18, 2019 2:22 PM CST

How do the states stack up? Lawyers make the most and least money in these areas

Lawyers make the lowest average salary in Montana and the highest average salary in California, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Nov 20, 2019 10:55 AM CST

Former FBI Director Comey encourages law students to be ‘ethical leaders’

It was never one of former FBI Director James Comey’s career goals to be an “unemployed B-list celebrity,” he said, addressing a crowd at the University of Chicago Law School on Tuesday. During a lecture he gave on leadership roles, he said it became his mission to communicate what being an ethical leader means after President Donald Trump fired him in May 2017.

Oct 31, 2019 12:40 PM CDT

Federal judge vacates $16M settlement after parties claim press release violated secrecy provision

A federal judge in Chicago has tossed a $16 million settlement between Kraft Foods Group Inc. and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission after Kraft Foods claimed that the CFTC’s public statements about the deal violated its confidentiality provision.

Oct 25, 2019 12:39 PM CDT

Judge is removed from the bench for false statements about firing gun, retaliation

An Illinois judge has been removed from the bench based on accusations that he lied about accidentally firing a gun in his apartment and retaliated against two court employees who complained about sexual harassment.

Oct 2, 2019 11:34 AM CDT

Police officers subpoena former governor to testify about commuted sentence

Lawyers for 11 Chicago police officers have subpoenaed former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn to testify about his reasons for commuting the sentence of a man who has sued them for allegedly railroading the case against him.

Sep 24, 2019 10:31 AM CDT

Lawyer accused of smelling of alcohol at client’s felony trial gets suspension

An Ohio lawyer has been suspended after he was accused of showing up for a client’s felony trial smelling of alcohol and refusing to submit to a breath-alcohol test.

Sep 24, 2019 10:17 AM CDT

Federal judge tosses suit by gay lawyer who says his co-counsel outed him to al-Qaida client

A federal judge in Chicago has ruled that a mitigation specialist who worked on the defense team for accused Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed can’t sue a co-counsel accused of outing him as a gay man to the client.

Sep 17, 2019 2:05 PM CDT

Want encouragement in the justice arena? Think about what’s changed, says Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

The country has come a long way, said U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and that’s what keeps her optimistic for the future. “It can be hard to do anything as a loner, but if you get together with like-minded people, you can be a force for change,” Ginsburg said at a discussion Monday at the University of Chicago.

Sep 10, 2019 3:15 PM CDT