Law in Popular Culture

Fans of baseball will be missed this upcoming season—but not their legal headaches

The national pastime, played in empty stadiums, at long last gets underway on Thursday. The cheer of the crowd will be sorely missed. But the absence of fans will also spare Major League Baseball teams from legal headaches that can arise when the seats are filled.

Jul 22, 2020 1:47 PM CDT

Wrongfully convicted man hopes to win ‘America’s Got Talent’ and suit against criminal justice system

Inside Louisiana’s maximum security prison, inmate Archie Williams used to watch America’s Got Talent and visualize himself performing on the show. It was a dream that couldn’t have seemed further from reality. But on May 26—37 years after his conviction and a little over a year since his exoneration and release—his improbable dream came true.

Jul 21, 2020 8:00 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Michael Cohen sent back to jail; former state chief justice’s suit against actor can proceed

Trump’s former personal lawyer returns to jail after refusing home confinement terms Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer, was returned to jail Thursday after refusing to sign a document that would have prevented him from speaking to the media or publishing a book during his home confinement. Cohen,…

Jul 10, 2020 4:56 PM CDT

In Amazon’s ‘Gary Busey: Pet Judge,’ is what you see really what you get?

I watched the first episode, and it was suspect from the start. The first case involved a married couple arguing over what to do with their deceased cat’s remains. The husband wanted to give the pet a “Viking funeral.”

Jun 24, 2020 12:12 PM CDT

Was NBC’s ‘Night Court’ a comedy set in a courtroom or a courtroom comedy?

Like many of you, I’ve binged my way through about everything I can stomach over the last three months or so. I’m not one who only watches television or movies for the pure enjoyment of the craft. Oftentimes, my viewing habits have an end goal. However, as my regular readers are aware, my wife and I do try to find some shows we can watch together as part of our “bedtime” routine.

Jun 11, 2020 9:16 AM CDT

Netflix obtains foreign trademark rights to ‘Space Force’ before US government

Netflix has secured some foreign trademark rights to the phrase “Space Force”—which is also the name of its new comedy series starring Steve Carell—ahead of the U.S. government.

Jun 9, 2020 5:07 PM CDT

Lenny Dykstra’s reputation was so tarnished that he wasn’t defamed by book, judge rules

A New York judge has tossed a defamation lawsuit filed by Lenny Dykstra, ruling that the former baseball player’s reputation is so tarnished that he wasn’t injured by his former teammate’s bigotry claim.

Jun 3, 2020 4:39 PM CDT

Judge awards the zoo in Netflix’s ‘Tiger King’ to Joe Exotic’s rival

A federal judge in Oklahoma awarded Monday the zoo made famous in Netflix’s Tiger King to the Big Cat Rescue Corp., founded by Joe Exotic’s rival, Carole Baskin.

Jun 2, 2020 11:58 AM CDT

The latest season of AMC’s ‘Better Call Saul’ focuses on the art of the bargain

Over the years, I’ve written a few law in pop culture columns focusing on AMC’s Better Call Saul. Not only is the show extremely entertaining, but it’s also a testament to the modern television crime drama. It absolutely excels in every aspect. The writing is fantastic, the acting is incredible, and the production and cinematography are about as close to flawless as you can get.

Jun 1, 2020 8:30 AM CDT

Lawyers are the directors and set designers of their courtroom dramas

Litigation unfolds upon a stage in the theater of the courtroom. And while combative, compulsive and closed litigation stories are constrained and shaped by evidentiary and legal rules and the meticulous presentation of factual evidence, lawyers are nevertheless the producers, directors and set designers of their own theatrical courtroom dramas.

Jun 1, 2020 12:50 AM CDT

Studios that made ‘Criminal Minds’ are sued for alleged longtime sexual harassment on set

A California agency has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit alleging that the production companies that made the TV show Criminal Minds failed to prevent an alleged hostile work environment that persisted for 14 years.

May 27, 2020 10:27 AM CDT

Silver Gavel Awards honor works on jailing pregnant women, judicial indiscretion

The six recipients of this year’s Silver Gavel Awards for Media and the Arts shine a light into little explored corners of the legal system, from the obscure laws that criminalize pregnant women to the harmful role judges played during the opioid epidemic.

May 20, 2020 11:03 AM CDT

‘Mrs. America’ and the renewed focus on the Equal Rights Amendment

“In a world where multiple sexual orientations and gender identities are becoming more accepted in mainstream culture, it seems past time for the ERA to finally become law,” writes Oklahoma lawyer Adam Banner.

May 19, 2020 8:00 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Open-industry legal platform tested; panel considers future of California bar exam

Tech platform pioneered by 3 law firms will synchronize legal projects Three law firms have pioneered a new open-industry platform called Lupl to collaborate with corporate clients on complex legal matters. The law firms—Cooley, CMS and Rajah & Tann Asia—invested more than $10 million in the project, with input from…

May 15, 2020 4:19 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Hackers want $21M from showbiz lawyer; videos of clothed women not a crime

Hackers demand $21M from showbiz lawyer Hackers are threatening to reveal personal information about the celebrity clients of lawyer Allen Grubman unless he pays them a ransom of $21 million. Grubman’s law firm says it has hired leading experts to address the hack. (Page Six, Variety) Law doesn’t bar taking…

May 14, 2020 4:15 PM CDT