Law in Popular Culture

ABA announces 2020 Silver Gavel Awards finalists

The ABA has selected 23 finalists from the 188 entries received for the 2020 Silver Gavel Awards for Media and the Arts, the association announced Wednesday.

Mar 11, 2020 11:14 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: RBG outpaces colleagues for written opinions; DOJ lawyer who wrote risky footnote dies

DOJ lawyer who risked his career over a footnote dies at 88 A former deputy solicitor general who served under eight presidents, Lawrence Wallace, has died at age 88. Wallace argued more cases in the U.S. Supreme Court than any other lawyer in the modern era. Wallace is known for…

Feb 27, 2020 3:40 PM CST

Netflix docuseries on former NFL player Aaron Hernandez misses opportunity to separate from the pack

Oklahoma lawyer Adam Banner dissects Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez. “The documentary series is definitely worth watching for those fans of the genre who are more interested in the sensational nature of high-profile cases,” he writes.

Feb 18, 2020 9:23 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Donor says law school not honoring wishes; Justice Thomas says judges aren’t ‘mass media icons’

Attorney disputes his University of Michigan Law School gift Lance J. Johnson, a Minnesota lawyer who had donated $150,000 to the University of Michigan Law School and had planned to leave it $2 million more in his estate, now claims that the school is not honoring his wishes. Johnson, who…

Feb 12, 2020 3:17 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Censure recommended for judge’s ‘knucklehead’ remarks; Kesha loses round in Dr. Luke suit

Censure recommended for judge’s remarks on racy photos The New Jersey Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct is recommending censure for a judge who commented on a “knucklehead” husband and the girlfriend who was asking the man’s wife for return of her suggestive photos. Judge Alberto Rivas told the…

Feb 7, 2020 4:40 PM CST

What can lawyers do to combat their bad PR?

If you’re a lawyer, you’ve probably encountered hundreds if not thousands of lawyer jokes. While laughing at lawyer punchlines is all fun and games, it can also lead to dire consequences if the public distrusts attorneys enough not to hire them.

Feb 1, 2020 1:00 AM CST

Does MTV’s ‘True Life: Crime’ pass the ‘true crime’ test?

I’ve been writing this column regarding law in pop culture for the ABA Journal going on three years now. Over that time, it’s become more and more common for readers to reach out to me about topics they believe would make good fodder for an article. I love hearing from anyone who reads my work, and I love any and all suggestions for future columns.

Jan 29, 2020 7:00 AM CST

Getting real: What happens when clients go on reality TV

In this new episode of Asked and Answered, ABA Journal Senior Writer Stephanie Francis Ward speaks with two lawyers and a TV showrunner, who are all involved in the world of reality television.

Jan 27, 2020 2:20 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Teen blogger denied murder case evidence; Aerosmith drummer loses comeback case

Judge denies 16-year-old aspiring lawyer’s request for murder evidence A 16-year-old aspiring lawyer and true crime blogger lost a bid Thursday to access evidence in the Texas murder case that that put Darlie Routier on death row. Ryan Kester thinks Routier is innocent in the killings of her two children.…

Jan 24, 2020 3:48 PM CST

Lawyer Jose Baez sues ex-client Rose McGowan over her claims of plea pressure, Weinstein ‘shadiness’

Updated: Lawyer Jose Baez has filed a defamation suit against a former client—actress and Harvey Weinstein accuser Rose McGowan—over her claims that Baez pressured her into a plea deal in a cocaine case and was involved in Weinstein “shadiness.”

Jan 23, 2020 2:20 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Kim Kardashian West finishes year of legal studies; guilty plea for man’s viral ice cream video

Kim Kardashian West completes first year of legal studies Kim Kardashian West says she has completed her first year of legal studies in a four-year apprenticeship program that can pave the way to a law license in California. West said she spends about 20 hours per week on her studies.…

Jan 21, 2020 3:20 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Government agency says withholding Ukrainian aid broke law; dog banned from trial

GAO report concludes White House violated law by withholding Ukraine aid The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office has concluded the White House broke the law when it withheld funds for security assistance allocated to Ukraine by Congress. The GAO found a violation of the Impoundment Control Act. A spokesperson for the…

Jan 16, 2020 4:32 PM CST

Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer thinks the #MeToo movement can be dangerous

The lawyer representing film producer Harvey Weinstein at his rape trial has told the New York Times that she thinks the #MeToo movement has led to a rush to judgment that is destroying reputations and careers.

Jan 15, 2020 1:45 PM CST

Fair Game: Does the fair use doctrine apply to Andy Warhol’s pop art?

The acclaimed “Andy Warhol—From A to B and Back Again” exhibit of more than 400 of Andy Warhol’s works has been making the rounds from New York to San Francisco to Chicago. Even casual observers have a sense of Warhol’s groundbreaking pop-art style. Yet there is one surprising legal question of fair use and transformative value that begs consideration: Just what is a “Warhol”?

Jan 9, 2020 6:00 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Harvey Weinstein threatened with jail for courtroom phone use; Supreme Court closes for weather

Judge threatens to jail Harvey Weinstein after he uses cellphone in court On Tuesday, a Manhattan judge threatened to jail former film producer Harvey Weinstein for using his cellphone in the courtroom where jurors will be picked for his rape trial. “Is this really the way you want to end…

Jan 7, 2020 2:58 PM CST