Law in Popular Culture

ABA Legal Fact Check sorts truth from fiction on legal issues

When it comes to the law, the ABA can and should be the definitive source of information. By focusing on timely legal matters in the news, ABA Legal Fact Check uses established case and statutory law and other legal precedents to separate legal fact from fiction.

Jan 1, 2018 1:15 AM CST

‘The Post’ reminds us attacks on freedom of the press are not new

To commemorate a great 2017, I wanted this installment to focus on something that really epitomized the past year. I was having a tough time tying up the past 365 days, and then it hit me in the face: The Fake News with Ted Nelms (appropriately staring Ed Helms) was set to premiere on Comedy Central.

Dec 19, 2017 8:00 AM CST

New Supreme Court cookbook shares recipes and more

The U.S. Supreme Court often issues opinions that offer food for thought. Now, there is a new cookbook available that includes recipes associated with justices and their families. The book, Table for 9: Supreme Court Food Traditions & Recipes, by Clare Cushman, director of publications for the Supreme Court Historical…

Dec 18, 2017 2:43 PM CST

Was Brendan Dassey’s confession coerced? SCOTUS review is a ‘long shot’ in ‘Making a Murderer’ case

Lawyers for Brendan Dassey say they will continue to pursue relief for their client after an en banc federal appeals court rejected their argument that his confession was unconstitutionally coerced. Lawyers for Dassey say their quest for relief includes a petition for certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court, the Appleton…

Dec 14, 2017 10:46 AM CST

CBS develops comedy based on law school experiences of Dr. Phil’s son

CBS is developing a comedy called Class Action that is based on the law school experiences of Dr. Phil’s son, Jay McGraw. The show follows a law student who is looking for an easy experience, but instead finds himself in a group of eclectic law students who have to argue…

Dec 11, 2017 7:00 AM CST

En banc 7th Circuit reinstates Brendan Dassey’s conviction in ‘Making a Murderer’ case

An en banc federal appeals court has reinstated the conviction of Brendan Dassey for helping his uncle kill a woman in a case featured in the Making a Murderer Netflix series.

Dec 8, 2017 4:55 PM CST

The Keanu Reeves cinematic guide to being an ‘excellent!’ criminal defense attorney

Disclaimer: this is not the article I intended to write. Keanu Reeves’ hasn’t endorsed it ... yet.

Dec 7, 2017 8:00 AM CST

A dozen gift suggestions for lawyers (gallery)

Don’t look now, but the calendar is on the last page of the year. Time is running out: Have you figured out what’s the perfect holiday gift for the lawyer or legal professional in your life? A tie or a briefcase just won’t cut it—what do you do now? Perhaps…

Dec 5, 2017 4:51 PM CST

‘Thor: Ragnarok’ is latest instance of trial by combat in popular culture

Two things recently got me thinking about the age-old, quasi-legal theory of trial by combat: first and foremost, the new Marvel film Thor: Ragnarok, and secondly, the recent news that an attorney who actually requested trial by combat in one of his cases is apparently being investigated on criminal allegations.

Nov 21, 2017 8:30 AM CST

‘The Orville’ explores issues related to gender neutrality

A new television series created by and starring Seth MacFarlane (of Family Guy fame)—one set aboard a spaceship patrolling the galaxies four centuries from now—decided to delve into the issue of gender neutrality.

Nov 9, 2017 8:30 AM CST

It’s Global Love Your Lawyer Day

It’s the first Friday of November, and that means it’s Love Your Lawyer Day.

In fact, it’s National, International and Global Love Your Lawyer Day, according to the group promoting the day, the American Lawyers Public Image Association.

Nov 3, 2017 7:00 AM CDT

For-profit law schools set scene in John Grisham’s new novel

Third-year students at a for-profit law school who have accumulated huge amounts of student debt are the subjects of John Grisham’s latest legal thriller, The Rooster Bar. The attorney-author told CBS News that his plot was inspired by a 2014 story in the Atlantic titled “The Law-School Scam.” “I was…

Oct 26, 2017 4:15 PM CDT

‘Reinhold Niebuhr’ Twitter account is actually written by James Comey, friend confirms

James Comey has been tweeting under the name “Reinhold Niebuhr,” a theologian the fired FBI director wrote about in his college thesis. Gizmodo wrote a story in March asserting that “Reinhold Niebuhr” was “almost certainly” Comey. Now there is confirmation that Comey is the tweeter, report Gizmodo, NPR, the New…

Oct 23, 2017 3:33 PM CDT

Is prolific tweeting Texas justice’s social media farewell a thank you for 5th Circuit nomination?

Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willett has more than 100,000 Twitter followers on Twitter, but they haven’t seen anything new on the social media platform from the justice since Sept. 28. On that date, Willett thanked President Donald Trump and Texas’ two senators for his nomination to the New Orleans-based…

Oct 20, 2017 11:19 AM CDT

Above the Law’s David Lat taking a break from ‘the trenches’ of daily journalism

David Lat is stepping down as managing editor of Above the Law after a change in his personal life. Lat and his husband are the parents of a baby boy. “As a parent and primary caregiver,” he writes at Above the Law, “I’d like to take a break from being…

Oct 19, 2017 9:04 AM CDT