Commentary: Justice Department independence? Not with Trump

Bloomberg Opinion January 23, 2020

The White House on Monday released Justice Department legal opinions meant to bolster its case for defying subpoenas from Congress in the impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump. (AP file photo)

President Donald Trump’s legal defense is putting a lot of weight on a brand-new memo from the Office of Legal Counsel.

Commentary: White House counsel shouldn’t be impeachment lawyer

Bloomberg Opinion January 22, 2020

In this Nov. 14, 2019, file photo, Attorney General William Barr, left, and White House Counsel Pat Cipollone are seen during a meeting with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. (AP file photo)

It’s highly problematic for Cipollone to represent Trump in the Senate.

Perspectives: Is ‘severe or pervasive’ too severe or perverse?

Marshall H. Tanick January 20, 2020

Law professor Anita Hill testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court on Oct. 11, 1991 on Capitol Hill in Washington. Hill testified that she was “embarrassed and humiliated” by unwanted, sexually explicit comments made by Thomas when she worked for him a decade earlier. (AP file photo)

It’s been a little more than two years since the rise of the #MeToo movement.

Briefly: Definitive definitions can be difficult to determine

Minnesota Lawyer January 17, 2020

Lawyers live in a world of words.

Commentary: Juror misconduct is a threat to criminal justice

BridgeTower Media Newswires January 15, 2020

In this courtroom sketch, defense attorney Judy Clarke is depicted addressing the jury as Boston Marathon bombing defendant Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, right, sits during closing arguments in Tsarnaev’s federal trial April 6, 2015, in Boston. Recently, a federal appellate court heard Tsarnaev’s appeal, based partially on the allegation that two jurors made false claims about their pretrial communication about the incident. (Jane Flavell Collins via AP)

Every lawyer and judge worries about the pernicious effect of rogue and stealth jurors.

All in the Family: Rebuke surrounding termination of parental rights

Jason Brown and Cynthia Brown January 13, 2020

On Dec. 30, 2019, the Minnesota Court of Appeals issued a “no-holds-barred” reversal in a termination of parental rights case venued in Hennepin County.

Commentary: Impeachment trial doesn’t need more evidence

Bloomberg Opinion January 9, 2020

Former National Security Adviser John Bolton, shown in a September file photo, says he will testify if subpoenaed to appear at the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. Columnist Noah Feldman doubts that will happen. (AP file photo)

Mitch McConnell is giving every indication that President Donald Trump’s Senate impeachment trial will not introduce any new evidence.

Quandaries and Quagmires: Lawyer departure notices — new ABA opinion

William J. Wernz January 8, 2020

quandaries-and-quagmires-bill-wernz-photo

New ABA Formal Opinion 19-489 is titled, “Obligations Related to Notice When Lawyers Change Firms.”

Perspectives: Boomers, beware that age bias law might not work

Marshall H. Tanick January 7, 2020

Baby boomers in Minnesota and some neighboring states were dealt a stunning setback a few weeks ago.

Legal Writing Notebook: Never {clap}, ever {clap} use emoji in legal writing

Karin Ciano January 6, 2020

Time to take a fresh look at a hot issue in grammar nerd circles: the use of emoji in legal writing.

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