Diversity

After experiencing ‘the pit,’ Walmart litigation chief quits law practice at age 47

Lawyer Kerri Ruttenberg has said she feels like she’s “getting a second shot at life” after deciding to retire from law practice at age 47.

Sep 13, 2023 9:05 AM CDT

Former BigLaw partner temporarily barred from courthouse should be suspended, board says

An Illinois hearing board has recommended suspension for a former federal prosecutor and Polsinelli shareholder who was temporarily barred from the criminal courthouse in Chicago and held in criminal contempt of court four times.

Sep 12, 2023 11:25 AM CDT

Weekly Briefs: MoFo changes DEI fellowship; X reacts to BigLaw partner at Burning Man festival

MoFo expands DEI fellowship after suit Morrison & Foerster has changed the eligibility criteria for a diversity, equity and inclusion fellowship after being sued by a conservative activist who led the campaign against affirmative action in college admissions. The Keith Wetmore 1L Fellowship for Excellence, Diversity and Inclusion was initially…

Sep 8, 2023 3:14 PM CDT

Oregon and Kentucky law schools are back in compliance, ABA Legal Ed Section says

The University of Oregon School of Law and the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law have demonstrated compliance with accreditation standards, according to the ABA’s Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar.

Sep 8, 2023 1:47 PM CDT

‘Misogynistic’ McElroy Deutsch defamed and retaliated against former executive, amended suit alleges

A fired executive at McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter has come out swinging in an amended countersuit claiming that the law firm retaliated against her and made unwarranted assumptions when it accused her of being aware of her husband’s alleged embezzlement.

Sep 7, 2023 9:29 AM CDT

Passion for Justice: Northwestern law prof fights for juvenile rights armed with research

Julie Biehl, an ABA member since 2006, is known as a straight shooter, whose presence fills a room. “She’s a tiny woman, maybe 5’1”, but she is so fiery and so full of passion and just cares,” says Garien Gatewood, deputy mayor for community safety for the city of Chicago.

Sep 6, 2023 10:09 AM CDT

25 federal district courts have always had white judges

Twenty-five out of 94 federal district courts have never had a judge of color, according to a Bloomberg Law analysis.

Sep 5, 2023 12:36 PM CDT

Weekly Briefs: Top firms named for female equity partners; Trump inflated net worth by $2.2B, motion says

These law firms ranked best for female equity partners Three large law firms are reporting that more than 33% of their equity partners are women, according to Law360 Pulse’s 2023 Women in Law Report. They are Littler Mendelson (36.8%), Jackson Lewis (33.8%) and Ropes & Gray (33.1%). Two midsize firms…

Sep 1, 2023 1:56 PM CDT

1 of 3 law schools dinged for diversity standard demonstrates compliance

The Baylor University School of Law has demonstrated compliance with an accreditation standard requiring that schools demonstrate “concrete action” showing a commitment to having a diverse and inclusive faculty and staff, according to an ABA notice posted Tuesday.

Aug 30, 2023 11:47 AM CDT

Onetime SCOTUS contender sues judicial conduct commission, alleging bid to stifle criticism

A North Carolina justice who was once a U.S. Supreme Court contender is alleging that ethics regulators in her state are chilling her First Amendment right to free speech.

Aug 30, 2023 10:43 AM CDT

Chemerinsky: These recent Supreme Court decisions have sparked a wave of litigation

The U.S. Supreme Court’s October 2022 term ended just a couple of months ago, but it’s already apparent that the decisions are leading to a great deal of litigation. What are the major issues left open by the cases that are likely to be litigated in state and federal courts?

Aug 30, 2023 8:17 AM CDT

Stamp honoring Justice Ginsburg will be available in October

The U.S. Postal Service will soon unveil its new stamp honoring the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, which celebrates “her groundbreaking contributions to justice, gender equality and the rule of law.”

Aug 29, 2023 9:18 AM CDT

Investigations of federal judges are rare and should happen more, former clerk says

The investigation of federal judges falls under the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act, and it doesn’t happen nearly as often as it should, says the president and founder of the Legal Accountability Project.

Aug 28, 2023 8:16 AM CDT

Weekly Briefs: SCOTUS asked to hear high school admissions case over race; utility company faces suit after Hawaii wildfires

Supreme Court could hear high school admissions case involving race The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday was asked to hear a Virginia high school admissions case over race. The Coalition for TJ, a group of parents and students, filed the petition for writ of certiorari in response to the Fairfax…

Aug 25, 2023 2:09 PM CDT

Kentucky litigator has hot TikTok takes on Bama Rush

As sorority rush week played out at the University of Alabama, the world watched. In August, the hashtag #bamarush reached 3.4 billion views on TikTok, Forbes reports. Brandis Bradley, an eastern Kentucky trial-lawyer-turned-social-media-influencer, watched too. She provided commentary on her TikTok channel.

Aug 24, 2023 12:13 PM CDT