Law in Popular Culture

Russell Brand found guilty of rape, sexual assault as judge promises ‘sentence of some length’

Actor and comedian Russell Brand was found guilty in London on Thursday of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others.

Nov 6, 2026 11:09 AM CST

‘ER’ and ‘The Pitt’ are similar enough for lawsuit to move forward, appeals court says

A unanimous California appeals court on Wednesday found that medical TV shows ER and The Pitt have enough similarities that a lawsuit alleging that The Pitt is an unauthorized rebranded version of ER can move forward.

Nov 6, 2026 10:32 AM CST

This state senator wrote music for ‘Dragon Ball Z;’ will he go ‘Super Saiyan’ as new Texas AG?

Before Texas state Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, unleashed a “blue spirit bomb” on opponent Mayes Middleton on Tuesday night in the midterm elections for the Texas attorney general spot, the Thompson Coburn lawyer composed musical scores for Dragon Ball Z, a Japanese anime series about martial artists who defend the…

Nov 5, 2026 10:52 AM CST

Former Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs prosecutor will lead Cornell investigation

A Cornell University alumna and former federal prosecutor who oversaw the criminal case against hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs will serve as outside counsel for the investigation into an alleged gang rape on Cornell’s campus in 2024.

Nov 5, 2026 9:53 AM CST

Kim Kardashian aims to retake bar exam

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian still holds ambitions to become a lawyer and plans to retake the bar exam—someday.

Nov 4, 2026 10:03 AM CST

Neil Young sues Trump for $10M over unauthorized use of ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’

Legendary musician Neil Young is suing President Donald Trump for $10 million over his use of song “Rockin’ in the Free World” at a midterm election rally in Ohio in early October.

Oct 27, 2026 9:33 AM CDT

Influencer who parodies private equity guys riffs on nonlawyer ownership of firms

ABA Model Rule 5.4 turns up in a bit from influencer who satirizes private equity.

Oct 23, 2026 1:30 PM CDT

Beat the Rap: Drew Findling defends rappers, and he says their cases represent a microcosm of society’s challenges

Until three months ago, Atlanta lawyer Drew Findling didn’t have a website. He says that in almost 40 years of practicing law, he’s relied mostly on word of mouth. A criminal defense lawyer, Findling is known for representing rappers including Lil Durk and Waka Flocka Flame. Never having hired a PR firm, he entrusts his son, Zack, also a lawyer at the Findling Law Firm, with running his Instagram account, which has approximately 322,000 followers.

Oct 22, 2026 11:48 AM CDT

Meet 11 lawyers in National Baseball Hall of Fame

In honor of the World Series, we’re shining a light on the 11 lawyers—three players, two managers, three executives and three commissioners—who are also in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Oct 21, 2026 10:03 AM CDT

‘A Killer Story’: When everyone knows who did it, nobody knows anything

I get quite a few online inquiries about old convictions people want me to investigate. I’ve learned over my career that it isn’t always about the merits of the case; sometimes, people just want closure.

Oct 20, 2026 10:48 AM CDT

Judge tosses most of Alec Baldwin’s claims against prosecutors over ‘Rust’ shooting

Citing prosecutorial immunity, a federal judge in New Mexico has dismissed the bulk of actor Alec Baldwin’s lawsuit against the prosecutors who charged him in the fatal 2021 shooting on the set of the movie Rust.

Oct 16, 2026 11:35 AM CDT

Sexism alleged in skirmish between lawyers representing Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie

A Los Angeles lawyer appears to have had enough of male opposing counsels telling her that they’ve never seen anything like her advocacy actions in their entire careers.

Oct 8, 2026 10:53 AM CDT

Bill Withers’ music publisher files copyright suit over Olivia Dean’s ‘I’ve Seen It’

The music publisher for the late R&B and soul singer Bill Withers is suing several record companies and others, claiming that singer-songwriter Olivia Dean’s “I’ve Seen It” infringes on the melody of Withers’ classic song “Just the Two of Us,” according to Law360.

Oct 2, 2026 10:41 AM CDT

Lights, Camera, AI: Technology is changing how Hollywood replaces actors—and testing the limits of publicity law

Hollywood has always relied on stand-ins, stock footage and visual tricks for otherwise absent actors. Generative AI is transforming those workarounds into fully digital performances, forcing courts and lawmakers to decide whether decades-old publicity laws can keep pace.

Oct 1, 2026 2:00 AM CDT

From Canvas to Courthouse: Appeals court mural reflects visitors and staff alike

When Atlanta artist Ralph Gilbert was commissioned to paint a mural in the Florida Second District Court of Appeal in St. Petersburg, Florida, he knew he had a lot of listening to do. He wanted to paint a mural that portrayed the role of the courthouse to the people who visited it and the staff who worked there every day.

Oct 1, 2026 1:00 AM CDT