Law in Popular Culture

Drake alleges Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl performance defamed him in amended suit against music company

Rapper and singer Drake has alleged that the Universal Music Group “has tripled and quadrupled down on its defamation-for-profit strategy” in part by arranging for fellow rapper Kendrick Lamar to perform his 2024 song “Not Like Us” at the 2025 Super Bowl, according to an amended lawsuit that he filed April 16.

Apr 23, 2025 12:42 PM CDT

New Netflix docuseries examines the many issues with ‘kidfluencing’

Released in 2025, Netflix’s Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing follows Piper Rockelle, who started appearing on YouTube at the age of 8 with the help of her “momager,” Tiffany Smith.

Apr 22, 2025 8:54 AM CDT

‘Loving v. Virginia’ goes from the highest court to grand opera

This month, Virginia Opera and Richmond Symphony will present the world premiere of composer Damien Geter and librettist Jessica Murphy Moo’s Loving v. Virginia, an operatic retelling of the events leading to the landmark 1967 Supreme Court decision that declared laws against interracial marriage unconstitutional and set the stage for decades of subsequent advances in civil rights.

Apr 18, 2025 9:52 AM CDT

Check out the best swag from ABA Techshow 2025 (photo gallery)

ABA Techshow is celebrating 40 years of showcasing the newest and hottest in legal technology with its biggest blowout ever, a record-breaking show in its first year at the McCormick Place Convention Center on the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago.

Apr 3, 2025 1:10 PM CDT

Legal tech conferences are loading up on celebrity speakers

While celebrities may add a hip factor, a dash of excitement and a story to tell post-conference, some attendees aren’t so sure it’s the best use of a legal conference.

Apr 1, 2025 2:20 AM CDT

Severed body parts, conspiracy theories and Elvis Presley impersonators featured in Netflix documentary

The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga explores an assassination attempt on former President Barack Obama and how it all tied back to an alleged discovery by an Elvis Presley “tribute artist” of severed body parts in a hospital refrigerator.

Mar 24, 2025 8:57 AM CDT

ABA announces finalists for 2025 Silver Gavel Awards

The ABA has selected 24 finalists from the 122 entries it received for this year’s Silver Gavel Awards for Media and the Arts.

Mar 13, 2025 12:15 PM CDT

Judge reduces Adnan Syed’s sentence, allowing him to stay out of prison

Adnan Syed, the subject of the Serial podcast, will be allowed to remain free after a Baltimore judge on Thursday agreed to effectively reduce his sentence to the time he had already spent in prison.

Mar 7, 2025 10:45 AM CST

DNA evidence in open cases explored in ABC reality series

Last fall, I attended a continuing legal education conference focused on sex crime defense and an outstanding speaker—who discussed the emerging field of forensic genetic genealogy—mentioned The Genetic Detective, a six-episode reality TV series that aired on ABC in 2020. The reference came from a credible source, so I figured it was worth viewing.

Feb 27, 2025 1:28 PM CST

Which law-related films have won Oscars? You may be surprised (photo gallery)

While we wait for the winners of the 97th Academy Awards to be announced this Sunday, we thought we’d highlight some winning legal movies from the past.

Feb 27, 2025 1:17 PM CST

Are gendered Oscars constitutional? University of New Mexico students are asking the question

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences is considering a petition from undergraduate students in a University of New Mexico constitutional law course that questions the 96-year-old policy of separating actor awards by gender, stating it is legally flawed.

Feb 18, 2025 2:16 PM CST

Wisdom Through Face Paint: Documentary examines Juggalo gang allegations by DOJ

“People hate what they don’t understand.” The United States of Insanity embodies this mantra, and if you watch the film, you’ll hear these wise words uttered by a man in clown face paint. But maybe that’s part of the point.

Feb 10, 2025 10:58 AM CST

Lights, Camera, Contracts: The harsh legal reality of reality television

The main legal need surrounding reality show participants concerns their employment status—or lack thereof. Reality show participants are treated as independent contractors, which technically lets networks and productions evade many of the labor laws that protect employees.

Feb 10, 2025 8:59 AM CST

This lawyer-turned-matchmaker can help ‘cut through the noise’ in dating app world

Have you been looking for love in all the wrong places? If you want lawyer-turned-matchmaker Danny Goldstein to help turn around your love life, he’ll try. “I’ve found that matchmaking is a helpful antidote to the problems in current dating culture,” says Goldstein, owner of Crux Compatible, a matchmaking service in Austin, Texas.

Feb 10, 2025 8:50 AM CST

Full-Court Press: Two South Carolina lawyers focus the spotlight on Alex Murdaugh—and themselves

Over the past few years, many TV shows, YouTube videos and podcasts saw significant audience interest from anything Alex Murdaugh-related. Ronald Richter and Eric Bland, two South Carolina lawyers who in 2021 sued Murdaugh on the Satterfields’ behalf, have been happy to share their opinions about him.

Feb 1, 2025 2:30 AM CST