Law in Popular Culture

ABA names 2026 finalists for Silver Gavel Awards for Media and the Arts

The American Bar Association today announced the 31 finalists for the 2026 Silver Gavel Awards for Media and the Arts, which recognize outstanding work that fosters the American public’s understanding of law and the legal system. This is the ABA’s highest honor in recognition of this purpose.

Mar 11, 2026 12:28 PM CDT

Judge issues sanctions for fraudulent documents in Miss America ownership dispute

A federal judge has ruled that a real estate developer and his lawyer created fraudulent documents in an effort to boost their ownership claim over the Miss America beauty pageant.

Mar 11, 2026 11:16 AM CDT

Surveillance footage enters slapstick comedy TV genre, and that could be dangerous, lawyer says

As an attorney, I’m trained to be suspicious of narratives, allergic to absolutes. I’m contractually obligated to ask, “Who consented?” and answer, “It depends.” That makes watching Neighborhood Watch on HBO Max a unique experience.

Mar 4, 2026 3:08 PM CST

Entertainment lawyer Allen Grubman has big stars on his roster

While BigLaw certainly has appeal for lawyers, it lacks the lure of big stars, at least the kind attorey Allen Grubman represents. Mariah Carey, Elton John, Lady Gaga, Robert De Niro and Bob Iger have all retained the entertainment lawyer from Crown Heights, Brooklyn, in New York City.

Feb 27, 2026 12:42 PM CST

Divorce, But Make It Fashion: Clothing brand launches new collection with family law attorney as model

Reformation, considered by some to be a “cool girl” fashion brand for Gen Z, has launched a new collection designed to divide its audience—legally if not literally. Launched in February, emails announcing “The Divorce Collection” promise “sexy, empowering” designs “made for women who don’t settle, in court or when it comes to clothes.” And, in an apparent continuation of the brand’s commitment to thematic authenticity, the star of the promotional campaign for the collection is LA-based divorce lawyer Laura Wasser, renowned for representing celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Heidi Klum and Johnny Depp.

Feb 24, 2026 10:59 AM CST

NDAs, while more common, aren’t always ironclad, legal experts say

Before Travis Kelce proposed to Taylor Swift, rumors began swirling about their prenuptial agreement and what it might and might not contain. One thing is probable: It likely contains confidentiality clauses and nondisclosure agreements—tools that have become common in this day and age when private lives don’t often stay that way.

Feb 24, 2026 9:25 AM CST

‘Strip Law,’ animated comedy series about Vegas lawyers, debuts on Netflix

Netflix is releasing a new animated comedy series about “an uptight lawyer” who teams up with a “flashy Las Vegas magician to bring some pizzazz to the city’s stupidest cases.”

Feb 18, 2026 9:40 AM CST

Bad Bunny’s ‘love conquering hate’ message at Super Bowl reiterated by judge sentencing assaulter

The reverberations of rapper and singer Bad Bunny’s vibrant 2026 Super Bowl halftime show were still being felt, as a Miami judge quoted him while sentencing an attacker shown on surveillance video assaulting a customer inside a store.

Feb 12, 2026 11:31 AM CST

From the Gridiron to the Courtroom: Judges draw on Vince Lombardi’s wisdom

The coach’s memory is kept alive by those making references to his countless aphorisms about success, effort and the gridiron itself—including judges.

Feb 5, 2026 8:54 AM CST

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson gets shout-out but no win for memoir at Grammy Awards

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson attended the Grammy Awards on Sunday, where she received a nomination for her 2024 memoir and an acknowledgement from the show’s host.

Feb 3, 2026 1:47 PM CST

Tobey Maguire testifies in SCOTUSblog founder Tom Goldstein’s tax fraud trial

With great power comes great responsibilities. And with great debts come great litigation. Actor Tobey Maguire testified Wednesday in the ongoing federal tax evasion trial of lawyer and SCOTUSblog co-founder Tom Goldstein.

Jan 30, 2026 1:16 PM CST

True-crime doc exposes generations of family secrets

The Secrets We Bury isn’t your typical slick, serialized HBO Max drama, soaked in prestige and production. Nor is it a standard, gritty courtroom thriller with smoking guns and snappy objections. Ultimately, it’s a true-crime documentary with a side of familial psychoanalysis and basement excavation, topped with a helping of psychic readings and communion with the dead.

Jan 29, 2026 12:22 PM CST

A 'Bitter Pill' for litigator in West Virginia opioid case

Paul Farrell Jr. suffered a bruising loss in the case he cared about most: a federal bench trial on behalf of his West Virginia hometown accusing drug distributors, a largely unseen part of the pharmaceutical supply chain, of causing the opioid epidemic. The Bitter Pill chronicles Farrell’s single-minded focus on the case for almost nine years and counting.

Jan 27, 2026 8:31 AM CST

Understanding women in their lives is important for men’s happiness, divorce lawyer says in new book

In Passion and Power: A Life in Three Worlds, Harriet Newman Cohen chronicles her journey as a divorce lawyer, with clients including actress Linda Lavin, actor Laurence Fishburne and many other celebrities. Cohen recently talked with the ABA Journal about her book, which is available Feb. 5.

Jan 21, 2026 9:19 AM CST

Elvis Has Left the Courthouse: Presley-loving judge ousted by state supreme court

A Missouri judge known for dressing up as Elvis Presley in the courtroom has been removed from office by the Missouri Supreme Court, ending a nearly two-decade judicial career amid concerns that his behavior undermined the integrity of the judiciary.

Jan 20, 2026 11:05 AM CST