New true-crime docuseries sheds light on how polygraph tests are misused

“Most are unfamiliar with how often polygraphs are misused and abused in our criminal justice system because they’re the dirty little secret that never makes it to the public. Why is that?” writes lawyer and ABA Journal columnist Adam Banner.

Mar 8, 2024 10:40 AM CST

Lawyers, witnesses used privilege to ‘obfuscate and hide information’ in Eagles stolen-lyrics trial, judge says

A judge in New York City has tossed charges of conspiring to possess stolen property—namely, Eagles handwritten lyrics—after band front man Don Henley waived attorney-client privilege during the trial, leading to late disclosure of 6,000 pages of material, some of which could be helpful to the defense.

Mar 7, 2024 10:54 AM CST

‘Rust’ armorer found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in shooting

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the “Rust” armorer accused of failing to ensure gun safety on the set of the low-budget Western movie in 2021, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and not guilty of evidence tampering in Santa Fe, N.M., on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press. It was the first trial verdict related to the fatal shooting.

Mar 7, 2024 9:45 AM CST

Lawyer mistakenly filed ‘verbatim copy’ of opponent’s brief, leading to loss for Romantics band member

A trial court did not abuse its discretion when it required a member of the rock band the Romantics to pay triple damages after his new attorney filed a “verbatim copy” of the opponent’s brief by mistake, the Michigan Court of Appeals has ruled.

Mar 5, 2024 8:20 AM CST

Why I Created a Legal Podcast: To learn, connect and grow

I don’t know about you, but I didn’t have a law school class on networking, business development or client service. Even during my time as a law firm associate, training on these professional skills was informal (at best) but mostly observational as I listened on speakerphone or sat quietly at a client lunch while the partner carried the conversations. There was no structured training in these essential business skills.

Mar 1, 2024 11:15 AM CST

What do attorneys have to know about emojis in evidence?

For lawyers who may be fretting over how to handle emojis and emoticons in their cases, Patrick Wright starts with this simple advice: Go back to the Federal Rules of Evidence.

Feb 16, 2024 1:32 PM CST

Prosecutors blame disclosure of attorney-client texts on ‘cavalier legal representation’ by ‘Rust’ armorer’s lawyer

Updated: A lawyer representing an armorer accused in the movie set shooting death of a cinematographer has failed to win dismissal of charges against his client, despite the disclosure of texts protected by attorney-client privilege.

Feb 14, 2024 2:55 PM CST

Busting Out: A History Channel series focuses on great escapes

Like many other jurisdictions, Oklahoma has various security levels within its state prison system. Perhaps unlike many other states, multiple inmates escaped in the past year, and one has yet to be caught.

Feb 14, 2024 8:59 AM CST

Swift Justice: Students learn about the law through Taylor Swift cases

In at least two law schools, Taylor Swift is the subject of a class available to students wanting to gain practical knowledge about the law by studying her various legal entanglements and how she emerged stronger.

Feb 14, 2024 8:32 AM CST

Snoop Dogg, Master P sue Walmart for allegedly ‘hiding’ their cereal

Rappers Snoop Dogg and Master P are suing Walmart and food manufacturer Post Consumer Brands, accusing the companies of deliberately keeping their cereal product from customers to hinder its success.

Feb 9, 2024 10:15 AM CST

Law grad turns culinary passion into TikTok fame and a brand-new cookbook

Feb 1, 2024 1:20 AM CST

After bringing criminal charges again Netflix, DA winds up with federal court bad-faith finding

Cuties, a 2020 Netflix film, tells the story of an 11-year old Senegalese girl in France who comes from a devout Muslim family navigating the sometimes provocative culture of modern dance while having a devout Muslim family. Directed by Maïmouna Doucouré, a French filmmaker who like the main character, Amy,…

Jan 31, 2024 9:30 AM CST

AI-generated music is everywhere; is any of it legal?

There has been an explosion of AI-generated music featuring the living or resurrecting the dead. But as artists push the limits of parody, fair use, right of publicity, infringement and authorship, there is one overarching question: Is any of this stuff legal?

Jan 18, 2024 3:50 PM CST

Checkmate: BigLaw associate seeks chess master status

Opposing counsel may want to watch out for Rochelle Ballantyne, a first-year litigation associate at Sidley Austin and a longtime chess champ with a fierce competitive spirit.

Jan 17, 2024 8:19 AM CST

These are the most notable legal terms of 2023, legal writing coach says

“Exploding offer” and “Texas two-step” are among the most notable terms of 2023, according to legal writing consultant Ken Bresler.

Jan 11, 2024 1:28 PM CST