Ethics

Could courts run out of options if federal officials defy court orders?

The question was considered during President Donald Trump’s first term in office: What would happen if his administration ignored a court order? Now, news articles are considering the issue once again, and commentators are using the term “constitutional crisis” to describe worst-case scenarios.

Feb 20, 2025 2:56 PM CST

Judge admonished for ‘undignified’ behavior, including gestures mimicking pumping of breast milk

A California judge who commented on people with brown hair and blond hair and once mimicked the pumping of breast milk has been publicly admonished.

Feb 20, 2025 8:55 AM CST

‘The Licensing Racket’ takes aim at professional licensing system in America

Should you need a license for that? For law professor and antitrust expert Rebecca Haw Allensworth, there are huge problems with professional licensing in America—and her solutions might not make anyone completely happy.

Feb 19, 2025 9:02 AM CST

Meet the acting US attorney who quit over Eric Adams case

Long before she made headlines by defying a Trump administration order to drop criminal charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams, prosecutor Danielle Sassoon clerked for two very conservative judges. She cited those clerkships in her resignation letter Thursday to AG Pam Bondi, explaining that her fealty to the law would not allow her to seek dismissal of the Adams case.

Feb 14, 2025 12:45 PM CST

Self-described ‘gorilla pimp’ attorney sexually exploited clients, Las Vegas police say

Gary Guymon, a high-profile lawyer based in Las Vegas, used his position as a defense attorney to sexually exploit clients, police allege.

Feb 14, 2025 9:15 AM CST

Abraham Lincoln: A model for ethical leadership

Abraham Lincoln had two careers; one as a lawyer and one as a politician—professions known for severe moral and ethical dilemmas. Given the events of the time, Lincoln faced new levels of dilemmas as he made decisions that helped start the Civil War and those that would finally end the conflict—and slavery with it.

Feb 13, 2025 11:31 AM CST

Feds seek forfeiture of law office over lawyer’s alleged role in ‘DWI Enterprise’

Updated: The federal government is seeking forfeiture of an Albuquerque, New Mexico, law office allegedly used by a lawyer to launder money in a “DWI Enterprise.”

Feb 11, 2025 11:42 AM CST

No. 42 law firm by head count sanctioned over fake case citations generated by AI

Updated: Lawyers from plaintiffs law firm Morgan & Morgan have been sanctioned for a motion that cited eight nonexistent cases, at least some of which were apparently generated by artificial intelligence.

Feb 10, 2025 10:30 AM CST

Judge apologizes to slain jogger Ahmaud Arbery’s family after tossing charges against district attorney

A Georgia judge has tossed the charges against a prosecutor accused of favoring a former white investigator in her office before he was charged in the 2020 death of Black jogger Ahmaud Arbery.

Feb 10, 2025 9:21 AM CST

Lawyer suspended for unintentionally shooting brother during ‘horseplay’ with gun

A lawyer in Boca Raton, Florida, has been suspended for 10 days after he unintentionally shot his brother in the biceps during “horseplay."

Feb 6, 2025 12:44 PM CST

Judge resigns for second time after he’s accused of staging fake proceeding

A New York judge has resigned for a second time for allegedly staging a sham proceeding, but this time, he won’t be returning to the bench.

Feb 6, 2025 11:23 AM CST

Storage company contends it has no obligation to sort through client files allegedly left by defunct law firm

A records management company is asking a court to declare that it has no obligation to clients of a defunct Pittsburgh law firm that allegedly left more than 7,500 boxes in its warehouse that likely contain numerous client files.

Feb 6, 2025 9:36 AM CST

Florida considers exception to lawyer confidentiality rule to protect minor clients

The Florida Bar's board of governors could propose an ethics rule change as early as March that would allow lawyers to disclose confidential information to protect minor clients from harm.

Feb 5, 2025 3:59 PM CST

Town court judge resigns after using this excuse to avoid jury duty

A town court judge in Rensselaer County, New York, has resigned after allegedly asserting that he should not serve on a grand jury because he is a judge, and he thinks that people who appear in his court are guilty.

Feb 4, 2025 3:17 PM CST

Federal appeals judge, 97, loses bid to unseal documents about her suspension

Federal law does not permit a 97-year-old federal appeals judge to unseal documents about her suspension absent consent of the chief judge of her circuit, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled Monday.

Feb 4, 2025 9:30 AM CST