Here's a quick look at today's top legal news. Plus, your weekly Career Tracker.
Additional reporting by Tanvi Shenoy, Maya Nandhini, Nimitt Dixit and Palak Chawla. Afternoon Docket writer Caitlin Tremblay is on a Reuters assignment this spring and will return to the newsletter soon. |
The U.S. Justice Department and the Office of Special Counsel found that Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins, who announced her resignation on Tuesday, improperly helped progressive-leaning Democrat Ricardo Arroyo in the party's 2022 primary election for Suffolk County district attorney against moderate Kevin Hayden.
Among their findings, investigators said that Rollins planted negative information about Hayden in Boston Globe articles about his handling of a police misconduct probe that began during her tenure, and then used those stories to help spur a Justice Department investigation.
The Office of Special Counsel called the case "one of the most egregious” violations it had ever investigated of the Hatch Act — a law that limits the political activities of federal employees.
Rollins said that she will resign the post by Friday. In a letter contained in the special counsel report, Rollins' attorney Michael Bromwich called portions of the investigation "deeply unfair" and noted that Arroyo was not interviewed during the process.
More top news:
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Federal Circuit Judge Pauline Newman, 95, facing a competency investigation, has been unable to complete simple tasks independently and threatened a staffer with arrest, according to witness reports included in an order from her court.
An investigative committee rejected a request by Newman to transfer the probe to another circuit, and it ordered her to undergo a neurological evaluation and neuropsychological testing, with a Friday deadline to say whether she will comply. Newman, who was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1984, last week sued in district court to halt or transfer the investigation, alleging constitutional violations.
More from the legal industry …
A Massachusetts judge ruled that Proskauer Rose cannot head off a trial in a $636 million legal malpractice lawsuit. Also, the U.S. Senate confirmed Bradley Garcia, a lawyer in the DOJ, as the first Latino to serve on the D.C. Circuit. Holograms could make witness testimony more convenient and accessible but questions about constitutionality arise. U.S. law firm leasing returned to its usual levels even as law firms decreased their physical footprints. Plus, Baker Botts re-entered the Asia-Pacific legal market with an office in Singapore, almost 18 months after it shut its Hong Kong office.
Moves: - In Washington, D.C. …
Mayer Brown added a senior national security official from the DOJ as a partner.
- In New York …
A partner, whose clients have included director Woody Allen and evangelical leader Jerry Falwell Jr, joined Schulte Roth from Quinn Emanuel. Crowell & Moring added a trio of lawyers from Allen & Overy, including a leader of its intellectual property disputes group. Paul Hastings welcomed an M&A partner from Willkie.
- In Chicago …
Former Chicago U.S. attorney John Lausch rejoined Kirkland & Ellis as a partner in its government, regulatory and internal investigations practice group. Meanwhile, Winston & Strawn hired a partner from Kirkland who helped investigate the Minneapolis Police Department following the May 2020 killing of George Floyd.
- In Houston …
Hinshaw expanded its Gulf Coast insurance capabilities with a partner hire.
- In Philadelphia …
Veteran tax attorney Christopher McLoon joined Cozen O’Connor.
- In California …
Littler’s former appellate leader rejoined the firm from DLA Piper in San Francisco. In downtown Los Angeles, McGuireWoods added the fourth partner this year for its debt finance practice. Jackson Lewis expanded its Orange County office with the addition of three new principals from Ogletree Deakins.
- In London …
Boies Schiller hired a government attorney from Kazakhstan, as the firm continues to rebuild its ranks following a partner exodus last January. Cooley boosted its global life sciences practice with a Covington partner hire. Law firms scooped up partners from troubled UK investment firm MJ Hudson.
- In Hong Kong …
Sullivan & Cromwell added restructuring partner Jacqueline Tang from Kirkland.
- In Bogota …
Holland & Knight absorbed a Colombian law firm and brought on its 28 lawyers, in the firm's latest expansion in Latin America.
- And finally …
A trio of lawyers catering to high-net-worth clients brought over their practice from Stroock & Stroock & Lavan to McDermott Will & Emery.
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Barring a last-minute reprieve, the federal judiciary in September is set to pull the plug on remote audio access to federal trial court proceedings for media organizations and the public. With access granted during the pandemic, it promoted judicial transparency, Jenna Greene writes in her latest column. Revoking it now is a step backward, she says, returning us to the days that, for those who wanted to know what was going on in district courts from Anchorage to Miami, required showing up in person.
Check out other recent pieces from all our columnists: Alison Frankel, Jenna Greene and Hassan Kanu
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