legal profession
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A national organization opposing race and gender preferences filed a federal lawsuit on Thursday against leaders of the West Virginia State Bar, alleging that the policy reserving one seat on its governing board for a Black member is discriminatory. The case reflects a broader wave of legal challenges to diversity and inclusion initiatives following the…
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A second federal judge in Texas has stepped away from presiding over Elon Musk’s X Corp lawsuit against a group of advertisers accused of boycotting the social media platform, causing significant delays in the case. Judge Ed Kinkeade Steps Aside U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade in Dallas recused himself from the case, following the earlier…
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Democratic U.S. President Joe Biden secured his 235th federal judicial appointment on Friday, surpassing Donald Trump’s first-term tally of 234 by a narrow margin. Biden’s appointments emphasize diversity, with a record number of women and people of color filling these lifetime positions. Biden Reshapes Federal Judiciary The Democratic-led U.S. Senate confirmed two California-based judges on…
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National law student diversity remained stable this year, but enrollment of Black and Hispanic first-year students at the nation’s most prestigious law schools declined sharply, with Black enrollment falling 8% and Hispanic enrollment dropping 9%. Experts warn this could mark the beginning of a “cascade effect” caused by the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision to…
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The Illinois Supreme Court has authorized the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools by judges, attorneys, clerks, and other court officials under specific conditions. The new policy, announced Wednesday and effective Jan. 1, emphasizes that AI usage must comply with existing legal and ethical standards while promoting innovation and efficiency in the judiciary. “This policy…
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A U.S. federal judicial panel has taken a decisive step toward restructuring public defender programs by endorsing greater organizational independence within the federal judiciary. This move would empower lawyers representing indigent defendants with enhanced control over budgets, staffing, and policies. The proposal emerged in a report released Wednesday, summarizing discussions held during the U.S. Judicial…
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Senior U.S. District Judge Michael Ponsor faced a judicial misconduct ruling after publishing an essay in The New York Times criticizing Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. In the May 24, 2024, essay, Ponsor condemned Alito for allowing provocative flags, including an upside-down American flag, to be displayed outside his homes. The flags resembled those used…
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A conservative advocacy group aligned with Republican President-elect Donald Trump has filed a judicial misconduct complaint against U.S. Circuit Judge James Wynn. The Article III Project, founded by Trump ally Mike Davis, accused Wynn of violating judicial ethics after he reversed his decision to retire following the faltering of President Joe Biden’s nominee to succeed…
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Mangi Criticizes “Smear Campaign” After His Nomination Collapses On Monday, Adeel Mangi sharply criticized the “organized smear campaign” that ended his chance to become the nation’s first Muslim federal appeals court judge. In a letter to President Joe Biden, Mangi called the judicial appointment process “fundamentally broken” and expressed disappointment over the outcome. Despite Biden’s…
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Law schools across the United States maintained racial and ethnic diversity in their 2024 incoming class, defying predictions of a steep decline following the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision to ban affirmative action in college admissions. Data released Monday by the American Bar Association (ABA) shows that the percentage of Black, Hispanic, and Asian law students…
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