The lawyer who railed against a judge online found himself hauled up before the Florida bar, which issued a reprimand and a fine for his intemperate blog post.
Schwartz quotes WUSTL legal ethics professor Michael Downey: "When you become an officer of the court, you lose the full ability to criticize the court."
Legal ethics experts say that collisions between the freewheeling ways of the Internet and the tight boundaries of legal discourse are inevitable -- whether they result in damaged careers or simply raise eyebrows.

References:

1. Sept. 13, 2009 — A Legal Battle: Online Attitude vs. Rules of the Bar in the The New York Times

and 9 others.

Ashby Jones writes about a NYT report on what happened to a lawyer who publicly railed against a judge.
The lawyer found himself hauled up before the Florida bar, which in April issued a reprimand and a fine for his intemperate blog post.
An abrogation of one's First Amendment rights? Schwartz quotes WUSTL legal ethics professor Michael Downey: "When you become an officer of the court, you lose the full ability to criticize the court."

References:

1. Sept. 14, 2009 — When Talking Smack About a Judge, Proceed With Caution in the The Wall Street Journal blog

and 1 others.

Should states' rights trump the fed? It seems to be a trend across the country. At least 20 states have introduced resolutions reasserting states' rights because they think that federal government is way too involved in what states do with things like taxes and health care and education. WUSTL law professor David Law comments.

References:

1. July 31, 2009 — Should states' rights trump the fed? in the CNN American Morning

A new study by four political scientists, including WUSTL doctoral candidate Ryan Black, to be published in the WUSTL Journal of Law and Policy, looks at whether or not Supreme Court justices tip their hands during oral arguments.

References:

1. May 26, 2009 — When the Justices Ask Questions, Be Prepared to Lose the Case in the The New York Times

Expectations are high that Obama will nominate a woman to the Supreme Court. A recent study by three academics focusing on the votes of federal court of appeals judges bears out the observation that a conservative woman acts more pro-women's rights than a conservative man. The research was conducted by WUSTL law and political science professor Andrew Martin and WUSTL political science doctoral student Christina Boyd, along with Lee Epstein of Northwestern University Law School in Chicago.

References:

1. May 18, 2009 — What another woman would bring to Supreme Court in the The Christian Science Monitor online

The new science of measuring happiness has transformed self-help. Now scholars suggest it could transform society — from tort law to urban planning to medical care. WUSTL law professors Samuel Bagenstos and Margo Schlanger co-wrote a law review article in 2007 suggesting that the emphasis on lost enjoyment of life in jury awards actually makes it harder for the plaintiff to recover.

References:

1. May 10, 2009 — Perfectly Happy in the The Boston Globe

Controversy over compensation received by the president of the shipyard workers union, much of which was returned after it was disclosed to the government. Several labor analysts expressed concern about the union's pay practices and the changes it made in its financial reports. Labor consultant and WUSTL law professor emeritus Neil Bernstein comments.

References:

1. May 11, 2009 — Union boss returns some of $1.2 million pay in the The Washington Times

The Supreme Court rejected a favorite tool of prosecutors in immigration cases, ruling unanimously that a federal identity-theft law may not be used against many illegal workers who used false Social Security numbers to get jobs. WUSTL immigration law professor Stephen Legomsky comments.

References:

1. May 5, 2009 — Justices Limit Use of Identity Theft Law in Immigration Cases in the The New York Times

and 3 others.

While some stores like Sharper Image have disappeared, their brand names live on. Consumers might be confused by the new products or even feel deceived by the practice. Includes comments from WUSTL economics professor David Levine and WUSTL intellectual property law professor Charles McManis.

References:

1. April 14, 2009 — Brand Names Live After Stores Close in the The New York Times

and 4 others.

Some defendants with frozen assets are having trouble hiring lawyers. WUSTL law professor Sam Buell, a former federal prosecutor comments.

References:

1. April 2, 2009 — Defendants, With Assets Frozen, Find It Tough to Hire Attorneys in the The Wall Street Journal

In some cases the Justice Department can intervene to make state-run institutions comply with civil rights laws. The statute is known as CRIPA -- the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act. WUSTL law professor Margo Schlanger, who used to work on CRIPA cases as a Justice Department attorney comments.

References:

1. March 30, 2009 — Settlements In Mental Health Cases Face Scrutiny in the NPR All Things Considered

A Web site funded by a grant from the state of Texas, allows people around the world to watch the U.S./Mexico border for illegal activity. WUSTL immigration law professor Stephen Legomsky comments.

References:

1. March 12, 2009 — Guarding the U.S.-Mexico border, live from suburban New York in the CNN.com

and 1 others.

The arrest warrant for Sudan's president for war crimes is indicative of the mounting pressure on the International Criminal Court to show results. Includes comments by WUSTL law professor Leila Nadya Sadat, who was a delegate to the diplomatic conference at which the ICC was established.

References:

1. March 6, 2009 — Briefing: A rocky start for war crimes world court in the The Christian Science Monitor

To curtail costs while avoiding the strain of layoffs, companies, colleges and state governments are mandating temporary hiatuses, commonly known as furloughs. WUSTL employment and labor law professor Marion Crain comments.

References:

1. March 5, 2009 — More companies turn to furloughs to save money, jobs in the USA Today

and 1 others.

A UBS memo, along with dozens of e-mail messages like it, were disclosed on Thursday in a blistering court document filed by the Justice Department, which sought to compel UBS, based in Switzerland, to divulge the identities of 52,000 Americans whom the authorities suspect of using secret offshore accounts at the bank to dodge taxes. WUSTL criminal and securities law professor Samuel Buell, who helped to prosecute Enron, comments.

References:

1. Feb. 20, 2009 — UBS Pressed for 52,000 Names in 2nd Inquiry in the The New York Times

and 7 others.

Examining the Bush legacy, which won't be an easy one for future historians to assess. While most unsuccessful presidencies involved presidents who were considered captives of events, unable to muster effective responses, Bush's was one of bold strokes that, for better or worse, will be debated for a long time. WUSTL law professor Rebecca Dresser, who serves on the President's Council on Bioethics, comments on the stem cell research decision.

References:

1. Jan. 12, 2009 — The Bush Legacy in the The Boston Globe

Immigration raids that purged the world's largest pork slaughterhouse of illegal Hispanic workers may have made it ripe for unionization. Includes comments by WUSTL labor law expert Marion Crain.

References:

1. Jan. 1, 2009 — Immigration raids may have aided unionization in the Associated Press State & Local Wire

and 7 others.

Workers of the Republic Windows & Doors factory began a sit-in protest after the plant closed leaving hundreds without jobs, severance pay or health insurance. Includes comments by labor law expert and WUSTL law professor emeritus Neil Bernstein.

References:

1. Dec. 8, 2008 — Parties to meet over Chicago factory sit-in in the USA Today

and 1 others.

WUSTL law professor and former Enron prosecutor Samuel Buell, comments on U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent's Houston trial.

References:

1. Oct. 31, 2008 — Federal judge wants his polygraph used in Houston trial in the Houston Chronicle

and 2 others.

WUSTL law professor Samuel Buell comments on prosecuting white-collar crimes.

References:

1. Oct. 31, 2008 — Commentary: Jailing Executives Is One Thing Bush Did Right in the Bloomberg.com