#unpaid-judges

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Social justice
fromAbove the Law
1 day ago

Law Professors Argue Abandoning The Diversity Rule Will Hurt The ABA's Reputation - Above the Law

The American Bar Association faces pressure to eliminate its diversity accreditation requirement amid ongoing debates about racial equity in legal education.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 day ago

Lawyer Tells Attorneys For Missing Child That They're 'Gonna Burn In Hell' - Above the Law

A lawyer for Camp Mystic made a controversial remark during a hearing related to a tragic flood that killed 27 people.
US politics
fromBoston.com
22 hours ago

Federal judge dismisses DOJ lawsuit seeking info about RI voters

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit for detailed voter data from Rhode Island, citing federal law and privacy concerns.
Careers
fromAbove the Law
2 days ago

The Salary Trap: The Move That Looks Better On Paper - Above the Law

Evaluating career moves requires a focus on long-term goals rather than immediate salary increases.
Higher education
fromAbove the Law
3 days ago

Conservative Judges Hiring Clerks Before 1L Exams Because Ideology Is The Only Grade That Matters - Above the Law

Two distinct federal clerkship paths at Harvard Law prioritize academic success or ideological commitment, reflecting a growing divide in hiring practices among judges.
UK news
fromwww.independent.co.uk
2 days ago

Almost 200 prisoners released in error' last year in UK's broken' jail system

Almost 200 prisoners were mistakenly released in England and Wales last year, causing significant strain on police resources.
Intellectual property law
fromAbove the Law
3 days ago

Turning Defense Into Offense - Above the Law

Jack Hughes' game-winning goal exemplifies a successful transition from defense to offense, paralleling patent litigators' proactive strategies against infringement allegations.
Law
fromIndependent
1 day ago

'Bordering on ridiculous' that money mule has not brought compensation to court for elderly fraud victim, judge says

A judge criticized a money mule for not reimbursing a victim of a smishing fraud involving a loss of €4,212.
NYC real estate
fromwww.amny.com
1 week ago

State court system forms committee to consider reforms for overburdened housing courts | amNewYork

A blue-ribbon panel has been formed to improve New York City Housing Court's effectiveness, fairness, and accessibility amid rising eviction cases.
fromSlate Magazine
3 days ago

The Supreme Court Has a Chance to Revolutionize Its Approach to the Law

In Louisiana v. Callais, the justices will rule on an incredibly important voting rights case about race and redistricting that conservatives hope will significantly undermine the Voting Rights Act.
Social justice
Law
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 days ago

Australian federal court warns lawyers over unacceptable' use of AI

The federal court of Australia warns against using generative AI in legal proceedings due to risks of inaccuracies and potential legal consequences.
Social justice
fromwww.dw.com
3 days ago

India: A Dalit officer highlights caste bias in judiciary

Caste influences recruitment, interactions, and career progression in the judiciary, affecting Dalit candidates' opportunities and experiences.
SF politics
fromPadailypost
2 weeks ago

Opinion: A DA shouldn't be using his office this way

Allegations against DA Jeff Rosen suggest unethical fundraising linked to prosecution of pro-Gaza protesters, raising concerns about political neutrality in law enforcement.
#ai-in-law
Law
fromwww.npr.org
2 weeks ago

Penalties stack up as AI spreads through the legal system

Lawyers face increasing sanctions for using AI-generated errors in legal briefs, with over 1,200 cases reported, including significant fines for fictitious citations.
Law
fromCommunity
2 weeks ago

How AI Improves Docket Research with Protege in CourtLink

AI integration in docket research enhances efficiency and decision-making for legal professionals.
Law
fromwww.npr.org
2 weeks ago

Penalties stack up as AI spreads through the legal system

Lawyers face increasing sanctions for using AI-generated errors in legal briefs, with over 1,200 cases reported, including significant fines for fictitious citations.
Law
fromAbove the Law
5 days ago

In America, Even Judges Have To Take Matters In To Their Own Hands - Above the Law

Judges are increasingly carrying guns for self-protection due to rising threats and inadequate security measures.
US politics
fromMission Local
2 weeks ago

Fired judge goes to the border, searching for what he missed on the bench

Jeremiah Johnson, an immigration judge, was fired and chose to explore the U.S.-Mexico border to understand the immigrant experience better.
Social justice
fromTruthout
6 days ago

Pennsylvania's Abolitionist Organizers Win Victory Against Mandatory Life Without Parole

Pennsylvania's Supreme Court ruling overturns mandatory life sentences for felony murder, impacting over a thousand individuals, primarily Black.
Law
fromPadailypost
4 days ago

DA sued for paying prosecutor not to work

A lawsuit claims Santa Clara County DA Jeff Rosen wastes taxpayer money by paying a prosecutor to stay home amid budget cuts.
Law
fromAbove the Law
5 days ago

Legal Ethics Roundup: Billing 34.5 Hours In A Day, New ABA Recusal Opinion, Shortcomings In SCOTUS Ethics Rules, Pro Se AI Sanctions, Extra Time For Bar Exam, Purging Immigration Judges & More - Above the Law

Lawyers must disclose information that could lead to a judge's disqualification, balancing this with client confidentiality obligations.
#public-defender
SF politics
fromABC7 San Francisco
3 weeks ago

Judge fines San Francisco public defender for contempt after he refuses to take new cases

San Francisco's public defender was fined for rejecting cases due to overwhelming workload and insufficient staffing, impacting the justice system.
Law
fromsfist.com
3 weeks ago

Humpday Headlines: Judge Fines SF Public Defender For Turning Down Cases

SF Public Defender Mano Raju is hiring 36 new attorneys while facing contempt for turning down cases due to unmanageable caseloads.
SF politics
fromABC7 San Francisco
3 weeks ago

Judge fines San Francisco public defender for contempt after he refuses to take new cases

San Francisco's public defender was fined for rejecting cases due to overwhelming workload and insufficient staffing, impacting the justice system.
Law
fromsfist.com
3 weeks ago

Humpday Headlines: Judge Fines SF Public Defender For Turning Down Cases

SF Public Defender Mano Raju is hiring 36 new attorneys while facing contempt for turning down cases due to unmanageable caseloads.
Law
fromAbove the Law
3 days ago

The Bottleneck Legal Built - Above the Law

Unclear contract ownership leads to legal teams being blamed for delays and becoming overwhelmed with administrative tasks.
fromSlate Magazine
3 weeks ago

DOJ Lawyers Just Had to Make One of Their Most Embarrassing Confessions Yet

The Department of Justice offered a startling confession to a court on Tuesday, acknowledging that it repeatedly made a 'material mistaken statement of fact' while defending Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests of noncitizens at immigration court.
US politics
Philosophy
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

You Can't Salvage A Bad Judge By Calling Them Postmodern - Above the Law

Postmodern analysis offers useful concepts for understanding contemporary disenchantment with traditional meaning systems, exemplified by judicial figures like Lawrence VanDyke who adopt unconventional approaches to legal writing.
#judicial-diversity
Social justice
fromwww.amny.com
2 weeks ago

Op-Ed | Revisiting More Black Male Judges, the Collegial Effect, Public Perceptions and Paths Forward | amNewYork

Increased representation of Black judges leads to fairer judicial outcomes and reduces racial disparities in sentencing.
Social justice
fromwww.amny.com
3 weeks ago

We need a reflective judiciary': Bar association group says more Black men are needed on the bench | amNewYork

The need for more Black male judges in New York City is crucial for fair representation in the judiciary.
Social justice
fromwww.amny.com
2 weeks ago

Op-Ed | Revisiting More Black Male Judges, the Collegial Effect, Public Perceptions and Paths Forward | amNewYork

Increased representation of Black judges leads to fairer judicial outcomes and reduces racial disparities in sentencing.
Social justice
fromwww.amny.com
3 weeks ago

We need a reflective judiciary': Bar association group says more Black men are needed on the bench | amNewYork

The need for more Black male judges in New York City is crucial for fair representation in the judiciary.
Law
fromwww.amny.com
3 days ago

Op-Ed | Don't trade away justice: Limiting rights won't lower costs for New Yorkers | amNewYork

Governor Hochul's insurance proposals favor corporations over individuals, undermining access to justice for crash victims and perpetuating inequities in auto insurance.
Law
fromPOLITICO
4 days ago

Cherfilus-McCormick attorneys request federal trial delay

Edwin Cherfilus-McCormick faces serious legal challenges, including potential expulsion from Congress and significant prison time if convicted.
Law
fromwww.amny.com
4 days ago

New York State Bar Association names new executive director | amNewYork

Kathy Suchocki has been appointed as the executive director of the New York State Bar Association after serving in an interim role since 2025.
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month ago

Thousands of lawyers oppose jury restriction plan

Over 3,200 lawyers and judges oppose government plans to abolish jury trials in certain cases, arguing there is no evidence this will reduce record court backlogs of nearly 80,000 cases.
Law
fromAbove the Law
5 days ago

Morning Docket: 04.13.26 - Above the Law

White House ballroom construction has resumed, while various legal and corporate developments unfold across the country.
Law
fromTheregister
5 days ago

AI spread through law. Here's what happened next

AI's rapid advancements in coding are overshadowed by significant downsides, particularly in legal systems where hallucinations lead to unreliable outputs.
Law
fromABA Journal
1 week ago

Wisconsin moves to UBE to ease access-to-justice woes

Wisconsin will implement the Uniform Bar Exam to improve access to justice and attract lawyers from other states.
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month ago

Justice system in crisis, victims' advocate says

London's victims' commissioner reports the criminal justice system is in crisis, with victims experiencing traumatic delays and losing trust in police and courts.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 week ago

What Does Competence Mean When Litigation Happens In Real Time? - Above the Law

Competence in law is evolving as technology changes the speed and precision of decision-making in litigation.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 week ago

Legal Ethics Roundup: Bondi Out, Bove Recusal, 'Strip Law,' 60% Judges Use AI While Sanctions Continue For Lawyers, Viral Judge Videos & More - Above the Law

AI-generated errors in legal documents are leading to increased sanctions against attorneys.
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 weeks ago

The Price Of Justice And The Promise Of AI - Above the Law

Rising legal service costs and declining access-to-justice funding widen the gap for those needing legal protections, with AI presenting potential solutions.
fromIPWatchdog.com | Patents & Intellectual Property Law
1 month ago

When Lawyers Need Help: Supporting Colleagues While Protecting Clients

The legal profession rewards endurance, precision and control. It also quietly normalizes stress, isolation and overextension. For patent practitioners and other IP lawyers, the pressures are uniquely acute: compressed prosecution deadlines, high-stakes litigation exposure, often unrealistic client-driven budget constraints, regulatory whiplash at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and increasingly complex technologies layered with global filing and prosecution strategy.
Intellectual property law
Brooklyn
fromBrooklyn Eagle
2 months ago

Second Judicial District Equal Justice Committee kicks off three-part series on 'Professional Progression in the Unified Court System'

Unified court system career series provided guidance on court structure, career pathways, promotions, interview skills, mentorship, and resources for advancement across all court titles.
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 weeks ago

Morning Docket: 04.02.26 - Above the Law

DOJ has prioritized deporting law-abiding individuals over prosecuting serious criminal cases.
#judicial-misconduct
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 weeks ago

Judge Who Embarrassed Himself With IT Outrburst Doubles Down - Above the Law

Judge Nathan Milliron's behavior has sparked outrage, revealing a pattern of bullying and retaliation against staff and lawyers in the Texas legal community.
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 weeks ago

Judge Who Embarrassed Himself With IT Outrburst Doubles Down - Above the Law

Judge Nathan Milliron's behavior has sparked outrage, revealing a pattern of bullying and retaliation against staff and lawyers in the Texas legal community.
fromAbove the Law
2 weeks ago

Biglaw Firm Doubles Down On Pro Bono, And Lets The Billable Chips Fall Where They May - Above the Law

I'm incredibly proud of the firm and what we've accomplished in the last year. We had certainly, the year before, a historic year financially, and this year was also historic in being one of our best financial years in history.
Law
#court-backlog
Law
fromPoynter
2 weeks ago

Like journalists, prosecutors shaped a distorted view of crime. They can help fix it, too. - Poynter

Prosecutors and journalists both contribute to misleading public perceptions of crime, but prosecutors possess crucial data to tell a more accurate story.
US news
fromwww.npr.org
2 months ago

Newly released court records reveal misconduct inquiry into federal judge

Mark Wolf's November retirement followed a federal misconduct inquiry that ended after his resignation amid allegations he created a hostile workplace.
New York City
fromwww.amny.com
2 months ago

Judiciary's $3.2 billion budget ask aimed at staffing up courts amNewYork

State court seeks $3.2B FY2027 budget, requesting nearly $200M increase to add judges, boost salaries, expand legal services and family-court programs.
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 weeks ago

Judge Throws IT Worker Out Of Courtroom For Doing His Job - Above the Law

Judges must balance their authority with humility and public service to avoid abusive behavior in courtrooms.
US politics
fromABA Journal
2 months ago

Law students demand loophole shielding federal officers from civil suits should be closed

Congress should pass the Federal Officer Accountability Act to allow civil suits against federal officers and prevent qualified immunity for excessive force.
Law
fromwww.amny.com
3 weeks ago

Op-Ed | Protecting attorneys' autonomyadvancesAmericanaccountability | amNewYork

Restrictions on lawyers' access to venues undermine democratic principles and serve as intimidation tactics against legal opposition.
Law
fromABA Journal
3 weeks ago

Drug convictions bar lawyer from bench but not from practicing law

Felony drug convictions prevent lawyer from becoming a judge but allow him to continue practicing law in Montana.
US politics
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

Judicial Candidate Learns The Hard Way That Extortion Is Not A Campaign Strategy - Above the Law

Incumbent Judge Lauren Reeder successfully removed challenger Kimberly McTorry from the ballot after a court found allegations of coercion, coordinated social-media pressure, and forged or invalid signatures.
Law
fromAbove the Law
3 weeks ago

The Judiciary Is Still Unaccountable, And This Congress Won't Fix It - Above the Law

The Judiciary Accountability Act aims to extend anti-discrimination protections to judiciary employees, promoting transparency and accountability in the judicial system.
Law
from48 hills
3 weeks ago

Judge sanctions public defender in case that raises critical issues about criminal justice - 48 hills

Public Defender Mano Raju was fined $26,000 for refusing cases due to overwhelming workloads, highlighting systemic issues in public defense funding.
US politics
fromenglish.elpais.com
2 months ago

The system sucks. This job sucks': ICE lawyer admits to judge that agency is violating court orders

Federal immigration enforcement has repeatedly violated court orders, causing wrongful detentions and exposing systemic failures and internal exhaustion within the government.
Law
fromKqed
3 weeks ago

SF Judge Orders Public Defender to Pay $26K in Contempt Fines | KQED

San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju was fined $26,000 for refusing new criminal cases amid rising caseload concerns.
fromABA Journal
4 weeks ago

Federal judges speak out about threats becoming 'ordinary'

"What's most problematic is that the extraordinary has become ordinary. It's just a matter of course now that when you issue an opinion that some people don't like, you're going to get threats, you're going to get death threats, and that is obviously problematic on many levels."
Law
US politics
fromThe Nation
2 months ago

ICE Officers Should Be Held Accountable. These Law School Students Know How.

Establish a federal equivalent of Section 1983 to allow lawsuits against federal officers and eliminate qualified immunity to hold them accountable.
US politics
fromSlate Magazine
2 months ago

A Lawyer for ICE Broke Down in Court. It's the Sound of the System Collapsing.

The Justice Department repeatedly violated court orders in Minneapolis, revealing institutional collapse and a strained attorney who begged for sleep in open court.
Law
fromFuturism
1 month ago

Absurd AI-Powered Lawsuits Are Causing Chaos in Courts, Attorneys Say, "Clogging the System" and Driving Up Costs

A Florida couple used generative AI to file escalating legal claims in an HOA fee dispute, eventually invoking RICO conspiracy allegations in hundreds of pages of increasingly unhinged court documents.
#judicial-conduct
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

'We Are Better Than This,' Say Ninth Circuit Judges Despite All Evidence To The Contrary - Above the Law

Judge Lawrence VanDyke of the Ninth Circuit has authored inflammatory and unprofessional dissents using crude language and personal attacks against colleagues, contradicting the ABA's initial assessment of his qualifications.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

'We Are Better Than This,' Say Ninth Circuit Judges Despite All Evidence To The Contrary - Above the Law

Judge Lawrence VanDyke of the Ninth Circuit has authored inflammatory and unprofessional dissents using crude language and personal attacks against colleagues, contradicting the ABA's initial assessment of his qualifications.
#attorney-misconduct
Law
fromLos Angeles Times
1 month ago

California trial attorneys push bills to rein in 'bad actors' in legal industry

California trial lawyers support bills increasing penalties for attorneys who illegally solicit clients or allow hedge funds to control case strategy.
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

DOJ Attacks Judge, Claims Judicial Immunity For Itself - Above the Law

If you are a lawyer, are interested in being an AUSA, and support President Trump and anti-crime agenda, DM me. We need good prosecutors. And DOJ is hiring across the country. Now is your chance to join the mission and do good for our country.- Chad Mizelle (@chad_mizelle) January 31, 2026
US politics
Law
fromIPWatchdog.com | Patents & Intellectual Property Law
1 month ago

Legal Groups Push for Mandatory Disclosure of Litigation Funders

Third-party litigation funders must disclose their involvement in federal civil cases through a proposed amendment to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(a)(1)(A) to establish uniform disclosure requirements across inconsistent federal courts.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Legalweek's Annual Judicial Panel: A Clear And Present Danger To Our Judges - And The Rule Of Law - Above the Law

Federal judges face escalating threats, harassment, and violence from those who disagree with their rulings, creating a crisis threatening judicial independence and the rule of law.
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Lawyer Convicted Of Systematic Sexual Abuse Of Children - Above the Law

Bishop was found guilty on 24 counts of committing lewd acts on three minor victims, all described in court documents as victims under the age of 14. The span of these offenses covers multiple years. Evidence admitted at trial showed that Bishop possessed more than 600 images of child sexual abuse material depicting two of the minor victims.
Law
Law
fromwww.amny.com
1 month ago

New York Courts unveils program to help inmates find representation to sue the state | amNewYork

New York's court system is launching a pilot program connecting incarcerated people with lawyers to pursue civil claims against the state, addressing the barrier of self-representation without legal resources.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Just 2 Federal Law Clerks Filed Complaints Against Judges Last Year - Above the Law

Federal law clerks face systemic barriers preventing misconduct complaints against judges, with only two JCDA complaints filed in 2025 despite 106 documented cases of mistreatment in 2023.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

More Judges Should Mentor Law Students - Above the Law

Law students benefit significantly from internships with law firms and judges, gaining practical experience while helping courts manage limited resources through opinion drafting assistance.
#judicial-independence
Law
fromABA Journal
1 month ago

Nearly 200 former judges denounce claim that courts are ignoring Supreme Court orders

Over 175 former federal and state judges denounce Trump administration claims that district courts are ignoring Supreme Court orders, calling such attacks an extraordinary assault on the judiciary.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Federal Judges Threatened For Doing Their Jobs Speak Up - Above the Law

Federal judges face escalating violent threats and harassment for making constitutional rulings, including swatting attacks and assassination attempts, undermining judicial independence.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

The Billable Hour's Existential Crisis Has An Access To Justice Silver Lining - Above the Law

AI adoption among lawyers has doubled to 69%, with significant time savings forcing firms to reconsider billable hour models as a primary revenue mechanism.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Tackling The Overlooked Obstacle To Pro Bono Work: Not Having A Clue How To Do It - Above the Law

A new partnership between Paladin and the Practising Law Institute integrates targeted skills-based training with law school pro bono work to address the gap between legal education and practical pro bono service demands.
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

The Human Cost Of Our Broken Justice System - Above the Law

Drawing from years in public defense and her work co-founding Partners for Justice, she explains why the criminal legal system often punishes instability rather than crime - and how policy choices, not individual morality, frequently determine who enters the system.
Law
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Legal Ethics Roundup: Ethics Of AI Glasses In Court, Gambling Lawyer Guilty, SCOTUS Restricts Access to Counsel, Judge's Novel Recusal & More - Above the Law

Legal ethics headlines cover lawyer and judge responsibilities, including AI misuse sanctions, security threats to justices, and professional misconduct cases.
Law
fromABA Journal
2 months ago

Federal judges may address 'illegitimate forms of criticism and attacks,' according to new ethics opinion

Federal judges may publicly defend the judiciary and speak on judicial independence, but should favor reasoned, nonpartisan, and controlled civic engagement.
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

Judge-only trials in England and Wales will not wipe out crown court backlog, report says

David Lammy's plans to introduce judge-only criminal trials in England and Wales will save less than 2% of time in crown courts, the Institute for Government (IFG) has said. In a report that casts doubt on the ability of the changes, which will slash the number of jury trials to achieve their goal of wiping out the courts' backlog, the thinktank described the gains from judge-only trials as marginal.
Law
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