Legal Research

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Michigan prosecutors sue state over parole of violent offenders

"Prosecutors in Michigan are suing the state Department of Corrections over the release of hundreds of violent offenders, alleging murderers and rapists are being paroled with little or no say from prosecutors. Michigan is part of what prosecutors describe as a nationwide trend of cash-strapped states taking an axe to prison budgets, either by releasing inmates earlier than expected or by cutting rehabilitation programs."

Rules amendments don't change jury instruction requirements, 1st Cir. holds

"The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit recently ruled that 2003 amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure do not require judges to give lawyers written copies of the jury instructions before issuing them. "

Law school professor who alleged nepotism wins tenure hearing

"A federal judge has ordered Thomas M. Cooley Law School to provide a tenure hearing to a professor who claims that she was ousted in retaliation for fighting faculty nepotism involving a Michigan judge. "

Bryan Cave sued over pricy alleged error in prenuptial agreement

"A prominent St. Louis businessman has filed a legal malpractice suit against Bryan Cave, alleging that the firm botched his prenuptial agreement, causing him $10 million in losses tied in part to the appreciation of his high-profile modern art collection, which includes works by Jackson Pollack and Jasper Johns."

UCLA law dean heads to Univ. of Chicago Law School

"Michael Schill, the dean of the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law, is leaving to become the head of the University of Chicago Law School. Schill replaces Saul Levmore, who has served as the Chicago dean since 2001".

THE PRACTICE

Ruling on lab reports has broad implications

"Whether you are a criminal or civil advocate, Melendez-Diaz is a decision well worth carefully digesting."

OPINION

Hurdles to health care reform

"Even if reform is enacted this year, an extraordinary number of actions will have to be taken by various regulatory bodies to interpret and implement the new law. Unfortunately, experience with how the existing health care regulatory scheme has been implemented raises concerns that the purposes of the new law could easily be undermined."