Bankruptcy Judges Could Be Source of "Routine Illegality": Wall Street Journal Blog writer, Nathan Koppel, posts that a new study from UCLA Law Professors Lynn LoPucki and Joseph W. Doherty blames bankruptcy judges for the fact that bankruptcy lawyers are earning such big bucks. The study finds that "judges are shirking the duty to review [attorney] fees absent objection," in a field where "bankruptcy professional fees increased more than 10% annually; more than twice the rate of inflation." The study reports that this occurs because judges routinely allow "debtors to pay their professionals monthly before the judges have
reviewed the professionals' fee requests and determined their
reasonableness -- as the federal bankruptcy code requires."
Federalist Society Founders Awarded $250,000: At Blog of Legal Times, Jordan writes that the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation has awarded the founders and leaders of the Federalist Society for "forming and nurturing an organization dedicated to preserving rule of law." Weismann reports that the Society's founders, Spencer Abraham, Steven Calabresi, David McIntosh and Lee Liberman Otis will split the $250,000 prize.
Gov. Schwarzenegger Welcomes Debate, But Not Legalizing Marijuana: Doug Berman writes on Sentencing Law and Policy that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger commented yesterday that while he does not believe it is time to legalize marijuana, he does believe it is time give the issue consideration. According to Steve Gorman's Reuters story, Governor Schwarzenegger told reporters that when it comes to legalization, he believes "we ought to study very carefully what other countries are doing that have legalized marijuana and other drugs, what affect it had on those countries, and are they happy with that decision." A recent bill in California's state Legislature would legalize marijuana (this Blog Scan has the details). Governor Schwarzenegger was also featured in Jennifer Steinhauer's New York Times article today. She reports that the Governor "is facing the most difficult period of his political career." Legalizing marijuana might make him more popular with a few Californians, but it may not help his political career...
Federalist Society Founders Awarded $250,000: At Blog of Legal Times, Jordan writes that the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation has awarded the founders and leaders of the Federalist Society for "forming and nurturing an organization dedicated to preserving rule of law." Weismann reports that the Society's founders, Spencer Abraham, Steven Calabresi, David McIntosh and Lee Liberman Otis will split the $250,000 prize.
Gov. Schwarzenegger Welcomes Debate, But Not Legalizing Marijuana: Doug Berman writes on Sentencing Law and Policy that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger commented yesterday that while he does not believe it is time to legalize marijuana, he does believe it is time give the issue consideration. According to Steve Gorman's Reuters story, Governor Schwarzenegger told reporters that when it comes to legalization, he believes "we ought to study very carefully what other countries are doing that have legalized marijuana and other drugs, what affect it had on those countries, and are they happy with that decision." A recent bill in California's state Legislature would legalize marijuana (this Blog Scan has the details). Governor Schwarzenegger was also featured in Jennifer Steinhauer's New York Times article today. She reports that the Governor "is facing the most difficult period of his political career." Legalizing marijuana might make him more popular with a few Californians, but it may not help his political career...
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