#western-law

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#patent-law
fromPatently-O
5 days ago
Intellectual property law

The Dark Matter of Patent Law: Nearly 25% of Office Actions Now Cite Secret Prior Art

fromPatently-O
1 month ago
Intellectual property law

Patently Unreasonable: Hyatt's Return to the Supreme Court and the Fight Over Prosecution Laches

Intellectual property law
fromPatently-O
1 hour ago

Mind the Gap: The Middle Layer of Obviousness Doctrine

The obviousness determination in patent law lacks a structured method for concluding whether an invention is obvious after evaluating the required factors.
Intellectual property law
fromPatently-O
5 days ago

The Dark Matter of Patent Law: Nearly 25% of Office Actions Now Cite Secret Prior Art

Prior art can include unpublished applications, termed 'secret springing prior art', which complicates patent searches and affects rejection rates.
fromPatently-O
1 month ago
Intellectual property law

Patently Unreasonable: Hyatt's Return to the Supreme Court and the Fight Over Prosecution Laches

Law
fromAbove the Law
1 day 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.
LGBT
fromwww.theguardian.com
6 hours ago

EHRC updates guidance on how to apply supreme court ruling on gender

The EHRC updated its guidance on gender following government feedback to clarify the implementation of the supreme court ruling on biological sex.
Privacy professionals
fromBloomberglaw
4 days ago

Splintered Video Privacy Rulings Won't Be Fixed by Supreme Court

The Supreme Court's review of the VPPA may clarify the definition of 'consumer' but won't resolve circuit splits on personally identifiable information.
#pentagon
Media industry
fromAbove the Law
3 days ago

Defense Department Lawyering Almost As Good As Hegseth's Pullups - Above the Law

The Pentagon's press policy has been repeatedly voided by the courts, highlighting ongoing tensions between the Defense Department and media access.
Intellectual property law
fromComputerworld
5 days ago

US court refuses to stay Pentagon's 'supply-chain risk' blacklisting of Anthropic

The federal appeals court upheld the Pentagon's supply-chain risk designation against Anthropic, conflicting with a California court's earlier decision.
Media industry
fromAbove the Law
3 days ago

Defense Department Lawyering Almost As Good As Hegseth's Pullups - Above the Law

The Pentagon's press policy has been repeatedly voided by the courts, highlighting ongoing tensions between the Defense Department and media access.
Intellectual property law
fromComputerworld
5 days ago

US court refuses to stay Pentagon's 'supply-chain risk' blacklisting of Anthropic

The federal appeals court upheld the Pentagon's supply-chain risk designation against Anthropic, conflicting with a California court's earlier decision.
US politics
fromSlate Magazine
4 days ago

One Justice Just Took Surprise Aim at Brett Kavanaugh. There May Be a Bigger Strategy at Play.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor criticizes Justice Kavanaugh's support for race-based detentions, highlighting his lack of understanding of the impact on affected individuals.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
4 days ago

Labour MPs propose specialist sexual offences courts to help trials backlog

Labour MPs propose specialist courts for sexual offences to counter plans reducing jury trials in England and Wales.
fromwww.theguardian.com
4 days ago

US conservatives sue to dismantle Native Hawaiian healthcare scholarships

Do No Harm stated that the scholarship's requirement that applicants be Native Hawaiians was a violation of federal law and tantamount to racial discrimination.
Non-profit organizations
Law
fromAbove the Law
23 hours ago

Biglaw Firm Sued For Firing Staffer A Month After Returning From Disability - Above the Law

Firing an employee shortly after disability leave, amid claims of a hostile work environment, can lead to legal repercussions.
#law-school
Higher education
fromAbove the Law
1 week ago

The Best Law Schools For Government Law (2026) - Above the Law

Many law students prioritize public service careers over high salaries, but only a few achieve their goals, starting with the right law school.
Higher education
fromAbove the Law
1 week ago

Philly Law Students Demand School Break Ties With ICE - Above the Law

Law students are demanding protections against ICE and DHS recruitment on campus due to threats to their rights and safety.
#supreme-court
fromPatently-O
2 months ago
Intellectual property law

The Tinderbox Ignites: Supreme Court to Decide Whether Generic Equivalence Statements Constitute Inducement

LGBT
fromLGBTQ Nation
7 months ago

Amy Coney Barrett discusses possibility of Supreme Court overturning marriage equality - LGBTQ Nation

Amy Coney Barrett downplayed concerns about the Supreme Court overturning Obergefell v. Hodges, emphasizing the court's role in reflecting the American people's values.
Law
fromAbove the Law
4 days ago

How Appealing Weekly Roundup - Above the Law

Supreme Court's actions and decisions are increasingly scrutinized, revealing issues of transparency and significant impacts on civil rights and electoral processes.
Law
fromSlate Magazine
4 days ago

The Terrible, Hidden Stakes of One of the Thorniest Supreme Court Cases of This Term

Pitchford v. Cain highlights the complexities of racial discrimination claims in jury selection within the constraints of modern habeas corpus law.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 week ago

Morning Docket: 04.06.26 - Above the Law

Right-wing legal academics are attempting to justify the Supreme Court's actions without accountability.
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 weeks ago

How Appealing Weekly Roundup - Above the Law

Supreme Court rules in favor of Cox Communications in a copyright case involving pirated music.
fromPatently-O
2 months ago
Intellectual property law

The Tinderbox Ignites: Supreme Court to Decide Whether Generic Equivalence Statements Constitute Inducement

Social justice
fromLGBTQ Nation
3 days ago

Trans woman sues homeless shelter over alleged "threatening" harassment that made her ill - LGBTQ Nation

A transgender staffer is suing a Michigan homeless shelter for $25,000, alleging harassment and discrimination by colleagues and management's negligence.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 day 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.
#doj
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 week ago

Morning Docket: 04.02.26 - Above the Law

DOJ has prioritized deporting law-abiding individuals over prosecuting serious criminal cases.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 week ago

Morning Docket: 04.02.26 - Above the Law

DOJ has prioritized deporting law-abiding individuals over prosecuting serious criminal cases.
LGBT
fromLGBTQ Nation
5 days ago

Teacher sues school that forced him to remove LGBTQ+-inclusive flag: "The Constitution demands more" - LGBTQ Nation

A teacher is suing a school district for violating his First Amendment rights by forcing him to remove an anti-hate flag from his classroom.
#legal-ethics
Law
fromAbove the Law
22 hours 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.
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago
Law

Change Change Change - See Generally - Above the Law

Multiple legal institutions face ethical and governance crises, including DOJ conflicts of interest, law school loyalty pressures, judicial tenure challenges, and bar association inconsistencies.
Law
fromAbove the Law
22 hours 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.
#ai
Law
fromTheregister
1 day 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.
Intellectual property law
fromnews.bitcoin.com
4 days ago

Federal Judges Deny Anthropic Relief in Claude Military AI Ban, Set May Oral Arguments

The D.C. Circuit upheld the Pentagon's blacklist of Anthropic's Claude AI models, allowing continued barring from military contracts during litigation.
Law
fromTheregister
1 day 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
fromAbove the Law
2 weeks ago

Morning Docket: 03.30.26 - Above the Law

AI associates should not be blamed for failures, raising questions about their necessity.
Law
fromAbove the Law
4 days ago

Morning Docket: 04.10.26 - Above the Law

A Texas judge ordered a lawyer to court for criticizing the judge's behavior, prompting a response from fellow lawyers.
Philosophy
fromAbove the Law
4 weeks ago

Pigs Can Fly!: The Sins Of Legal Scholars - Above the Law

Academic integrity requires honest representation of facts and findings; misleading titles, fabricated evidence, and misrepresentation undermine scholarship and damage disciplines.
fromABA Journal
5 days ago

Bar exam prep group Barbri names new co-CEO

Lucie Allen will become a co-CEO of Barbri, a leading bar exam prep company, and will share leadership duties with Steve Fredette, the current CEO and chairman.
Law
Intellectual property law
fromPatently-O
6 days ago

Moving Target: When Amended Claims Outrun Your Standing Declaration

Federal Circuit's standing requirements create challenges for patent challengers seeking appellate review after PTAB proceedings.
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Morning Docket: 03.13.26 - Above the Law

CFTC failing already a solid bet. Government says tariff refund system 40 percent to 80 percent complete which is quite the spread. Almost a they're just making stuff up kind of estimate.
US Elections
Law
fromAbove the Law
5 days ago

Morning Docket: 04.09.26 - Above the Law

Anthropic's request for a stay regarding autonomous weapons was denied, indicating challenges in the legal arguments presented.
fromemptywheel
1 month ago

Mixing The Mixed Constitution - emptywheel

Burke's was a broadside that not only excoriated the social upheavals effected by the French revolutionaries and (by extension) commended by Marx, but the continual economic and social instability prized by modern liberal economic philosophy and practice. Against a new class of elites-mainly, an alliance between ideological progressive theorists and a rising financial oligarchy-Burke urged protection of the stability, tradition, and social continuities vital for the flourishing of ordinary people.
Left-wing politics
US politics
fromAbove the Law
3 weeks ago

Morning Docket: 03.18.26 - Above the Law

Chief Justice Roberts calls for ending personal attacks on judges, while questions arise about presidential official acts; meanwhile, legal developments span judicial conduct, cryptocurrency regulation, Section 230 reform, and national security concerns.
Law
fromAbove the Law
4 days ago

Work-Life Balance Is Precious; So Is The Rule Of Law - Above the Law

Lawyers today prioritize work-life balance over prestige and billable hours, seeking control over their time and flexibility in their careers.
Social justice
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

This Harvard Law School Grad Has The Progressive Answer To FedSoc - Above the Law

Lawyers can drive systemic change through community organizing and alternative pathways that challenge corporate power and legal inequities rather than relying solely on institutional approaches.
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
6 days 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.
fromwww.independent.co.uk
5 days ago

Crime victims and bereaved families given more time to challenge lenient sentences

Victims' Commissioner Claire Waxman expressed her delight at the government's decision, stating that the change is long overdue and acknowledges the years of campaigning led by bereaved families like Tracey Hanson, who sought justice following the tragic death of her son Josh.
Law
Law
fromMy Shingle
1 week ago

813 Solos Signed Their Names While Big Law and GCs Hid

High-powered lawyers filed briefs anonymously, while solo and small firm lawyers openly signed in opposition to retaliatory executive orders.
Law
fromAbove the Law
5 days ago

The Quiet Signals We Miss - Above the Law

Mental health struggles can be subtle and may not always present as distress, making it crucial to recognize changes in behavior.
#law-school-rankings
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 week ago

Morning Docket: 04.07.26 - Above the Law

The new US News law school rankings have been released and are notably controversial.
Law
fromAbove the Law
6 days ago

Yale Law Has Fallen - See Also - Above the Law

Law school rankings, legal academia opinions, and student activism shape the current landscape of legal education and practice.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 week ago

Morning Docket: 04.07.26 - Above the Law

The new US News law school rankings have been released and are notably controversial.
Law
fromAbove the Law
6 days ago

Yale Law Has Fallen - See Also - Above the Law

Law school rankings, legal academia opinions, and student activism shape the current landscape of legal education and practice.
Law
fromAbove the Law
5 days ago

Look Who's Back! Former Lawyer Of The Year Out Of Prison And Back In Hollywood. - Above the Law

Michael Avenatti, once a prominent lawyer, is now in a halfway house after serving time for multiple crimes including extortion and embezzlement.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 week 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.
#legal-blogs
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 weeks ago

Biglaw To D.C. Circuit: This Isn't Just About Us - It's About Whether The President Can Put Lawyers On A Leash - Above the Law

The fight over Trump-era executive orders targeting Biglaw firms intensifies as firms argue these orders threaten constitutional independence and the rule of law.
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 weeks ago

The Laws Of Unintended Consequences - Above the Law

California's new law mandates certification for alternative dispute resolution professionals to ensure ethical standards following the Tom Girardi scandal.
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 weeks ago

Morning Docket: 03.25.26 - Above the Law

The Justice Department may have leaked grand jury testimony, raising concerns about legal violations.
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

They've Done Enough - See Also - Above the Law

Trump's Lawyers Should Be Disbarred: Time for accountability.
US politics
US politics
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

Morning Docket: 01.21.26 - Above the Law

Headlines report data theft linked to election overturn efforts, judicial turmoil, U.S. Attorney vacancy, international sentencing, DOJ birthright citizenship push, and immigration court compliance concerns.
#trump
Law
fromAbove the Law
4 weeks ago

The Rule Of Law Joins America's Dead Pets On The Rainbow Bridge - Above the Law

Trump attorney John Lauro claimed the DOJ improved under Attorney General Pam Bondi, contradicting legal observers who view current conditions as a constitutional crisis threatening prosecutorial independence.
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.
#federal-officer-accountability-act
Law
frompatentlyo.com
1 month ago

Judge Newman Asks the Supreme Court to Intervene: Framing Judicial Independence as a Constitutional Imperative

Judge Pauline Newman, barred from judicial duties since 2023 without impeachment or disability finding, petitioned the Supreme Court to challenge the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act's bar on reviewing judicial council orders.
US politics
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

How Appealing Weekly Roundup - Above the Law

Legal and political disputes: tariffs, Supreme Court action, prison transfers, free-speech risks, Bondi oversight, and challenges to the Voting Rights Act.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Morning Docket: 03.10.26 - Above the Law

Major legal developments include Anthropic's Defense Department lawsuit, judicial rulings on illegal appointees, law firm mergers, antitrust settlements, AI legal services expansion, Supreme Court shadow docket debates, and ChatGPT litigation over legal advice.
#immigration-enforcement
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

The Moment Legal Found Out What 'Ready' Really Means - Above the Law

A year or so ago, most legal departments were still testing. AI pilots. Workflow trials. Small process experiments. Everyone was learning cautiously. The stakes were relatively low, and the work was labeled "innovation," which made imperfection forgivable. Then something shifted. Those same pilots became part of day-to-day delivery, and the business started relying on them. Sometimes intentionally, because early results looked good.
Law
#legal-news
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

Running Your Cases - Above the Law

They don't drive it. They don't manage it. They don't control it. They let it control them. And then one day, they look up and realize discovery closed last week, the client is asking why nobody has taken the key depo, the adjuster wants a status report "by the end of the day," and the partner is asking the question that makes your stomach drop: "Where are we on this file?"
Law
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

Morning Docket: 01.28.26 - Above the Law

Legal and political institutions face competing pressures from ICE operations, private equity priorities, and accountability demands, reshaping firm behavior and public responses.
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

Threading The Needle: How To Win The Case That Can't Be Won (At Least Not The Obvious Way) - Above the Law

Win messy cases by accepting client imperfection, avoiding absolutism, and focusing ruthlessly on the single pivotal issue that defines where responsibility ends.
fromabovethelaw.com
2 months ago

Morning Docket: 02.02.26 - Above the Law

* Biglaw grapples with Epstein list cameos. [NY Post] * Delaware Supreme Court rewrites settlement to give Elon Musk the kind of personal party he desperately kept asking Jeffrey Epstein for. [Delaware Business Court Insider]
Law
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

Morning Docket: 02.09.26 - Above the Law

Numerous contentious developments: Fifth Circuit allowing indefinite detention of suspected undocumented migrants, high-profile appearances, campus censorship, market regulation, AI legal-advice concerns, and infrastructure litigation.
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

Morning Docket: 02.03.26 - Above the Law

Clintons to testify on Epstein amid related disappearances and wider legal battles spanning big law ethics, crypto fraud risk, major M&A, and possible government deception.
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

A Guide To Conducting Discovery - Above the Law

Effective discovery shapes litigation by building leverage, forcing admissions, and methodically narrowing the opponent's options to win cases pretrial.
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

Whole New Meaning To Judicial Restraint - See Generally - Above the Law

A Texas judge faces charges for handcuffing an attorney mid-hearing; coordinated efforts push to disbar Trump-era lawyers while litigation over demolished historic buildings continues.
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