Author Archives: Michael Froomkin

The Origins of the Yellow Legal Pad

Posted on May 17, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

Legal Affairs recounts the origins of the legal pad.

Personally, while very devoted to yellow yellow pads up through law school, I discovered that I really preferred white pads some time early in law practice. I think they are easier to read.

Posted in Law: Practice | 3 Comments

Daily Show Outdoes Itself

Posted on May 16, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

This Daily Show clip about the NSA’s eavesdropping program, has to be one of the best I’ve ever seen (ignore the bit about soccer in the first minute and 20 seconds, which goes on about a minute too long).

Don’t miss the cameo by Gen. Hayden at about the two minute mark.

Posted in Civil Liberties | Comments Off on Daily Show Outdoes Itself

The Guns of June

Posted on May 16, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

In a week where we learn of a systematic effort to spy on journalists (who’s next, Howard Dean?) via Patriot Act-authorized National Security Letters which bypass all judicial process, it does not pay to dismiss any potential act of military madness too quickly as tinfoil.

So, although the source is not the most reliable, I bring you US military, intelligence officials raise concern about possible preparations for Iran strike, RAW STORY’s allegation that the US is moving two air craft carriers into range in order to be able to bomb Iran. (For an alternate view that the bombing could be carried out from land bases, see US spells out plan to bomb Iran in the UK Herald.)

Posted in Politics: Tinfoil | Comments Off on The Guns of June

A Hypo That Sits Up and Barks

Posted on May 16, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

Guesting at Concurring Opinions, Miriam Cherry sets a great contracts hypo, Who Gets to Keep Trover?. (I suppose law profs are among the few who get gleeful about problems like this.)

Note to non-lawyers, the name “Trover” is a lovely touch.

Posted in Law: Everything Else | Comments Off on A Hypo That Sits Up and Barks

Law School Commencement Follow-Up

Posted on May 15, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

screenshot.pngIn several ways, this may have been the best commencement since I got to UM.

First, Caroline looked suitably imposing carrying the Law School’s modernistic mace around the Convocation center. Our kids, who followed along on the web cast, said she looked like a ‘level 500 warrior princess wielding an Elven mythril heavy mace’ which sounds about right.

The law school has a tradition of asking a graduating student to sing the national anthem (in English, at least so far). This years’ performer could have been the best ever.

The same might be said about the commencement speech by Anne-Marie Slaughter, the Dean of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, which you can find (regrettably in ALL CAPS) on her blog under the title, Commencing on the Right Foot. If it wasn’t the best in a decade or more, it was certainly up there.

But perhaps the best part was that I managed to distribute almost my entire supply of “Support the Students” buttons, which means that considerably more than half of the faculty attending wore them, a number well exceeding my expectations. It was nice to see the faculty (relatively) united. President Shalala did not seem that pleased, but she had the good sense not to say anything … although one faculty member told me that the President wouldn’t speak to her when she had one on.

As for the invocation? Well, it was less dull than usual…but it didn’t mention the union or the students.

Posted in Law School, U.Miami, U.Miami: Strike'06 | 1 Comment

A Commencement With Some Extra Excitement Today

Posted on May 14, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

It’s graduation day for the law school this afternoon, and [starting around 2pm US East Coast time] you can watch the law school commencement live webcast from the comfort of your own home.

Prof. Caroline Bradley will be the Grand Marshall (the person leading the procession) and holding the mace; as far as we know she’ll be the first woman in the history of the law school to serve in this role.

Both the rally and the graduation demonstrations have been canceled, at the request of students groups. However, some faculty may be wearing buttons protesting the university administration’s disciplinary actions against students for their actions in support of the unionization campaign. Picketline blog has run a series of excellent essays on this subject, and I particularly recommend the Letter from Professor Hugh Thomas to UM Faculty Concerning Disciplinary Action Against the Students and the Excerpt from a Letter from Professor Roger Kanet to President Shalala Concerning Disciplinary Action Against Students.

I heard a rumor that Pres. Shalala banned the invocations from the college graduation, for fear of what the person of the cloth might say in favor of students or workers; whatever the truth of that story, I’m certain that the law school will stick to its traditions and have some sort of clerical although not highly sectarian benediction. Perhaps there might be some fireworks? (Although, to be honest, if we stick to tradition 100%, we’ll have a pretty boring invocation).

Most of the attention belongs to our graduates, who having survived three years of pretty hard work now face a grueling ordeal known as bar preparation … followed by years of hard work as junior lawyers. If you can, though, spare a tiny thought for me towards the back row of the stage, sweltering in my regalia.

Posted in U.Miami | Comments Off on A Commencement With Some Extra Excitement Today