Blawgletter doesn't often visit the realm of criminal jurisprudence, but we couldn't help but notice yesterday's ruling in United States v. Hope, No. 07-60769 (5th Cir. Oct. 8, 2008).  The court there addressed whether the double jeopardy clause barred prosecution of Danny Hope for two counts of possessing a handgun (a .380 caliber Walther). …

 
Did Herbert Hoover like juries?

Have you ever picked a jury?  By which Blawgletter means have you stood in front of a venire and asked questions whose answers might assist you, your opponent, and the judge to select the right jurors for your case?

Whether you have or not, do you believe in seating the…

 
Elves live forever.  Should lawsuits?

The Federal Circuit yesterday decided that a district court made right and wrong rulings in a patent dispute.  Indeed, the court whirled a positive blur of both (right and wrong) decision types.  And, despite the district court's unconscionable delay in resolution of the case (nine years after filing and five years after hearing), the…

 
Congress abolished gold clauses in contracts in 1933.  Should it do the same with speculative credit default swap contracts?

Blawgletter just finished reading an article on credit default swaps from our source for all facts whose accuracy doesn't matter — Wikipedia.  And, boy, did it throw a scare into us.

It says:

A credit

…

Get ready for 415 pages of recommendations.

The American Antitrust Institute just published The Next Antitrust Agenda: The American Antitrust Institute’s Transition Report on Competition Policy to the 44th President of the United States.

At 415 pages, the Transition Report on Competition Policy packs a wallop.  So you may prefer to browse, which you…

These jurors wished they could’ve asked questions, too.

The Seventh Circuit American Jury Project Commission issued its Final Report last month.  It includes some interesting findings about the vanishing jury trial:

• Asking witnesses questions that jurors themselves have proposed "helped their understanding of the facts" without sacrificing efficiency.
• Giving "preliminary substantive jury instructions" achieves "the

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Blawgletter has lately heard complaints — especially from congressional folk — about the Financial Accounting Standards Board‘s requirement that companies book their assets at their current fair value.

The gripers deem FASB No. 107, Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments (summary here), as a rigid mandate that handcuffs struggling banks.  They complain…

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill (1874-1965).  His mom came from Brooklyn.

You can always count on Americans to do the right thing — after they’ve tried everything else.

Never, never, never give up.