Archive - Original Jurisdiction

A View From The Top Of The M&A World: David Lam

Wachtell Lipton, arguably the nation’s #1 M&A firm, does things differently—as explained by David Lam, co-chair of its M&A practice.

Aug 20 •

45:31

Emergency, Shadow... Or Half-Enchilada Docket? The Results

Was there a partisan skew to the outcome of this poll? Most definitely.

Aug 19 •

Judicial Notice (08.17.25): Maybe Happy Ending

Circuit judges trading benchslaps, the return of Kim Davis, a rescuer for a troubled firm, and a billion-dollar transaction involving... tighty whities?

Aug 17 •

Trump (Rightly) Buttresses SCOTUS Ruling Against Racial Preferences

Trump’s crackdown on affirmative action in higher education has a lesson to teach about the interplay between law and politics.

Aug 14 •

Traffic Court: A Prosecutor’s And A Professor’s Perspectives

My recent experience in New Jersey traffic court was probably not very representative, in terms of what traffic court is like across the country.

Aug 13 •

Judicial Notice (08.10.25): Biglaw Battles—And Bonuses

Milbank’s major move, decisions in discrimination cases, a 40-lawyer lateral hire—and beyond Biglaw, a cornucopia of court rulings from circuits across…

Aug 10 •

Emergency Docket, Shadow Docket—What The Heck Do We Call This Thing?

Please take my poll on this very divisive issue among SCOTUS nerds.

Aug 8 •

State Of New Jersey v. David B. Lat: My Trip To Traffic Court

Was there any way out of my speeding ticket?

Aug 7 •

Judicial Notice (08.03.25): Another Judge’s AI Fail?

Plus more U.S. attorney controversies, a free-speech ruling from the Second Circuit, and big lateral moves involving Latham, Cravath, and Weil Gotshal.

Aug 3 •

July 2025

SCOTUS Clerks, 2000 v. 2025: Differing Demographics

In selecting Supreme Court clerks, much has changed over the past 25 years—but one thing has not.

Jul 30 •

Judicial Notice (07.27.25): What Exit?

Drama in the D.N.J., a Jersey judge’s opinion oopsie, Columbia’s deal with Trump, and Biglaw firms facing challenges.

Jul 27 •

Supreme Court Clerk Hiring Watch: Meet The October Term 2025 SCOTUS Clerks

Are Harvard and Yale starting to lose their stranglehold on minting SCOTUS clerks?

Jul 24 •

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