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WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

 

TOUGH SPOT? President Trump-appointee Trevor McFadden has a decision to make, and it might not come easy. As a newly installed U.S. District judge in D.C., he now is charged with determining whether the House has the power to sue the president because of his decision to redirect billions in federal dollars to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. As Ellis Kim reports, McFadden in court on Thursday appeared to struggle with a lack of precedent on the issue. Before his nomination, he was a deputy assistant Attorney General in the DOJ's criminal division. His decision on the border wall is pending.

FAREWELL - Law school commencement season is in full swing, and newly minted grads are getting plenty of advice and encouragement from big-name speakers, including Kalpana Kotagal, the author of Hollywood's now famous “inclusion rider” speaking at Penn law, and former DAG Rob Rosenstein at Baltimore. Some of this year's biggest speakers have yet to take to the lectern. Graduates at Cardozo are slated to hear from former U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill and Beatle Paul McCartney on May 28. The next day, Roberta Kaplan will address Harvard law graduates at their Class Day ceremony.

PANEL PICKS - D.C. Circuit judges Patricia Millett, David Tatel and Neomi Rao will hear the fight over a congressional subpoena that seeks financial records from President Trump's longtime accounting firm. Ellis Kim reports that the panel, set to preside over arguments on July 12, comprises appointees across three presidential administrations. Rao joined the court a few weeks ago from the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs; Millett was an appellate partner at Akin Gump when President Obama appointed her in 2013; and Tatel, nominated by President Clinton, has served on the court since 1994.

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EDITOR'S PICKS

 

'Daubert' Evidence Standard Takes Immediate Effect in Florida After High Court Turnaround

Exxon Mobil Attorneys Seek Access to Former NY AG Schneiderman's Personal Email Account

Emory Law Turns to Canada for Its First Woman Dean

The Source of Lawyer Stress: Firm Culture

DLA Piper Names New York Litigator Next US Chairman

Irish Data Authorities Launch GDPR Probe Into Google's Ad Practices

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WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING

 

IN INDONESIA - KPMG has expanded its legal reach in Asia, establishing an alliance with one of the largest firms in Indonesia. John Kang reports that Lubis Ganie Surowidjojo, a 100-lawyer firm based in Jakarta, has entered into an alliance with KPMG Indonesia and joined the accounting firm's global legal network. LGS previously had an association with U.K. firm Clyde & Co. That association, which began in 2013, ended in April. The two firms advised Indonesian clients in the energy, infrastructure, maritime and commodities sectors.

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WHAT YOU SAID

“I want to tell you—honestly—the biggest question I'm asked from all of you is, 'Can we get Franklin Pierce back into the name of the school?'”