THE SCOOP
- Russia Commences Airstrikes in Syria. Russia launched its first round of airstrikes in Syria on Wednesday. Putin claims the strikes were aimed at ISIS, but the US says they actually hit Syrian rebels, and that Russia is “throwing gasoline on the fire” of Syria’s civil war. Syria’s war has been dragging on for four years. An estimated 9 million refugees have fled their homes, overwhelming Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Europe. Iran has announced it is sending foot soldiers to aid Russia. Sources: www.syrianrefugees.eu; The Guardian, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/30/russia-launches-first-airstrikes-against-targets-in-syria-says-us
- Ten Dead in Shooting at Oregon College. On Thursday morning a gunman opened fire at Umpqua Community College in rural southwest Oregon. Nine people and the gunman were killed and 20 were injured. Source: The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/02/us/oregon-shooting-umpqua-community-college.html
- Judge Puts a Halt to Courtroom Selfies. After obtaining a not-guilty verdict for his client in a first-degree homicide case, criminal defense attorney Anthony Cotton was so overjoyed he pulled out his phone and took a selfie with his client. Cotton soon posted the photo on his Facebook page. The judge quickly ordered the lawyer to delete the photo. Cotton obeyed and quickly apologized. Theoretically, the judge could have ordered Cotton into custody for contempt if he had witnessed the photo being taken. “I know that [the] younger generation sees that social media stuff differently," the judge said, but “[t]o me it's undignified.” Source: Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Senitel, http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/329539971.html
- Palestine President Declares the Oslo Accords Null and Void. On Wednesday Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas shocked the international community by saying Palestinians are no longer bound by the Oslo accords. The Palestinian President claims Israel has violated the agreements by building too many settlements and occupying the West Bank, which Israel denies. Israel and Palestine signed the accords in the 1990s, setting up their own states. The accords are considered the foundation of the Middle East peace process. Source: The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/01/world/middleeast/mahmoud-abbas-palestinian-authority-un-speech.html
- Government Shutdown Narrowly Averted. With just hours to spare before the end of the fiscal year, Congress averted a government shutdown Wednesday, approving a temporary spending measure that will keep federal agencies open through December 11. Political analysts think House Speaker John Boehner’s resignation announcement may have garnered Democratic support for the bill and ultimately pushed it across the finish line. However, as The New York Times reports, “[T]he bill does nothing to resolve the core disputes over fiscal policy between Republicans and President Obama, setting up even larger and potentially more calamitous battles in the month ahead.” Source: The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/01/us/politics/government-shutdown-congress.html?_r=0
- Jurors Still Deciding the Dewey & LeBouef Case. Jurors entered their third week of deliberations in the criminal trial of Dewey & LeBouef’s former executives. Three of Dewey’s execs have been accused of altering the firm’s financial records to hide its money troubles from lenders and investors. The defendants have been charged with a scheme to defraud, conspiracy, New York state securities violations, 15 counts of grand larceny, and more than 30 counts of falsifying business records. Source: The American Lawyer http://www.americanlawyer.com/top-stories/id=1202738632964/Dewey--LeBoeuf-Jury-Seeking-Consensus-Queries-More-Charges?mcode=1202615731542&curindex=0
Want to read more law firm news?
For past editions of our weekly law firm news, click here.
Contact Our Recruiters Now!
