2023

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Every Prosecutor’s Office Should Be Investing in Data

The Crime Report

Local prosecutors hold enormous power over the outcomes of criminal cases. Their decisions – whether to file a case, what charges to bring, what dispositions to offer, and what sentences to seek – impact the lives of individuals and their communities every day. Yet, for decades, little has been known about the inner workings of prosecutor’s offices, as elected prosecutors’ historical resistance to data and transparency has shielded them from accountability both internally and externally.

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Biglaw Firm Conducts Layoffs, Citing ‘Shifting Market Dynamics’

Above The Law

Layoffs continue among even the most successful Biglaw firms. The post Biglaw Firm Conducts Layoffs, Citing ‘Shifting Market Dynamics’ appeared first on Above the Law.

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Elon Musk’s ‘Thermonuclear Lawsuit’ Is Here And It’s… Positively Tepid.

Above The Law

After promising a bombshell of a lawsuit against Media Matters, Elon Musk delivers a dud. The post Elon Musk’s ‘Thermonuclear Lawsuit’ Is Here And It’s… Positively Tepid. appeared first on Above the Law.

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Litigating Enforcement: Germany’s Contested Climate Governance and the New Wave of Climate Litigation

ClimateChange-ClimateLaw

Climate litigation in Germany has achieved another major victory. On November 30, 2023, the Higher Administrative Court Berlin-Brandenburg ruled in DUH and BUND v. Germany that the federal government must adopt an immediate action program (‘Sofortprogramm’) under the Federal Climate Change Act (CCA). The program is intended to ensure compliance with the annual emission targets for the building and transportation sectors for the years 2024 to 2030.

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Transforming eDiscovery: Document Summarization, Sentiment Analysis, And Chatbots Take Center Stage

A Synergistic Approach to eDiscovery In the space of eDiscovery, the convergence of document summarization, sentiment analysis, and chatbots represents a significant change in how legal professionals navigate and manage electronic information. These technologies not only expedite the review process but also empower legal teams with deeper insights into the emotional context and key information within electronic documents.

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Generative AI, Having Already Passed the Bar Exam, Now Passes the Legal Ethics Exam

LawSites

Well, it’s happened again: Generative AI has passed a critical test used to measure candidate’s fitness to be licensed as a lawyer. Back in March, OpenAI’s GPT-4 took the bar exam and passed with flying colors , scoring around the top 10% of test takers. Now, two of the leading large language models (LLMs) have passed a simulation of the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE), a test required in all but two U.S. jurisdictions to measure prospective lawyers

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Artificial Intelligence and Copyright in China: Lessons from a Recent Court Case

Patently O

by Dennis Crouch Thus far US copyright and patent tribunals have refused to award rights for AI generated works. China has begun its move in the opposite direction with the recent decision granting rights to an artist who created an image using the popular generative AI system Stable Diffusion. The case of Li v. Liu was decided by the recently Beijing Internet Court.

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In First for A U.S. Appeals Court, 5th U.S. Circuit Court Considers Rule Requiring Lawyers to Certify they Did Not Rely on AI to Create Filings

LawSites

In what it appears would be a first for a federal circuit court, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is considering adoption of a rule change that would require lawyers and unrepresented litigants to provide a certification regarding their use of artificial intelligence in preparing court filings. Lawyers and other filers would be required to certify either that they had not used AI in drafting the document or that, if they did, “a human” had reviewed the document for accuracy.

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The Rumors Were True: Thomson Reuters Acquires Casetext for $650M Cash

LawSites

Rumors had been swirling that Thomson Reuters was about to acquire Casetext, and they proved to be true. Just before 9 p.m. Eastern time today, TR said it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire Casetext for $650 million cash. “The proposed transaction will complement Thomson Reuters existing AI roadmap and builds on its recent initiatives, including a commitment to invest more than $100 million annually on AI capabilities, the development of new generative AI experiences across its p

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Court conflicted over Purdue Pharma bankruptcy plan that shields Sacklers from liability

SCOTUSBlog

Share It has been 27 years since the prescription opioid OxyContin first came on the market. The manufacturer of the drug, Purdue Pharma, promoted the drug as less susceptible to abuse, but OxyContin proved instead to be highly addictive. The result was a public health crisis and, eventually, thousands of lawsuits seeking trillions of dollars against Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family, which principally owns the company and controlled it until recently, accusing them of having deceptively mark

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Recipe for a Failed CLM Implementation

Selecting and implementing CLM technology can be daunting, leading to underutilization or abandonment. Factors like provider differentiation, inadequate planning, and lack of user training contribute to these failures. Recognizing these pitfalls is crucial for successful adoption, ensuring organizations harness the full potential of CLM for streamlined contract management.

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Mumbai protestors march to Adani Group offices over city slum redevelopment plan

JURIST

Thousands of protestors headed by opposition parties marched to billionaire Gautam Adani’s offices in Mumbai on Saturday to express their objection to his conglomerate’s $614 million reconstruction plans for one of the city’s largest slums. The demands of the protestors include both eligible and non-eligible residents of the slum to be housed inside the redeveloped area, be given bigger homes of 500 square feet instead of the promised 300-350 sq ft. and for the government to ta

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Colorado bill limits ‘reunification treatment’ in child custody cases, requires training and expertise

ABA Journal

Family courts in Colorado custody cases can’t cut off a child’s contact with a protective parent to whom they are bonded just to improve a relationship with a rejected parent accused of abuse or domestic violence, according to a bill signed into law last week.

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Saul Kassin Probes Dangerous Practices in ‘Duped: Why Innocent People Confess—and Why We Believe Their Confessions’ (Book Review)

The Crime Report

Do innocent people really confess to horrific crimes they did not commit? Yes, they do. A masterful recent book from John Jay College of Criminal Justice Professor Saul Kassin, “ Duped: Why Innocent People Confess—and Why We Believe Their Confessions ,” proves it beyond any doubt. And Dr. Kassin’s book goes further than that. It shows how mobilizing scientific research about interrogations can reduce errors.

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Harvard Law School Professor Finds ChatGPT Invents Fake Law Less Than The Supreme Court

Above The Law

ChatGPT can figure out how broken Citizens United was, but then it's not actively on the take. The post Harvard Law School Professor Finds ChatGPT Invents Fake Law Less Than The Supreme Court appeared first on Above the Law.

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Contract Lifecycle Management: A Business Enabler Exploring On-Ground Challenges

CLM tools have always strived to push contract management into the digital age for almost 30 years. But the complexities of digitising a legal document are numerous. The current scenarios in business development have shown that having a fully automated CLM has become a mandate for every law firm and in-house legal department. To determine if you need a CLM system, it's essential to clearly identify the on-ground business challenges you aim to solve.

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The ICJ’s Advisory Opinion on Climate Change: What Happens Now?

ClimateChange-ClimateLaw

Photo by Mathias Reding on Unsplash Climate change litigation has finally reached the world’s highest court. On March 29, 2023, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution requesting an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the obligations of States with respect to climate change. The UNGA adopted resolution (A/77/L.58) by consensus.

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Harvard’s Jacinda Ardean Calls on the United Nations to Crack Down on Free Speech as a Weapon of War

JonathanTurley

Jacinda Ardern may no longer be Prime Minister of New Zealand, but she was back at the United Nations continuing her call for international censorship. Ardern is now one of the leading anti-free speech figures in the world and continues to draw support from political and academic establishments. In her latest attack on free speech, Ardean declared free speech as a virtual weapon of the war.

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Prescribing Red Flags and Suspicious Controlled Substance Orders: Current Cautionary Tales

FDA Law Blog

By Larry K. Houck — Separate decisions by federal district courts in Texas and Puerto Rico in the past two months provide cautionary tales for every pharmacy and wholesale distributor dispensing or distributing controlled substances. On October 10th, based on ability to pay, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas imposed a $275,000 civil penalty on Zarzamora Healthcare LLC, in San Antonio, and its pharmacist-owner.

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UNHCR concerned over consequences of Pakistan deportation orders for Afghan nationals

JURIST

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) expressed concerns during a Tuesday press briefing over Pakistan’s orders for undocumented foreigners to leave the country, saying that the directive has caused fear and panic within Afghan communities. The UNHCR representative in Pakistan, Philippa Candler, cited adverse consequences for Afghan nationals, including registered refugees and individuals with valid documents.

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California Civil Discovery Act Undergoes Significant Overhaul

Short article looking at the new CCP 2016.

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Ethiopia rights commission reports civilian killings in Amhara region

JURIST

The Ethiopia Human Rights Commission (EHRC) issued a report condemning the killing of numerous civilians by drone strikes and house to house searches in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. The Monday report documented several incidents of extrajudicial killings, injuries, displacement and property destruction by the government security forces and state militia.

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US appeals court rules in favor of Native American tribe’s hunting rights on ceded lands

JURIST

The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled on Tuesday in favor of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation’s dispute with the state of Idaho regarding the tribe’s hunting rights on US land. The court found that an 1868 treaty between the Shoshone and the US allows tribe members to hunt on ceded lands without having to permanently reside on a Native American reservation.

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UN special advisor warns of escalating genocide threat in Ethiopia, calls for urgent action

JURIST

A UN special advisor expressed grave concern Tuesday over the rising threat of genocide and related crimes in Ethiopia. UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide Alice Wairimu Nderitu called attention to ongoing battles between government military forces and local militias, highlighting the critical need to address serious human rights violations such as mass executions, sexual assault and the destruction of property.

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Russia Supreme Court labels LGBTQ+ movement ‘extremist,’ drawing international condemnation

JURIST

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk condemned on Thursday the Russian Supreme Court’s decision to outlaw the LGBTQ+ movement in the country and label proponents of the movement “extremists” under new legislation. The court’s decision is the most recent development in Russia’s ongoing crackdown against LGBTQ+ people within the country.

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Dangers of Digital "Reporting": Legal Risks and Unreliable Transcripts

In the world of legal proceedings, the choice between a certified stenographer and digital "reporting" holds significant implications. Certified stenographers go through rigorous training and testing and stand as the gold standard for accuracy in capturing every word. Their expertise ensures a reliable record, a crucial foundation for legal cases.

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UN experts raise ‘grave’ concerns over Bangladesh human rights issues

JURIST

UN experts released a statement on Tuesday raising concerns about the escalating human rights situation in Bangladesh. The statement, issued as the UN Human Rights Council concludes its periodic review of Bangladesh’s human rights record, points to a severe crackdown on human rights across multiple fronts. The experts highlighted a disturbing surge in political violence , the arrest of senior opposition figures, and the widespread arbitrary detention of political activists in the lead-up t

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Rights groups express concerns about China’s forcible return of North Korean detainees

JURIST

Over 50 rights groups expressed their concerns to Chinese President Xi Jinping about the forcible returns of North Korean escapees detained by Chinese authorities. These groups call upon China to end its forcible repatriation of North Korean detainees in accordance with the non-refoulement principle in international law. The letter addresses the potential forceful repatriation of the detainees in China after the reopening of North Korea’s border on August 27.

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Uganda arrests opposition leader and supporters for ‘inciting violence’

JURIST

The Uganda Police Force conducted a security operation on Thursday to quell ongoing protests against the arrest of opposition leader Bobi Wine. According to the official press release, police arrested 40 suspects for inciting violence, including lawmaker Matovu Charles. The Ugandan police allegedly discovered red berets, handheld megaphone speakers and some t-shirts to be used in the procession to “incite violence.” However, Wine, the leader of the the Ugandan major opposition party,

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UN expert claims UK poverty levels violate international law

JURIST

In a Sunday interview with The Guardian, UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights Olivier De Schutter stated that the poverty levels in the UK are “simply not acceptable” and that the UK government is violating international law. The UN poverty envoy is due to visit the country later this week, where he will urge the government to increase welfare spending.

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Optimizing Contract Management and Enhancing Team Collaboration: Insights from a Legal Operations Perspective

Speaker: Adina Marta Newman

Learn about a world of effective contract management and seamless teamwork across departments in this upcoming webinar from Cobblestone Software. You'll discover practical strategies and tips that legal professionals can use to streamline contract processes and enhance collaboration, making significant impact across legal and corporate departments. Join us as we show how you can supercharge contract processes, improve team communication, and take your contributions to the next level.