Moritz Legal Information Blog

In April, 60 Minutes raised questions about Greg Mortenson's book, Three Cups of Tea , including the veracity of some of the stories in it, and whether Mortenson's charity, the Central Asia Institute, is properly run. Now, a federal lawsuit has been filed in Illinois, alleging violation of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. This is not the first lawsuit regarding the book--another was filed in Montana, and class-action status is sought for both of them, so they may be joined by purchasers of Mortenson's book. CBS News MSNBC Justia

A man desperate for health care for several physical ailments planned a bank robbery of one dollar. Previously law-abiding, he handed a note to a bank teller, then sat to wait for the police. He also sent a letter to a local newspaper, calling himself "of sound mind but not so much sound body," so that it would be clear that his true motivation was getting medical care, not money from the bank. Gaston Gazette The Volokh Conspiracy Huffington Post LA Times Blog Hat tip: Sentencing Law and Policy Blog

Today, the Supreme Court issued its opinion in the case of Wal-Mart v. Dukes . Although the Court was unanimous that the class should not be certified, there was a 5-4 split as to the scope of that decision. Commentary: The Volokh Conspiracy Slate Wall Street Journal MarketBeat Blog CBS MoneyWatch Forbes Blog

In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled yesterday that age is a relevant factor to consider as to whether a child is "in custody" for the purposes of Miranda warnings. The majority opinion was written by Justice Sotomayor and joined by Justices Breyer, Ginsburg, Kagan, and Kennedy. The dissent was written by Justice Alito and joined by the Chief Justice, and Justices Scalia and Thomas. J.D.B. v. North Carolina Additional information and commentary: SCOTUSblog PBS NewsHour WSJ Law Blog NPR

The resume advice that worked five years ago might not be so helpful today. Here are a few recent articles on current resume trends: CNNMoney : This one is aimed at executive resumes, but most of the tips would be applicable to other types, as well. Chicago Tribune Wall Street Journal (hat tip to Legal Skills Prof Blog) And, with a focus on references, The Boston Globe

A recent Marquette Law Review article by Jeffrey L. Kirchmeier and Samuel A. Thumma examined the Supreme Court's use of dictionaries in opinions. From the abstract: During Supreme Court Terms 2000–2001 through 2009–2010, the Justices have referenced dictionary definitions to define nearly 300 words or phrases. Yet the Court has never expressly explained the proper role and use of the dictionary in American jurisprudence. The Article studies the frequency and the approach the Justices have taken to citing dictionaries in the new century, and it considers the Court’s lack of a reasoned process for selecting or using dictionaries. The article has also led to a piece in the New York Times by Adam Liptak, pointing out one of the most recent uses of a dictionary: Justice Roberts examined the meaning of the word "of" in the case of Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University v. Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. : That reading follows from a common definition of t

On June 14, 1943, the Supreme Court decided the case of West Virginia Board of Education v. Barnette, holding that it was unconstitutional to compel children to salute the American flag in public schools. From the majority opinion, written by Justice Jackson: The case is made difficult not because the principles of its decision are obscure, but because the flag involved is our own. Nevertheless, we apply the limitations of the Constitution with no fear that freedom to be intellectually and spiritually diverse or even contrary will disintegrate the social organization. To believe that patriotism will not flourish if patriotic ceremonies are voluntary and spontaneous, instead of a compulsory routine, is to make an unflattering estimate of the appeal of our institutions to free minds. We can have intellectual individualism and the rich cultural diversities that we owe to exceptional minds only at the price of occasional eccentricity and abnormal attitudes. When they are so harmless to o