Moritz Legal Information Blog

Two Florida Circuit judges have recused themselves from the Trayvon Martin case. The first, Jessica Recksiedler, withdrew because of a potential conflict of interest—her husband works for with a CNN legal analyst. The second, John D. Galluzzo, formerly practiced with Zimmerman’s current attorney, Mark O’Mara. For more, see coverage in the Miami Herald . That’s not the only recusal in the news lately. The final oral argument of this Supreme Court term, scheduled for April 25, will be one justice short. Justice Kagan recused herself from Arizona v. United States (see cert grant ) because of work she had done as Solicitor General, raising the possibility of a 4-4 decision in this important immigration case . Justice Kagan resisted calls (like this one from Senator Jeff Sessions ) to recuse herself from another big case— U.S. Department of Health and Human Services v. Florida—the Affordable Care Act case. When should judges recuse themselves? Chief Justice John Roberts devoted the first

The Congressional Budget Office recently released new  "infographics" on the federal budget including separate displays for federal revenues , mandatory spending , and discretionary spending , as well as a federal budget overview . According to the CBO, these releases are part of its effort to make budgetary information more accessible.

Teller (the silent half of magical duo Penn & Teller) is suing Gerard Bakardy for allegedly revealing the secret behind "Shadows" (an illusion in which the magician "cuts" the shadow of a flower, and the real flower comes apart) and attempting to sell the secret of the illusion for around $3,000. Teller registered "Shadows" with the U.S. Copyright Office in 1983. MSNBC (watch Teller perform "Shadows" here!) Law and Magic Blog Rabbit-filled hat tip: Legal Blog Watch (Teller's drawing of "Shadows" is here)

Your signature dance moves can and will be used against you. A teen from Galveston, Texas, is one of three suspects in a burglary from a Duck Tours boat.  Security cameras caught the young man dancing, and the routine was recognized by school police officers. Hat Tip: Lowering the Bar  (see the video here!) Huffington Post Galveston Daily News

The Detroit Free Press reports on a troubling situation involving a man with a law degree from a Nigerian law school who apparently represented clients in Michigan courts for several years without a Michigan law license.

We have posted in the past about HB 99 , which would ban texting while driving in Ohio.  Although it passed the House, the bill appears to have stalled, due in part to concerns about enforcement and the definition of the term "texting." Mansfield News Journal Ohio News Network WTOL

A southwestern Ohio student recently filed a complaint in federal court against his school district, alleging that the school unlawfully prevented him from wearing a t-shirt with the message, "Jesus Is Not a Homophobe." Earlier this week a judge issued a temporary ruling permitting the student to wear the t-shirt pending a final ruling of the court. See coverage from the Dayton Daily News .