The next bar exam is only how many days away?

If you're studying, don't panic. You still have time to cram in some subject you are worried about, and do all that extra essay practice that's on your damned study schedule.

Since you need something to laugh about, though, here's an interview with a bar exam lecturer who's been at it --lecturing on Torts for Barbri, that is --  for 24 years.

Why the decline in recent LSAT applicants?

Recent years have shown a downward trend to the amount of people applying to law schools and taking the LSAT (law school aptitude test). Why? It's because the recent law grads -- those just out, looking for work, and finding little to no help from their law schools-- feel disaffected and left out. Their advice to others inquiring about a decision to go to law school has been "don't go."

At least that's the theory in this article from Above the Law. 

(hat tip, taxprofblog).

Wondering about winter already? You must be from Michigan. Polar Vortex possibility?

You must be from Michigan if you're thinking about the coming winter already. I have bad news for you: the Polar Vortex could return for winter 2014-15. Time to buy some sweaters!

Article here. 

A side note: in my house, we had a burst water heater, furnace out, burst pipes, and raining ceilings. And we were only into January by then.

Bystander's deaths from Michigan State Police pursuits sparks lawsuit

Family members and community organizers are demanding answers after two crashes involving Michigan State Police troopers have left two Flint women dead in less than a month.

Article here. 

Attorney Geoffrey Fieger announced that he would file a $50 million lawsuit on behalf of the victims.

Yankees fan caught napping on camera sues for defamation

A Yankees fan who was caught on camera napping at an April 13 game has filed a $10 million suit for alleged defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Article here. 

Bad idea: Man already convicted, plots to kill judge who sentenced him

Already serving a prison term of between four and 13 years for burglary, an inmate accused of plotting to kill the Pennsylvania judge who sentenced him is now being tried for criminal solicitation to commit criminal homicide.

Article here.

Constitutional Law History: Can Congress sue the President?

The answer: we might be about to find out.

Article here.

The good news for the House GOP is that courts have never said a congressional chamber may not sue the president for usurping legislative powers.

The bad news is they’ve never agreed to hear to such a case either. And scholars interviewed say they’re skeptical a court will make such a move anytime soon. Mr. Obama himself has brushed off the legal threat: “They’re not doing anything, and then they’re mad at me for doing something,” he said last week.

The problem is (or will be) whether the House has standing. What is standing? It means that the plaintiff has to have suffered something - a wrong - at the hands of the defendant. It's one of the basic steps of a lawsuit. In Constitutional Law terms, the plaintiff (or a group that is taking the plaintiff's shoes, like when an environmental group sues on behalf of its members) has to have suffered a wrong, the wrong must be "ripe" (called "mootness," or still needing to get a remedy from the court), and the court must be able to address the wrong (because the courts don't like to give advisory opinions, they prefer to settle something between actual parties).

Con Law was one of my favorite subjects, and this fact pattern seems like something out of an exam question, maybe for 5-10 points on a final exam.