Morning Docket: 12.31.18

* Michael Cohen: The Movie? Cooley Law's most infamous graduate could soon be on the big screen, because Trump's former lawyer/fixer and soon-to-be federal inmate was seen meeting “Pulp Fiction” and “Inglourious Basterds” producer Lawrence Bender. [Page Six] * Judge Reed O’Connor has stayed his ill-conceived ruling that the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional since many people have already purchased their health insurance plans. Gee thanks, Your Honor. How considerate! [National Law Journal] * SCOTUS has kept a pretty low profile in the wake of Justice Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation, but that may soon change thanks to the high-profile appeals the justices will be considering. Get ready for some dramatic 5-4 decisions. [Associated Press] * Speaking of SCOTUS drama, perhaps you've been wondering why Chief Justice Roberts intervened in the Mueller investigation. Mueller's team submitted its briefs on the matter on Friday night, so we'll soon find out what's going on. [POLITICO] * There were a ton of pay equity disputes litigated in 2018, and you can probably expect to see even more in the year to come. In fact, the Supreme Court take a case on the gender-based salary differences soon. Stay tuned. [National Law Journal] * "Big Law killed my husband." For far too long, lawyers' mental health was ignored, but the subject came to a head in 2018. Going forward, more attention will be paid to depression, substance abuse, and other problems lawyers face. [American Lawyer] * Kevin Spacey was seen delivering pizza to paparazzi in Baltimore, Maryland, ahead of his arraignment for felony sexual assault next week. This is the first time he's been seen in public since allegations of this kind were first revealed. [TMZ]

(Paskova/Getty Images)

* Michael Cohen: The Movie? Cooley Law’s most infamous graduate could soon be on the big screen, because Trump’s former lawyer/fixer and soon-to-be federal inmate was seen meeting “Pulp Fiction” and “Inglourious Basterds” producer Lawrence Bender. [Page Six]

* Judge Reed O’Connor has stayed his ill-conceived ruling that the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional since many people have already purchased their health insurance plans. Gee thanks, Your Honor. How considerate! [National Law Journal]

* SCOTUS has kept a pretty low profile in the wake of Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation, but that may soon change thanks to the high-profile appeals the justices will be considering. Get ready for some dramatic 5-4 decisions. [Associated Press]

* Speaking of SCOTUS drama, perhaps you’ve been wondering why Chief Justice Roberts intervened in the Mueller investigation. Mueller’s team submitted its briefs on the matter on Friday night, so we’ll soon find out what’s going on. [POLITICO]

* There were a ton of pay equity disputes litigated in 2018, and you can probably expect to see even more in the year to come. In fact, the Supreme Court take a case on the gender-based salary differences soon. Stay tuned. [National Law Journal]

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* “Big Law killed my husband.” For far too long, lawyers’ mental health was ignored, but the subject came to a head in 2018. Going forward, more attention will be paid to depression, substance abuse, and other problems lawyers face. [American Lawyer]

* Kevin Spacey was seen delivering pizza to paparazzi in Baltimore, Maryland, ahead of his arraignment for felony sexual assault next week. This is the first time he’s been seen in public since allegations of this kind were first revealed. [TMZ]


Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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