Wake Up Call: ABA Opposes Probes Into Bar Associations’ DEI

Welcome to Bloomberg Law’s Wake Up Call, a daily rundown of the top news for lawyers, law firms, and in-house counsel.

• The American Bar Association urged the Trump administration to roll back its executive order calling for federal investigations into diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts by bar associations. The resolution, which had no vocal opponents at the association’s meeting, marks the ABA’s first public stance on the order that cited bar associations along with medical associations and other private-sector entities as potential targets for federal civil investigations into DEI programs. (Reuters)
• John Eastman, known for authoring a legal strategy to try and overturn the 2020 election, is at the center of a renewed legal battle to restrict birthright citizenship. Eastman spent decades arguing that the 14th Amendment does not grant citizenship to children of unauthorized immigrants and temporary visa holders, a once-fringe view that has gained traction in conservative circles. (The Washington Post)
• Richard Snyder, a town judge in upstate New York, resigned after attempting to avoid jury duty by declaring he couldn’t be impartial, claiming that everyone who appears in court is guilty. His remarks, made during jury selection, led to misconduct charges from the state judicial commission. At a later hearing, Snyder acknowledged the presumption of innocence but maintained that defendants must have done something wrong to end up in court. (Associated Press)

Laterals, Moves, In-House

• Jerome McCluskey joined Latham & Watkins as a partner in its banking and private equity finance practices in New York. He joins from Charlesbank Capital Partners.
• Marc Berger joined Latham & Watkins as a global co-chair of its white collar defense and investigations practice in New York. He joins from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.
• Gerald Konkel joined Pillsbury as a partner in its insurance recovery and advisory practice in Washington. He joins from Morgan Lewis.
• Dan Harris joined Morrison Foerster as a partner in its emerging companies and venture capital group in San Francisco.
• Marc Rawls joined Squire Patton Boggs as a partner and deputy corporate practice group leader in Atlanta. He joins from Eversheds Sutherland.
• Daniel Gitner joined Debevoise & Plimpton as a partner in its white collar and regulatory defense group in New York. He joins from the US attorney’s office of the Southern District of New York.
• Ashley Wheelock joined Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton as a health-care partner in Houston. She joins from Troutman Pepper Locke.
• Todd Dixon joined Taft Stettinius & Hollister as a partner and co-chair of its aviation practice in Chicago.
• Ted Wolff joined Nixon Peabody as a partner in its environmental team in New York.
• Rachael Pontikes, Emily Hussey, and Shannon McClure joined Blank Rome as partners in its life sciences industry team and business litigation group. They join from Reed Smith.
• Jason Boren joined Holland & Hart as a partner in its litigation practice in Salt Lake City.
• Alexander Marcopoulos joined Hughes Hubbard as a partner in its international arbitration practice in Paris.
• Veronica Renzi joined Womble Bond Dickinson as a partner in its business litigation practice group in Washington.
• Sam Crockett Neel joined Snell & Wilmer as a partner in its special litigation and compliance practice group in Washington. He joins from McDermott Will & Emery.