Wake Up Call: Biden Said He Regrets Garland as Attorney General

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

• President Joe Biden reportedly complained during a conversation with aides about the Justice Department prosecution of his son, Hunter, and said he “should never have picked” Attorney General Merrick Garland, who appointed the special prosecutor in Hunter’s case, according to Bob Woodward’s new book. (The Washington Post)
• Jessica Rosado, a former chief of the crime victims assistance bureau bureau at the Bronx district attorney’s office, was fired after abusing her position by pushing subordinates to vote for her in a “Fab Over 40” beauty contest. The contests’ winner was to receive $40,000 in cash, a “spa-cation,” and the opportunity to be featured in a magazine. (Gothamist)
• Judge Jeffrey Ashton of the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida is facing an ethics complaint alleging that he “behaved intemperately” in court and showed bias for or against certain parties and attorneys. The complaint includes three instances in which Ashton allegedly shouted at people appearing before him, in one of which he was recorded “shouting down an attorney.” (ABA Journal)

Laterals, Moves, In-House

• Rahul Patel joined Morgan Lewis as a partner in its capital markets and public companies practice. He joins from Davis Polk.
• Kimberly Jones and Sarah Kessler joined Willkie Farr & Gallagher as partners. Jones joins from Faegre Drinker and Kessler joins from Chapman and Cutler.
• Safwan Al-Amin joined Holland & Knight as partner in its litigation practice in Washington. He joins from Squire Patton Boggs.
• Arinze Ike joined Crowell & Moring as a partner in its corporate group in New York. He joins from Kleinberg Kaplan Wolff & Cohen.
• Jack Harrington joined Bradley as a partner in its banking and financial services and government enforcement practice groups. He joins from the Justice Department.
• Joseph Profaizer joined Linklaters as global co-head of international arbitration in its litigation, arbitration, and investigations practice. He joins from Paul Hastings.
• Bingna Guo joined Morgan Lewis as a partner in China. She joins from White & Case.