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Author: William A. Jacobson

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William A. Jacobson

William A. Jacobson is a Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Securities Law Clinic at Cornell Law School.

He is a 1981 graduate of Hamilton College and a 1984 graduate of Harvard Law School. At Harvard he was Senior Editor of the Harvard International Law Journal and Director of Litigation for the Harvard Prison Legal Assistance Project.

Prior to joining the Cornell law faculty in 2007, Professor Jacobson had a highly successful civil litigation and arbitration practice in Providence, Rhode Island, concentrating in investment, employment, and business disputes in the securities industry, including many high profile cases reported in leading newspapers and magazines.

Professor Jacobson has argued cases in numerous federal and state courts, including the Courts of Appeal for the First, Fifth and Sixth Circuits, and the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

Professor Jacobson has a national reputation as a leading practitioner in securities arbitration. He was Treasurer, and is a former member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association, a professional organization of attorneys dedicated to protecting public investors. He frequently is quoted in national media on issues related to investment fraud and investor protection, and in the past has served as one of a small number of private practice attorneys who trained new arbitrators for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Professor Jacobson is co-author of the Securities Arbitration Desk Reference (Thomson-Reuters), updated annually.

Professor Jacobson is frequently quoted in the media on political and legal topics, has authored many Op-Eds in major publications, and appears on television and radio to discuss politics and the law.

A more complete listing of Professor Jacobson's professional background is available at the Cornell Law School website. The views expressed here are his own and not those of any employer or organization,

The best way to reach Prof. Jacobson is by e-mail here.

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 15, 2011 37 Comments

When I heard that NY City police had cleared out Zuccotti Park overnight, I couldn't wait to see the NY Post headline.  I was not disappointed: What do you think of my headline? Do I have what it takes to be a headline writer for the...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 15, 2011 8 Comments

Another insurrectionist bumper sticker photographed by someone from Peoria, AZ. We've seen this one before elsewhere, but it's worth running again, particularly because of the photographer. Thanks to a reader who writes: My son spotted this one in a parking lot in Tucson, AZ a few weeks back.  I guess the...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 14, 2011 60 Comments

This interview failure is getting plenty of play, mostly because of the freeze at the start on Libya. I posted the Perry debate brain freeze, so what's fair is fair: We're heading for the candidate of David Frum, Jennifer Rubin and Politico as nominee unless we...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 14, 2011 34 Comments

Newt is as "dangerous as a wounded wolverine," according to Dan Rather (via Charlie Spiering via Drudge): I think what we need is a wounded wolverine, not a puppy dog or kitten, for a nominee. Expect the full force of the MSM to try to...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 14, 2011 7 Comments

for a first television ad (h/t @Allahpundit): Although she may be on the defensive with ads like this against her: ...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 14, 2011 21 Comments

of Sharon Bialek appeared at a news conference.  I'll post it when available, just so no one can say I didn't post it and am running from the truth. The truth is that the press conference shed little light on the truth.  The ex-boyfriend, who now is...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 14, 2011 16 Comments

You can't take a single poll on it's own, but this CNN poll (data here) released at noon today does comport with the trend of Newt rising as Romney's main challenger, and Cain feeling the effects of the negative publicity. Update: Ed Morrissey, linking also to a PPP poll...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 14, 2011 27 Comments

The Supreme Court has just announced that it will take the Obamacare litigation, meaning that a decision will be rendered on the individual mandate, if not the entire law, by the end of June. As reported in USA Today: The Supeme court said today it will hear...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 14, 2011 5 Comments

The narrative is being set.  Mitt Romney will be the nominee because all other candidate are faltering, and cannot hold up. Who is setting this narrative?  In addition to the usual suspects, add Politico, as in this post by Alexander Burns: Conservatives don’t like him. They really...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 14, 2011 16 Comments

Some interesting Iran things going on. A massive explosion at a military base / missile depot about 12 miles (some reports say 25 miles) from Tehran broke windows in the capital. Claims already are being made that it was Israeli sabotage. One of the dead was the head of...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 14, 2011 6 Comments

hope and change political promises. Thanks to reader Mark in California who writes: I was behind this truck as I headed into the dump this morning. Now we know what happens to all those political promises. Best wishes and thanks for the blog. ...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 13, 2011 25 Comments

You know about the sidewalks of Warren, Rhode Island, where millions were spend on replacing miles of sidewalks hardly anyone walked on, and which, in the rush to spend Stimulus money, were constructed improperly. You also know about the sidewalks to heaven of Lincoln, Rhode Island, and the...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 13, 2011 7 Comments

Via Israel Matzav, a ballad about the failure of the Oslo Accords which created the Palestinian Authority and transplanted the PLO terrorist infrastructure from Tunisia to the West Bank and Gaza. Hang on to the end of the video, knowing that the call on the secure net...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 13, 2011 50 Comments

That's what commenter and blogger Joan of Argghh said last night after watching the clip of Newt taking on Scott Pelley over killing enemy combatants. So what do you say about this one? Update:  Ann Althouse enjoyed Newt's performance also: He listens to the precise question asked and examines...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 13, 2011 7 Comments

Richard Mourdock has been suggested by reader Listkeeper in the Tip Line as a possible Focus for his primary challenge to Richard Lugar.  He has the backing of the Indiana Tea Party. HuffPo says this is the only remaining Senate race where a Tea Party backed...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 13, 2011 13 Comments

The Occupy rallies are devolving into the equivalent of the prison yard, as reflected in multiple incidents around the country of rape and killing, and this story about the slashing of a San Francisco police officer with a type of shiv commonly used by prison gangs (h/t...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 13, 2011 7 Comments

Thanks to reader and frequent photographer Lenny who writes: A van in a south St. Louis, Mo. grocery store parking lot. I cropped out the fun-house mirror effect. :-) ...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 12, 2011 33 Comments

Here was my assessment: End Game – no clear winner. Cain exceeded expectations but only because expectations were low.  Perry redeemed himself but I doubt it will change perceptions.  Newt and Romney were both good, Newt scored his usual slap at the moderator and it...

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