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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.

Endgame - Significant cuts, no distraction from the Paul Ryan proposal, and an up or down vote on repealing Obamacare in the Senate.  Worth it?11:15 - Mitch McConnell took to the floor.  Says moving on from saving billions to saving trillions.11:10 - Harry took to...

A blog post by one of the students in Jeff Cohen's Independent Media class at Ithaca College, to which I linked this morning, has led The Lonely Conservative to argue that my comment moderation policy contributes to the content of the blog:Since Professor Jacobson’s niche...

Kathy Nickolaus, the Waukesha County Clerk who mistakenly forgot to include the City of Brookfield numbers in the initial county reporting already is under pretty intense attack, including claims she is lying because the reporting error was not technically possible, and that she cannot be trusted "because...

I can't say I really blame them for trying.  Hey, if a Democratic clerk found 7500 votes for Kloppenburg, we'd be screaming bloody murder.But here, the findings of the Waukesha County Republican election official on April 7 were verified by a Democratic election official, so...

I had the pleasure of appearing as a guest speaker at the Independent Media class taught by Jeff Cohen at Ithaca College.  One of the students posted about it:"My independent media professor invited William A. Jacobson, creator of conservative blog “Legal Insurrection,” to our class a...

I was out most of the night, so I only could follow the developments in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race sporadically.  Apparently David Prosser picked up over 7000 votes, and now has a commanding lead, although it is too early to declare victory because there...

Please let it be true and please let it hold.Via JSOnline:The latest vote count in the state Supreme Court race in Winnebago County indicates incumbent David Prosser is leading Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg in votes.A tally compiled by The Associated Press Wednesday and used...

I have written before about the moral angst sweeping the upscale Village of Cayuga Heights, bordering the Cornell campus and home to a large number of professors and staff, over how to control the out-of-control deer population.After years of debate, which tore the community apart, Cayuga...

In Wisconsin government, there seems to be a problem with pro-union politics interfering with job responsibilities as public servants.First it was police union members urging protesters to defy the Governor and legislature when it came to the takeover of the State Capitol.  Then it was...

Via JSOnline, David Prosser has set up a webpage to help raise funds for the inevitable recount fight:After a challenging battle in which a historic number of votes were cast in a Supreme Court race, we need your help in preserving a victory for Justice...

TaxProf has the details on a campaign to prevent a conservative scholar from becoming Dean of Case Western Reserve Law School: And now a public controversy has erupted over one of its dean search finalists:  Bradley A. Smith, Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Designated Professor of Law at...

Jane Corwin is a conservative Republican candidate in the May 24 special election in NY-26 to fill the seat vacated by Chris Lee, and should be well-positioned to win.But, as has happened before, someone has grabbed a Tea Party line on the ballot without any Tea...

As of this writing, Joanne Kloppenburg clings to a tiny lead over David Prosser, with the result not to be known for weeks or months until after a likely recount.  As we know from Minnesota, recounts are not to be taken lightly, and need to...

I don't have a good feeling as votes trickle in today.  I'll keep updating throughout the day on the vote count as maintained by Today's TMJ4 Election site (which seems to be most up to date).  AP provides county breakdowns, but seems to lag.10:02 CT - Kloppenburg...

I just don't know how to make it stop.  Update:  On the other hand, maybe this is not a bad thing.  Keep spending to advertise on this blog, you'll really change some minds.  More showing up:--------------------------------------------Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTubeVisit the Legal Insurrection...

It will be interesting to see what happens in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race.  I believe the polls close at 8 p.m. Central.  I'll have updates on the results, but probably not until an hour or so after the polls close, since I'll be at...

Kathleen already gave a rundown on Keith Olbermann's re-appearance at Cornell.I am so glad I did not attend. I already saw the show on MSNBC.(Thanks to reader Lenny for the link.)--------------------------------------------Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTubeVisit the Legal Insurrection Shop on CafePress!...

You go guy:“I am writing to let you know that I have just announced my decision to run for the U.S. Senate from the Commonwealth of Virginia in 2012,” Kaine wrote in am email to DNC members today. He called the move “an exciting next...