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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 April 18, 2011 2 Comments

is that the real news is too depressing, which probably is why a reader sent this to me.  Nothing like Cowboy Monkey Rodeo to bring a smile to your* face:* It probably would be more correct to say "a smile to one's face."  I wanted...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on April 18, 2011 17 Comments

WikiLeaks just released classified U.S. diplomatic cables indicating that since the second term of George Bush and continuing at least into part of the Obama term, the U.S. has provided funding to opposition groups in Syria.  As reported by The Washington Post:The State Department has...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on April 18, 2011 21 Comments

For almost the entire two and one-half years I've been blogging I've had to put up with Paul Krugman accusing Republicans, conservatives and Tea Party supporters of inciting violence through heated rhetoric over policy differences, particularly Obamacare.I've even started a tag for Paul Krugman, which prior...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on April 17, 2011 18 Comments

...(Whitney Point, NY, 4-17-2011)And we we should give further thanks that the current President of the United States understands the forces which come together in what we sometimes call "markets."  Because if we had as President someone less highly credentialed, less schooled in economic theory,...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on April 17, 2011 13 Comments

are black Tea Party supporters, who must endure taunts like this:(h/t Breitbart)--------------------------------------------Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTubeVisit the Legal Insurrection Shop on CafePress!...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on April 17, 2011 18 Comments

In using that term, Sarah Palin issued a political call to action directed at the men who rule the Republican Party:"We didn’t elect you just to rearrange the deck chairs on a sinking Titanic," Palin said during a rally in front of the Wisconsin statehouse in...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on April 17, 2011 8 Comments

Israeli has arrested two teenage Palestininians from a village near where the Fogel family lived for the murder of the five Fogel family members, including three children.  As reported by the Jersusalem Post (h/t Israel Matzav):Two Palestinian youths from the village of Awarta were arrested in...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on April 16, 2011 9 Comments

On display in Madison, Wisconsin today, as related to me by reader Jim, who sent this photo:"This guy was next to me screaming for two hours. Here he is showing civility and tolerance to Sarah Palin."What can I say, I look for the good in...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on April 16, 2011 10 Comments

Hopefully this live feed will work for you, I'll also post updates.  Click on the large centered play button if you want to open it in a different window, or on the small play button at the bottom left if you want to view it...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on April 16, 2011 7 Comments

Here's why.  Despite all the vitriol from the unions and Democrats, Walker is getting Wisconsin's fiscal house in order.From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (h/t @byronyork)(emphasis mine):The property tax bill on the typical Wisconsin home would rise by less than 1% annually over the next two...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on April 16, 2011 27 Comments

There's not much I can add to Mark Levin's explanation of why Donald Trump does not represent the conservative or Tea Party movements.  He wasn't there when we needed him, and he helped those who were against us.So why the swirling support around Trump?Much of...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on April 15, 2011 39 Comments

The results have just been posted in the Milwaukee County canvass, and nothing much changed from yesterday. AP reports Prosser picked up 11 more votes and is the winner. I repeat, JoAnne Kloppenburg lost.  David Prosser won.The vote margin stands at 7316, a virtually insurmountable...

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

As we await the one remaining county yet to complete its canvass, comes this heartening news via JSOnline:In the wake of the state's hotly contested Supreme Court race, a sharply divided Milwaukee Election Commission voted along party lines Thursday to prohibit its own members from...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on April 15, 2011 4 Comments

Could tonight be the night it all comes together?Friday Night Prisoner Exchange?Is The Andrew still up for it?There was a time when the idea of an exchange was so appealing to him.He still wants one of the prisoners, worse than ever.  The other one, not so...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on April 14, 2011 11 Comments

The conspiracy theories run deep at Think Progress when it comes to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Koch Industries.The latest post by Lee Fang, the designated Koch investigator at Think Progress, attempts to bring David Prosser into the conspiracy as well, by claiming that recent environmental regulations...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on April 14, 2011 2 Comments

I have long chronicled the sad financial condition of my home State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, particularly the problem of public sector pensions.Simply put, high pensions, and the taxes needed to feed the pension system, are killing the state.  And that's not me talking,...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on April 14, 2011 1 Comment

Last July I reported on the absurdity of federal Stimulus Plan money going to building miles of new sidewalks in Warren, Rhode Island, in areas where few people walked.Last November, I reported on the fact that the unnecessary new sidewalks were built improperly.Now I can report that...

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