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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 March 25, 2011 18 Comments

The Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) in Wisconsin has published the budget repair bill which is subject to a TRO against the Secretary of State.The LRB felt that the law could be published, and take effect tomorrow [see Update], because the LRB was not a named...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on March 25, 2011 12 Comments

Supporters of Democrats making death threats against Republican legislators? Snooze.Democratic protesters chasing down and cornering a Republican state Senator outside the State House? Snooze.A Democratic blogger engaging in possible identity theft in order to embarrass the Governor? Snooze.Democratic Senators fleeing to another state to prevent...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on March 25, 2011 7 Comments

In addition to the central donation site linked in a prior post, Wisconsin Republicans have set up The Recall Integrity Center (h/t Chris Cillizza):The Recall Integrity Center provides an outlet for those who have been unfairly targeted by the far left.Please submit videos, recordings, and...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on March 25, 2011 23 Comments

I have highlighted the romanticized view of uprisings in the Middle East taken by NY Times reporters and pundits, projecting Western liberal values onto what in many cases were fundamentalist and virulently anti-Semitic Islamists:NY Times Whitewashes Return of Anti-Semitic Egyptian Cleric Who's Afraid Of The...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on March 25, 2011 4 Comments

She's attacking me, but in fact makes a complete fool of herself, which seems to be her specialty.Details in an update to Kathleen's prior post, Meghan McCain.--------------------------------------------Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTubeVisit the Legal Insurrection Shop on CafePress!...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on March 24, 2011 4 Comments

The other day I posted a link to the Wisconsin Republican Party web page for donating to help defend against recall efforts.A new web portal has been established, Frontline Wisconsin.As described by JSOnline:The Republican Party of Wisconsin has created a political conduit to assist the...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on March 24, 2011 5 Comments

Just started following me on Twitter.  His cartoons are quite good and can be found on his Facebook page.Here is one I like:--------------------------------------------Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTubeVisit the Legal Insurrection Shop on CafePress!...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on March 24, 2011 62 Comments

is that it reflects the reality that Obama's "Birther" strategy has failed politically, something I have long argued.Listen to the crowd reaction beginning at the 2:08 mark, as Donald Trump vigorously and repeatedly states "I want him to show the birth certificate."  The crowd claps loudly...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on March 24, 2011 12 Comments

Thanks to reader Scott who spotted this vehicle in Raleigh, North Carolina, and who assures me that the bumper sticker tide is turning even in Raleigh against Obamamania:(Bonus question:  Guess the flag the driver has on the front of the car.)Update:  No one has come...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on March 23, 2011 6 Comments

The Wisconsin Attorney General filed an emergency application requesting that the Wisconsin Court of Appeals vacate a Temporary Restraining Order issued by Judge Maryann Sumi prohibiting the Secretary of State from publishing the budget repair bill passed by the legislature and signed by Gov. Scott Walker.The...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on March 23, 2011 8 Comments

It's slow posting here today.I'm trying to get as much done on income tax preparation this week as possible, since it's our spring recess.Every year I go through the same thought process:The income tax preparation process is a colossal waste of time, effort and resources.  It...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on March 23, 2011 11 Comments

U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973 (2011) on Libya regarding the protection of civilians makes no distinction as to who is doing the killing (emphasis mine):"4. Authorizes Member States that have notified the Secretary-General, acting nationally or through regional organizations or arrangements, and acting in cooperation with the Secretary-General,...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on March 23, 2011 2 Comments

Reports are just filtering in of a bus bombing in Jerusalem.  I'll update as casualties and other information is reported.This is not surprising.  Hamas several days ago launched dozens of mortars against Israel leading to a round of retaliation, and the Israeli Fogel family was...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on March 22, 2011 7 Comments

Spotted in Providence, Rhode Island, a faded memento of a bygone era, when dissent was patriotic, disobeying authority was hip, and leaders were not followed:"We must behave patriotically, obey authority, and follow our leaders blindly or we will lose our freedom!"That was then, this is...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on March 22, 2011 10 Comments

The website The Blaze has obtained audio of a union organizer presently or recently working for SEIU divulging a plan to collapse the banking system:A partial transcript is here.The interesting thing is that The Blaze received critical acclaim from the left for its assertion that...

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