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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.

What is it with Massachusetts Democrats?During the Scott Brown - Martha Coakley election, the Massachusetts Democratic Party played the rape card on Brown, circulating a mass mailing claiming Brown wanted rape victims turned away from hospitals.Now they are attempting to capitalize on allegations related to a police strip...

Why does Juan Williams negatively stereotype oppressed minorities?  Here's what he said about crime in the inner city:There is nothing more painful to me at this stage in my life than to walk down the street and hear footsteps and start thinking about robbery. Then...

Will California ride the wave?Spotted by a reader in Newport Beach, CA:--------------------------------------------Related Posts:Bumper Stickers - The SeriesFollow me on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube...

I couldn't resist the title.Don't get too excited about reports that the Marine Corps. has reserved and refuses to share all local supplies of Port-o-Potties for the Marine Corps. Marathon the day after Jon Stewart's "Restore Sanity" rally.Even if true, you know who ultimately commands the Marine...

What we always suspected to be true about the function of Media Matters for America and the bloggers who suckle at its informational teet, we now know to be true:Media Matters, the liberal activist group that wages a rhetorical war against Fox News Channel and others...

Obama is all in with the Jon Stewart "Restoring Sanity" rally next weekend, even doing an appearance on Stewart's show a few days before.  As reported by AP:President Barack Obama is taking his campaign message to "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart. White House spokesman...

The mainstream media and blogosphere have erupted because in a radio debate Christine O'Donnell appeared to dispute whether "separation of church and state" was required by the First Amendment.  (O'Donnell's campaign walked back the position after the debate, saying O'Donnell merely meant that the words...

These are the final candidates to whom I am contributing:John Raese (Senate, West Virginia)(open seat, formerly Robert Byrd)Dino Rossi (Senate, Washington)(v. Patty Murray, incumbent)Todd Young (IN-9)(v. Baron Hill, incumbent)Van Tran (CA-17)(v. Loretta Sanchez, incumbent)Allen West (FL-22)(v. Ron Klein, incumbent)Jeff Perry (MA-10)(open seat, formerly Bill Delahunt)Plus, past...

Last January, and again in late September, I wrote that the Achilles heel of the Obama green energy agenda -- which involves a stifling of carbon-based energy use through taxation and regulation in favor of "green" energy sources -- failed to take into account that green energy...

I have to admit, for this day, the Democrats have me feeling like the bird of prey befuddled by the flock of smaller birds, who in their sheer numbers confuse the attacker.The Democrats are throwing out so much irrelevant personal nonsense -- it's hard to know how to...

The NY Times continues its cone of silence regarding Democratic Congressman Maurice Hinchey's (D-NY22) assault on a reporter for the Kingston (NY) Daily Freeman who questioned Hinchey's possible conflict of interest in obtaining federal earmarks for a property partially owned by Hinchey.The reporter is standing...

Sent by a reader who spotted this in south St. Louis, and who assures me "I'm not nearly as fat as my reflection would indicate."Once again, I have to warn readers about the occupational hazards of photographing bumper stickers, including the dreaded fun-house mirror syndrome.The photographer also...

Democrat Jack Conway's advertisement asserting that there are "questions" about Republican Rand Paul's Christianity, raises in interesting issue.Substitute Barack Obama for Rand Paul, tweak a few of the allegations, and you would have an advertisement as to which the mainstream media and left-wing blogosphere would...

Obama will be appearing on the Discovery Channel television program Mythbusters, according to an AP report (h/t Pundette):President Barack Obama will appear on an episode of “Mythbusters,” a television show that uses science to determine the truth behind urban legends.The White House says the episode will...

Obama just can't fathom why people oppose his policies.  They can't be thinking people.  They must be stupid and scared:"Part of the reason that our politics seems so tough right now, and facts and science and argument do not seem to be winning the day...

Going to be leaving on a jet plane soon, but not before noting some of the headlines today:Meghan McCain: Christine O'Donnell 'Seen as Nutjob' - Uh, Meghan, that's a lot better than how you are seen.AIDS Activists In Boston Heckle An Angry President Obama - Somehow...