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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 October 06, 2018 160 Comments
Brett Kavanaugh has been confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court, 50-48. He has been sworn in, with a ceremonial swearing in likely Monday. He will take the bench Tuesday.

Posted by William A. Jacobson on October 05, 2018 83 Comments
I'm taking nothing for granted on the Kavanaugh confirmation vote Saturday, October 6, 2018.  Voting time is in flux, could be as early as 3 p.m. Eastern or as late as 5 p.m. We will have live coverage. While it appears Kavanaugh will be confirmed now that Flake, Collins and Manchin are Yes votes, it's ain't over until it's over. Will they still be Yes tomorrow afternoon?

Posted by William A. Jacobson on October 04, 2018 32 Comments
Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island has earned national mockery due to his obsession with Brett Kavanaugh's high school yearbook entries, particularly a fart joke entry. Even Saturday Night Live made fun of him. One of Whitehouse's pet theories, that the "Devil's Triangle" reference in Kavanaugh's yearbook entry related to sex acts, not a drinking game, just took a big hit, Kavanaugh classmates back him up, ‘Devil’s Triangle’ was a drinking game at their High School.

Posted by William A. Jacobson on October 03, 2018 46 Comments
Hundreds of law professors have signed a letter calling Brett Kavanaugh disqualified for the Supreme Court because of the temperament he displayed at the Senate hearing on September 27, 2018, with regard to alleged sexual misconduct. The letter, with original signatories as of October 1, 2018, has been circulating among law faculties. It has become the liberal law professor virtue signaling event of the year.

Posted by William A. Jacobson on October 02, 2018 128 Comments
Chuck Grassley, Republican Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has sent a letter to Christine Blasey Ford's lawyer requesting better cooperation. Grassley again requests access to Fort's therapy records already partially shared with The Washington Post, as well as all written, audiovisual or electronic evidence to support her claims.

Posted by William A. Jacobson on October 01, 2018 66 Comments
The examination of Christine Blasey Ford by Arizona Sex Crimes Prosecutor Rachel Mitchell failed as a television event, but revealed many important details, casting serious doubt on Ford's claim that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in the summer of 1982. Mitchell has now produced a detailed analysis, and it devastates Ford's credibility and reliability.

Posted by William A. Jacobson on September 30, 2018 34 Comments
One of the most important developments in the academic boycott of Israel took place a couple of weeks ago. A professor at the University of Michigan, John Cheney-Lippold, agreed to write a recommendation letter for a student, Abigail Engber, but later refused when he found out the letter would be used for the student to apply to a study abroad program in Israel.

Posted by William A. Jacobson on September 29, 2018 34 Comments
Someone leaked Christine Blasey Ford's letter to Dianne Feinstein to the media, setting off the current firestorm surrounding Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation. Kavanaugh has denied the accusation of assault set forth in the letter, and vigorously defended himself at the hearings. Each of the people Ford has identified as being present during the party in question has denied being at such party.

Posted by William A. Jacobson on September 28, 2018 213 Comments
Jeff Flake is getting the blame for the further delay in the Senate confirmation floor vote for Brett Kavanaugh. After announcing he would vote in favor of Kavanaugh at the Judiciary Committee, without any conditions, Flake was pulled aside in the Senate hearing anteroom and aggressively lobbied by Democrats. It was an unusual scene, with Chuck Grassley and other Republican Senators waiting for Flake to emerge so that a vote could be taken.

Posted by William A. Jacobson on September 27, 2018 205 Comments
Brett Kavanaugh's testimony is over. I assessed Christine Ford's testimony earlier, Mid-Hearing Assessment: Christine Blasey Ford believes an untruth. I heard Kavanaugh's opening statement, but missed over half of his question and answer because of another commitment. So I've been catching up via Twitter, highlights and reports. I think I have a good sense of how it went.
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