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.
Saturday Night Card Game plays its Syria hand...
There are very good arguments against intervention in Syria, even if I disagree with the conclusions reached from those arguments. I haven't denigrated those who disagree, although I can't say the same is true in reverse. Unfortunately, regardless of how you come out on the issue,...
The internet fights back to overcome liberal funding bias on campus: UNC Gives far left groups larger budget than College Republicans Campus leaders at UNC Chapel Hill find conservative women unworthy to speak UNC Republicans crowd-source fundraising to bring conservative speakers to campus Rioting is a human right --...
From Michelle, seen on a car with Rhode Island plates: While traveling in Carlisle, PA we saw this bumper sticker ...
Having been mostly away from the internet these past two days, I've watched from afar how quickly things have turned on Syria. It's amazing how Obama has gone from being backed into a corner to being on a ledge where his presidency is just a vote...
Some of you may know that Jim Hoft of Gateway Pundit has been quite ill. Here's the latest update from one of his guest bloggers: It would be quite impossible not to have noticed Jim’s absence this past week and a half. As has...
STEVE HOLLAND, REUTERS: Have you made up your mind whether to take action against Syria whether or not you have a congressional resolution approved? Is a strike needed in order to preserve your credibility for when you set these sort of red lines? And were you able to enlist the support of the prime minister here for support in Syria? PRESIDENT OBAMA: Let me unpack the question. First of all, I didn't set a red line. The world set a red line. The world set a red line when governments representing 98 percent of the world's population said the use of chemical weapons are abhorrent and passed a treaty forbidding their use even when countries are engaged in war. Congress set a red line when it ratified that treaty. Congress set a red line when it indicated that in a piece of legislation titled the Syria Accountability Act that some of the horrendous thing that are happening on the ground there need to be answered for. And so, when I said, in a press conference, that my calculus about what's happening in Syria would be altered by the use of chemical weapons, which the overwhelming consensus of humanity says is wrong, that wasn't something I just kind of made up. I didn't pluck it out of thin air. There was a reason for it. That's point number one. Point number two, my credibility is not on the line. The international community's credibility is on the line. And America and Congress' credibility is on the line because we give lip service to the notion that these international norms are important.People are contrasting it with this August 2012 statement: This is too important for gamesmanship:
Rand Paul: Congress "getting too involved on how we execute war."...
From herm2416: Seen on a car in Fish Creek, Wi. Very pro-Obama in 2008, not nearly that in 2012--not even remotely close! You are my go-to website, Professor! Keep it up, you are appreciated! ...
Via AP: Ohio corrections officials say Ariel Castro who held three women captive in his home for nearly a decade has committed suicide at a state prison facility. Spokeswoman JoEllen Smith says 53-year-old Castro was found hanging in his cell around 9:20 p.m. Tuesday at the Correctional...
Umm, let me think on that. I have until September 12 at 4 p.m. to decide. This event sponsored by the Cornell Law School 2nd Amendment Club is open to the public, although good luck finding parking! Update: In response to some reader inquiries, I'm not sure if...
I believe Marco Rubio, Bobby Jindal and Ted Cruz to be "natural born Citizens" and eligible to be President. Here's why. 1. Summary There are few eligibility requirements to be President. You don't have to be smart, wise, experienced, honest, educated, or a particular gender or race. Article II, Section...
The conventional wisdom is answering the wrong question....
In response to my post last night, Oberlin racism hoax exploited to advance “even more extreme policies,” an Oberlin Alum writes: I am an Oberlin College graduate in Chemistry...
