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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.

Michele Bachmann pretty much ended Tim Pawlenty's campaign. Bachman attacked Pawlenty relentlessly and took the Iowa straw poll, causing Pawlenty (foolishly, in hindsight) to withdraw.  In so doing, Bachmann eliminated the person who was the most viable not-Romney establishment candidate, a former Governor with a good, conservative record...

How disgusting and politically corrupt is the Washington Post?  This disgusting and politically corrupt (h/t Ed Morrissey). WaPo runs this headline, FBI considered a sting aimed at Newt Gingrich in 1997, accompanied by an ominous super-close up of Gingrich: Sounds pretty bad.  Even if not charged, Newt must...

You will like this. Netanyahu to ‘New York Times’: Take a hike (h/t @allahpundit): Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is refusing to pen an op-ed piece for The New  York Times, signaling the degree to which he is fed up with the influential  newspaper’s editorial policy on Israel. In a...

In case you missed it last night, the full video is available at Sheya. Tweets of the Night are here, and my quick post-game analysis here. Here are some highlights: Newt on Pipeline and "Zany" Michelle Bachmann v. Ron Paul on Iran Newt on Courts More to follow [note -...

Governor Scott Walker is facing a massive recall effort mounted by national unions and Democrats looking to take out a leading Republican.  It appears that enough signatures have been gathered to force a recall election in the spring. Walker will win if Wisconsin voters have a...

End game analysis:  Hard to assess.  Both Newt and Romney had tough segments, Newt's earlier in the night, Romney towards end.  Newt had most highlight moments.  Perry fine, but not a real presence, not asked many questions.  Santorum very good.  Bachmann tough, but she doesn't...

I'll be covering the debate tonight starting at 9 p.m. Eastern.  It will not be a "Live Event" but rather, me giving commentary as it goes, probably at the breaks as I have done for several other debates. In the meantime: Newt is sliding in the polls,...

I have posted many times before about David Cicilline, former Mayor of Providence who hid the city's financial problems during the 2010 election, and ran a scare grandma campaign, allowing him a relatively (for Rhode Island) narrow win over John Loughlin in my home RI-01...

We should defer to the judgment of people who run a cover like this? National Review is off the rails and off its rocker.  And plenty of their writers are having a good laugh about it on Twitter today. Related:  The making of an anti-Romney...

I don't think Newt really has any choice but to stay positive.  Deep down I think it's what people want, and in any event, he doesn't have the money to flood the airwaves in Iowa that way Paul and Romney's SuperPAC are doing. My worry? Positive may...

For something that is pretty funny (h/t windbag in the Tip Line) "NEWT GINGRICH" — a Bad Lip Reading Soundbite - watch more funny videos ...

I have tried to emphasize time and again here that I am not anti-Romney. When I endorsed Newt on November 16, I made sure to point out that I thought Romney was a smart and decent person, but I saw fundamental flaws in his candidacy, none...

"I really don't care what you think." Thanks to Linda, again, for these taking in Nasheville, TN:  ...

Newt Gingrich has been raked over the coals for using the term "right wing social engineering" with regard to Paul Ryan's Medicare Plan released last spring.  In context, Newt was making the point that the plan as proposed went to far in one fell swoop to pass...

Desperate campaigns engage in desperate tactics, and the Romney campaign with its "zany" comment today now has sunk lower, bringing up Newt's Tiffany purchases: In a capitalist country, what business is it of anyone what someone purchases with their own money? Charles, I'm sure you'll be...