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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.

John J. "Jack" McConnell, Jr. was confirmed by the U.S. Senate yesterday after a struggle by Sen. Mitch McConnell and other Republican Senators to block the nomination by opposing an unexpected cloture petition filed by Harry Reid.A key group of Republican Senators, led by Lidsey...

Sure, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service may be about to shut down oil production in a key region of Texas to protect the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard.  But the Feds are ignoring the threat from this environmental danger, the Texas Roadrunner, caught here eating a,...

That'll keep 'em happy.  Really:The Senate Indian Affairs committee will hold a hearing Thursday on racist Native American stereotypes, a hearing that will now also address the Osama bin Laden mission and the code-name Geronimo.While the hearing was scheduled before the mission, a committee aide...

If you have been watching the left sidebar, you have seen that I've featured Dean Friedman for the past several days.  I have his original album from 1977, now if only I had a turntable that worked. So I was delighted when Dean reached out to...

Will no mean no, or will it mean no until later?Via Mark Knoller of CBS News:Added:  Next question - --------------------------------------------Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTubeVisit the Legal Insurrection Shop on CafePress!...

Euphoria Sunday night has turned into a complete muddle of embarrassingly conflicting accounts.As for the release of photos and other proof, did they not think that through beforehand?I suggest the adminsitration get a handle on it, now, because it's getting away.Is anyone in charge?--------------------------------------------Follow me on...

Via TaxProf comes this news:  51% of income "tax filing units" now pay no federal income tax.  While that does not necessarily translate into 51% of the population, it still shows that there is a strong political incentive to pander to those who pay no federal income...

So reports The Providence Journal regarding the nomination of John J. "Jack" McConnell, Jr. for an open seat on the Rhode Island federal District Court.The reason this has become a "war" is that Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has threatened to block future nominees under Republican presidents, as...

Gallup is out with a poll taken yesterday on the issue of who deserves credit for finding and killing Osama bin Laden.The results are very telling.  Understandably, the U.S. military gets the most credit (89% Great Deal, 9% Moderate Amount), followed by the CIA (62/26).Obama has been...

I reported on Friday how Democrats were using call centers to make suggestive and misleading "push-calls" to people who signed recall petitions against Democratic State Senator Robert Wirch.  The problem apparently is not limited to Wirch.  A group which filed recall petitions against Democratic Senator David...

Thanks to reader Bill who spotted these on a vehicle in St. Petersburg, Florida.Patience, my friend, patience:--------------------------------------------Related Posts:Bumper Stickers - The SeriesFollow me on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTubeVisit the Legal Insurrection Shop on CafePress!...

The demand for a recount, at taxpayer expense, by JoAnne Kloppenburg has produced almost no change in the vote count after six days of counting, but has cost taxpayers several hundred thousand dollars already.The Prosser Recount committee has a handy way of keeping track of...

Update - Vote in Senate will be Wednesday at noon.  See updated post, Senate To "Go To War" Today Over Jack McConnell Nomination. ------------------I have posted frequently about John J. "Jack" McConnell, Jr., nominated for an open seat to the U.S. District Court in Rhode Island. ...

Hearing the news of Osama bin Laden's death brought forward many emotions and memories.One of those memories for me was the story of Johnny "Mike" Spann, from Winfield, Alabama, the first American killed in the Afghanistan war, on November 25, 2001.Spann was a CIA operative,...

Taken by reader Scott in North Raleigh, NC, while stopped at a red light (thanks for humoring me).Scott says it's one of the first time's he's agreed with a Tar Heels fan.  Hey, maybe this has brought us all together:--------------------------------------------Related Posts:Bumper Stickers - The SeriesFollow...

Back to reality.  Osama bin Laden is still dead, and the economy still stinks, Teen joblessness may hit record this summer: A record-low one in four U.S. teenagers will land a summer job in the coming months as a result of a still-poor job market...

Recent change noted (h/t Sister Toldjah)--------------------------------------------Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTubeVisit the Legal Insurrection Shop on CafePress!...