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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 January 09, 2011 15 Comments

I watched the medical team press conference at noon.  I have to say, I remain so impressed with the professionalism and determination of the medical trauma teams at the University Medical Center in Tucson, and elsewhere.  It is comforting to know that even in a...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on January 09, 2011 72 Comments

The shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and the killing of several people by gunman Jared Loughner in Arizona yesterday has revealed two sicknesses.The first and most serious is the sickness living in Loughner's head.  Evidence in the form of farewell videos, internet postings, and the...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on January 08, 2011 55 Comments

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) and over a dozen others were shot earlier this afternoon.  At last reports, she was in critical condition and in surgery.  The gunman is in custody but no details on his identity or motive have been released.The left-blogosphere already is blaming the...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on January 08, 2011 3 Comments

What will the Mossad think of next?A few years ago the Egyptian press was full of reports about an alleged Mossad plot to distribute chewing gum that would cause young women to become sexually promiscuous. Though it heavily censors its press, the government did nothing...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on January 08, 2011 7 Comments

Why do I torture myself like this?  I have warned you, but I don't take my own advice.  Damn Operation Demoralize, it's like the wreck at the side of the road and I can't drive by without looking.It's been fewer than three full business days, and Republicans...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on January 08, 2011 10 Comments

Mitch Daniels, Republican of Governor of Indiana and prospective presidential candidate, is having some fun with proposed tax increases in neighboring Illinois, as reflected in Daniels' interview with The Northwest Indiana Times (h/t Illinois Review):Gov. Mitch Daniels thinks Illinois' proposed 75 percent hike in its corporate...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on January 07, 2011 24 Comments

Bill Kristol has floated the idea of a Paul Ryan - Marco Rubio ticket in 2012:Having just returned from the e21 and Manhattan Institute-sponsored Conversation with Paul Ryan (very ably conducted by Paul Gigot)--and having seen Marco Rubio speak recently as well, I'll just say...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on January 07, 2011 6 Comments

These numbers from NYC on the abortion rate are shocking in a world where shocking has ceased to have much meaning.  As summarized by CBS News:"The city health department last month released statistics that showed 39 percent of pregnancies ended with induced termination in 2009."This equates to...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on January 07, 2011 8 Comments

Needless to say, administration supporters will be touting that the unemployment rate released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics this morning dropped from 9.8% to 9.4%.  Politically, this is good news for Obama, at least in the short run.Dig just a bit deeper, and you...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on January 06, 2011 4 Comments

From the producer of Feminism Explained and Meet the Liberal Elite. Thanks again to reader Robin for the link.[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgTFiMUF4kY?fs=1]Once again, liberal consciences were put to the test.--------------------------------------------Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTubeVisit the Legal Insurrection Shop on CafePress!...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on January 06, 2011 5 Comments

From Ezra Klein, a catalogue of Obama-things Bill Daley, the new Chief of Staff, opposed:Imagine I told you that one of the candidates President Obama is considering for chief of staff opposed the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, opposed doing health-care reform and...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on January 06, 2011 0 Comments

One of the deals worked out in the lame duck session was the confirmation of 19 judicial nominees without action on four controversial nominees, including Goodwin Liu and John J. "Jack" McConnell.As reported by AP (h/t Senatus):President Barack Obama on Wednesday resubmitted a batch of federal...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on January 06, 2011 7 Comments

One of Linc Chafee's key campaign promises in running for Governor was to rescind an executive order in Rhode Island which required vendors doing business with state agencies to use the federal E-Verify system to verify the immigration status of employees, and directing the state police...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on January 06, 2011 8 Comments

The State of Ithaca, NY, has been the subject of multiple posts here, reflecting on what it is like living in "10 Square Miles Surrounded By Reality."One question I frequently hear is, "Is there a Tea Party in Ithaca?"The answer is, yes there is, and thanks...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on January 05, 2011 6 Comments

What do you think?[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiD_EVNQRiI?fs=1]The happiest person in the room?  Mitch McConnell.--------------------------------------------Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTubeVisit the Legal Insurrection Shop on CafePress!...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on January 05, 2011 14 Comments

The mainstream media will undertake, and already has undertaken, a concerted effort to blame the Republican House for everything that goes wrong, for not living up to promises, for living up to promises, for failing to compromise, for selling out, etc.Do not fall for it.  Holding the...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on January 05, 2011 10 Comments

Ms. Speaker, tear down that nameplate:Here is an image of the doorway in happier (for Pelosi) days.--------------------------------------------Related Posts:Bumper Stickers - The SeriesFollow me on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTubeVisit the Legal Insurrection Shop on CafePress!...

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