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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 November 19, 2009 1 Comment

Chuck Schumer defends Obama's decision to try 9/11 subjects in civilian court in lower Manhattan.But Schumer was against it (via HotAir and Washington Times) in 2001, using words which explained the lack of logic to a civilian trial for the planners of the 9/11 attacks...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 19, 2009 8 Comments

Tom Coburn (R-Ok) may request, as is his right under Senate Rules, that the entire 2,027 page Harry Reid health care restructuring bill be read out loud on the floor of the Senate prior to debate: A little quick math shows that at a minute...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 19, 2009 1 Comment

There is one number about which Harry Reid and the Democrats almost never talk: 255 million.That is the number of Americans who have health insurance, according to the September 2009 Report released by the Census Bureau (at page 20). The vast majority of those people...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 19, 2009 2 Comments

It is clear that Democrats, who opposed shock and awe on the actual battlefield, find it a useful tactic in the health care debate.Last night, Harry Reid released the 2,074 page bill he created in secret, and he wants to start debate immediately. If he...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 18, 2009 14 Comments

Harry Reid and his Democratic band of friends want to impose a 5% excise tax on all elective cosmetic surgeries (those which are not needed to repair deformaties or injuries caused by an accident or disfiguring disease). It's all in Section 9017 of Harry Reid's...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 18, 2009 0 Comments

Finally, Harry Reid has released his health care restructuring bill. It is a whopping 2,074 pages.And it will save money, is his spin. The CBO report is not yet posted on its website and has not been released by Reid, so it may not be...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 18, 2009 10 Comments

From Politico:With the president’s year-end deadline for health care reform looming, congressional Democrats know they’ll almost certainly have to short-circuit the legislative process to get the bill done. --------------------------------------------Follow me on Twitter and Facebook...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 18, 2009 3 Comments

The Newsweek cover of Sarah Palin in fitness clothing is becoming the teachable moment of the year. Because liberal women are beginning -- just beginning -- to acknowledge that liberals of both genders are so driven by hatred of Sarah Palin that their worst instincts...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 18, 2009 4 Comments

TBogg, who blogs at Firedoglake, doesn't want to miss an excuse to take a dig at Trig Palin, Sarah Palin's son who was born with Down Syndrome. The excuse this time is the Newsweek cover showing what even Media Matters calls a sexist portrayal of...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 18, 2009 5 Comments

Whey do I have the feeling that this is Obama's "Mission Accomplished" moment? Stay tuned. -------------------------------------------- Follow me on Twitter and Facebook...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 18, 2009 4 Comments

As anyone who reads this blog knows, I am not a fan of Media Matters. All too often, Media Matters spends way too much time staring at videos of the latest O'Reilly show or speech by a Republican politician, or listening to every syllable uttered...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 18, 2009 0 Comments

Any day (minute, hour?) Harry Reid will release his health care restructuring plan. If reports are true, Reid plans to start debate as soon as he can get the necessary votes, and have the Senate work Saturdays until Reid gets his up or down vote...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 17, 2009 11 Comments

The Huffington Post has removed the impostor who was using "Legal Insurrection" to post comments at HuffPo, as detailed in my prior post, Why Is Someone Impersonating Me?People impersonating others is a real problem on the internet, and should give caution to anyone who relies...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 17, 2009 1 Comment

Because Death and Nude Swiss Hikers didn't work so well: -------------------------------------------- Follow me on Twitter and Facebook...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 17, 2009 2 Comments

At least Andrew Sullivan is honest that the main purpose of a civilian trial for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is not obtaining a conviction of KSM. A conviction could be obtained more efficiently and just as fairly in a military tribunal.As I posted earlier, the purpose...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 17, 2009 9 Comments

See Update below-------------------------------------------Politico is one of the class acts in internet news to which I link frequently, and Ben Smith is a justifiably respected commentator at Politico.Which is why it pains me to have to point out that yesterday Smith unfairly smeared Robert Stacy McCain...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 17, 2009 7 Comments

There is almost unanimous applause in the left-wing blogosphere and mainstream media editorial boards for Obama's decision to put Khalid Sheikh Mohammed on trial in a civilian court. The decision is being hailed as a courageous act to restore the rule of law. In fact,...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on November 16, 2009 2 Comments

As we are led to believe that negotiations are underway to convince Iran to give up its uranium enrichment program, comes this disclosure by The Times of London that the International Atomic Energy Agency has been double-dealing:United Nations and Iranian officials have been secretly negotiating...

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