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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 December 18, 2008 2 Comments

As previously reported, the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) came under intense pressure to move its annual convention, scheduled to start January 6, 2009, away from the San Diego Grand Hyatt because the hotel is owned by a contributor to the pro-Proposition 8 campaign...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on December 18, 2008 0 Comments

I am listening to the Illinois legislature debate health care reimbursement rates and coverage, rule changes with regard to health coverage, and other very important issues affecting the people of Illinois. I'm also learning about JCAR (the Illinois Joint Committee on Administrative Rules), and how...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on December 18, 2008 0 Comments

Thanks for Illinois Review for cross-posting this piece.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The lawsuit filed by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to remove Gov. Rod Blagojevich from office had almost no legal or factual basis. Legally, the lawsuit failed to set forth any authority which would warrant the Illinois Supreme...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on December 17, 2008 0 Comments

As we predicted repeatedly (here, and here, and here, and here), the Illinois Supreme Court has rejected the unprecedented request of Attorney General Lisa Madigan to remove Gov. Rod Blagojevich from office, or alternatively, strip Blagojevich of his executive powers. The motion was ill-advised, legally...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on December 17, 2008 0 Comments

The Illinois legislature has a problem. It has little guidance as to the standard or procedures for impeachment of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, and must be mindful of not ruining the criminal prosecution commenced by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. Blagojevich will use the legislature's dilemma to...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on December 17, 2008 1 Comment

Various states, including Rhode Island and North Carolina, are considering taxing motorists based on how many miles they drive. These proposals, understandably, have generated outrage among motorists.News Alert: There already is a mileage tax. It's called the gasoline tax. Motorists pay state and federal taxes...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on December 17, 2008 0 Comments

Stifling taxes and a large government bureaucracy really work:The violent unrest that followed the shooting of a 15-year-old boy has driven Greece to the brink of a political crisis. The rioting marks an explosion of rage by the country's young people who have few prospects...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on December 17, 2008 2 Comments

The first attempt of Illinois legislators to meet to lay the groundwork for impeaching Gov. Rod Blagojevich didn't get off the ground. The legislative committee put together by House Speaker Michael Madigan stopped working after less than two hours. Reports indicate that the committee was...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on December 16, 2008 0 Comments

Thanks to Illinois Review and Backyard Conservative for cross-posting this piece.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Reuters is reporting that "Illinois will go ahead with a much-needed $1.4 billion borrowing on Tuesday after a deal was reached with state constitutional officers on legal language issues related to fraud and bribery charges...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on December 16, 2008 0 Comments

Thanks to Illinois Review for cross-posting this piece.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan has announced that in six days the Illinois legislature will convene a committee to begin considering whether the Illinois legislature should commence impeachment proceedings against Governor Rod Blagojevich. This measured announcement...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on December 15, 2008 1 Comment

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is running circles around Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, at least so far.Reports that Gov. Blagojevich is open to signing legislation for a special election for Barack Obama's open Senate seat puts the AG in an impossible position. If the AG...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on December 14, 2008 8 Comments

Thanks to Illinois Review and Backyard Conservative for cross-posting this piece.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Brief and supporting motion papers filed by the Illinois Attorney General with the Illinois Supreme Court in support of the request to remove Gov. Rod Blagojevich, now are available online. I have no idea...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on December 14, 2008 1 Comment

Embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced today, through a spokesman, that he will not be resigning on Monday, December 15, 2008, as some have speculated. The 15th is the day the Illinois legislature is supposed to consider articles of impeachment supported by Illinois Speaker of...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on December 14, 2008 1 Comment

William Felkner, a former student at the Rhode Island College [RIC] School of Social Work, has filed suit against the school claiming that he was the subject of discrimination based on his conservative views. Felkner claims that professors and administrators used the pretext that Felkner's...

Posted by William A. Jacobson on December 13, 2008 0 Comments

See my article, For the Sake of the Nation, Gov. Blagojevich Should Not Resign, at American Thinker. Why would I want a corrupt Governor to remain in office until trial and conviction? Because that is the only way all the facts will come out quickly,...

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