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.
"In jest there is truth"[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3_95F5e-Ac]...
Think a change of administration only matters if the incoming President can pass legislation? Here is a list of Justice Department jobs from the "Plum Book" which are filled at the discretion of the President. While legislation is important, these positions and hundreds more, will...
The widely reported news that Sarah Palin didn't know Africa was a continent has been revealed to be a hoax. The news "source" supposedly inside the McCain campaign was an impostor, who even created a phony research institute to give legitimacy to his claims, and...
Conservatives face a choice. Yield to "progressive" policies which, once implemented will take a generation to undo, or stand on principles of free enterprise, individual liberty, and capitalism? Giving in is much easier, but in the long run more costly. We can learn a lot...
The New York Times has revealed that since 2004 United States special forces and the Central Intelligence Agency have been carrying out secret attacks on Al Qaeda throughout the world, including in Pakistan. According to the article, the US military "used broad, secret authority to...
The University of Michigan has an interesting set of maps colored red and blue depending upon how you look at it. While the country went blue (Democrat) on a state by state basis, on a county by county basis this still is a red (Republican)...
Ever wonder what the Democrats would do if roles were reversed, and Republicans had swept a Democratic President ouf of office and taken control of Congress? James G. Wiles, in Farewell To Sweetness & Light has some astute observations, and some advice for the outgoing...
"Rahm is for Rahm." Sounds like Obama has found a kindred spirit.[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzFLmIUVCk8]...
What did Nancy Reagan ever do to Obama to deserve being mocked at Obama's first press conference? Not only inappropriate, but telling. UPDATE: Obama apologizes.[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59XB68F54kA]...
Barack Obama is one of the most aggressive politicians this nation has ever seen, but his aggression is masked by soothing talk and words of hope. Is it really surprising that Obama has named Rahm Emanuel, nicknamed Rahmbo for his aggressive partisan style, as White...
What took so long? Finally, a rational reaction to media bias, but alas, too little, too late.[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQOG969hElQ]...
An excellent article by Quinn Hillier, Saul Alinsky Takes the White House, makes a point similar to what I made in my article, Will Obama's Election Result in One Person, One Vote, One Time? Hillier points out that it will not be easy for conservatives...
In the video below, Obama supporters celebrating his victory unfurled the flag of the former Soviet Union. I assume these young revelers, just back from class on deconstructing everything that supposedly is wrong with the United States, have never read the works of Alexandr Solzhenitsyn,...
Take a deep breath. Get a little sleep. Don't bother with finger pointing and recriminations. Don't blame Sarah Palin, she's the only thing that kept this race competitive. We can't change history, but we shouldn't draw the wrong conclusions.This country remains a center-right nation (just...
Will President Obama be the moderate of the presidential campaign, the liberal of the primary campaign, or the radical of the past? Which Obama will assume the presidency when we open Door No. 2?The Obama who voted straight party line in the Senate, or the...
Obama already has declared that people who want to keep their hard earned money are selfish, now keeping your own money is a "simplistic notion"[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJyS1WJNisM]...
Political opposition now equals pornography:[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LohhWW1aWo]...
As we conclude this final day before the election, the arguments have been made, the advertisements run, and the cash spent. Through all the noise, the essential decision facing the American people has not changed.It's all about trust.I trust John McCain. Although I have never...
