http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/index.jsp Updated daily en-us 07/04/2009 Copyright 2008 ALM Properties, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.law.com/service/terms_conditions.shtml http://www.law.com/img/pa/alert/pa_rss.gif http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/index.jsp A disgraced former Luzerne County Common Pleas Court judge who handled a defamation suit against a Wilkes-Barre newspaper in 2006 said Thursday he was unaware of any improprieties or irregularities in how the case was assigned. http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202431981085&rss=pa The judicial misconduct complaint against 9th Circuit Chief Judge Alex Kozinski has been resolved with a public admonishment but no discipline imposed on the judge for the sexually explicit material found on his family Web site. http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202431963360&rss=pa A pair of witnesses testified during a court hearing Wednesday that reputed northeastern Pennsylvania mob boss William "Billy" D'Elia had envelopes delivered to disgraced former Luzerne County President Judge Michael T. Conahan at the courthouse and that Conahan met with D'Elia and another admitted felon multiple times to discuss fixing cases. http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202431929791&rss=pa Blank Rome became the latest firm to put the squeeze on associate salaries, with much of the focus on more junior associates. http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202431954113&rss=pa Villanova University School of Law Dean Mark A. Sargent has resigned from the post, effective immediately, citing personal and medical reasons. Sargent was not available for comment. http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202431951313&rss=pa A Philadelphia judge facing sanctions from the Court of Judicial Discipline for using his judicial secretary to help run his landlord business has recused himself from all criminal cases. http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202431950713&rss=pa The Commonwealth Court has affirmed a Montgomery County judge's decision reviving the development plans for a controversial office park project, agreeing with the lower court's conclusion that the Whitemarsh Township Board of Supervisors acted in bad faith toward the office park's developers. http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202431950867&rss=pa A lawyer at the center of a $2.5 million kickback scheme involving a pair of corrupt judges and hundreds of juvenile criminal cases pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday. http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202431933700&rss=pa A Pennsylvania law firm is to pay $155,000 to settle allegations that it illegally funneled money to the presidential campaign of former Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt. http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202431928226&rss=pa Sometimes, as a journalist, you cover somebody for so long, you come to feel like you know them, even if you really don't. That's how I felt about former Chief Justice Ralph J. Cappy, whom I covered for nearly 16 years. http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202430540588&rss=pa Two judgeships on the Philadelphia Municipal Court and one judgeship on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas have been filled with interim appointments, while two judgeships on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas will remain unfilled until January. http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202431983416&rss=pa In keeping with the social media for lawyers theme, I continue to uncover new online opportunities. http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202431975633&rss=pa With the leadership of the executive and legislative branches in Harrisburg still far off from striking a budget deal, 14 employees of the First Judicial District will soon start working days that they won't get paid for until after budget bargaining is over. http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202431944093&rss=pa Click here to view the full text of the June 29, 2009 GC Mid-Atlantic supplement. http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202431859882&rss=pa Do you know a young Pennsylvania attorney who has impressed her superiors with her ability to develop new business? What about a colleague who has dedicated himself to promoting the profession through bar association involvement or public service? Or a charismatic advocate for the indigent who has amazed you with her pro bono efforts? http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202431395668&rss=pa Click here for a collection of articles on the scandal brewing in Luzerne County Court. http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202428035822&rss=pa WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama said Thursday the Supreme Court was "moving the ball" on affirmative action in this week's decision favoring white firefighters in New Haven, Conn., but he added that the court had not ruled out the use of racial preferences in the future. http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202431977629&rss=pa LOS ANGELES (AP) ? A Los Angeles federal judge has tentatively thrown out the convictions of a Missouri mother for her role in a MySpace hoax directed at a 13-year-old neighbor girl who ended up committing suicide. http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202431977478&rss=pa LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) ? Nebraska has been wrongfully denying Medicaid coverage to hundreds of low-income residents whom state officials argued did not work enough to comply with a welfare-to-work program, a judge has ruled. http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202431977567&rss=pa Too many lawyers in private practice are frustrated in achieving their personal and professional objectives because of the absence of sound management and administration of their firms. http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202431951241&rss=pa Taking a look at an issue pressing many hospitals, the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, or OIG, addressed the issue of a payment arrangement between a hospital and physicians for on-call coverage and indigent in-patient care in an advisory opinion issued May 21, 2009. http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202431951351&rss=pa http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202431963360&rss=pa http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202431951313&rss=pa http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202431950867&rss=pa http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202431951241&rss=pa http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202423602657&rss=pa