By Brian Malcom

While "attractive nuisance" would be a terrific band name for a bunch of law students who are wannabe rock stars, it is also what a Georgetown law professor is calling laptops in the classroom.  In case you missed it, Washington Post has the story here.

Apparently, the professor has shaky confidence in his ability to sustain the rapt attention of his audience while the Internet and solitaire are tempting their wandering eyes.

I can't imagine why.  I know my mind never wandered to espn.com when we were discussing the Rule Against Perpetuities in law school.  Why would I care about my March Madness bracketology when the Testator's heirs' interest in Blackacre is hanging by a measuring life?  Why?!

Another problem with laptops in the classrooms, according to the professor, is that they can be used to spread rumors.  I know I got all of the juciest gossip in law school during class and straight from the professor's mouth.  This piece of logic ignores the fact that PDAs are just as capable at spreading rumors as laptops and even more portable.

Despite this insult to the students' ability to manage their own attention spans, some students support the ban on laptops in the classroom.  Most say they are more engaged in classroom discussion and could concentrate easier.

What are your thoughts?

By Robert Chapski 

Even though I don't practice any kind of law remotely related this this story, every once in a while I come across something that makes me scratch my head thinking about the legal implications.  CNN reported yesterday on a story where a woman was mistakenly implanted with the "wrong embryos" (i.e., embryos from other genetic parents).  The mother has apparently elected to continue with the pregnancy and give the baby to the genetic parents without controversy.

By Robert Chapski

The Tennessee Supreme Court recently struck down as unconstitutional a state drug tax law that formerly required persons to pay an excise tax ("crack tax") on illegal substances (e.g., cocaine, marijuana, moonshine, etc.)  The substances were still illegal, of course, but the tax law worked outside the criminal justice system, and the excise tax stamps could be purchased anonymously.  Bonnaroo was purportedly a big target in the past for tax collectors.

Unfortunately, the state has already collected $10.4 million over the last few years from people with untaxed drugs in their possession.  A class action lawsuit has now been filed to recoup the funds paid by the drug possessors.  The argument is that if the law was unconstitutional, the tax should have never been collected.  The Tennessean, the local Nashville newspaper, notes that more than $271,000 of the funds have gone to police operations in Nashville.  It is anyone's guess what will happen with the money at this point.

I don't know what to make of this story.  Along with "saggy pants" and "guns n' bars", this has been a weird year for Tennessee law.

As of March 31, 2009, there have been over 9,946 people laid off by major law firms (4,046 lawyers / 5,905 staff) since January 1, 2008. For the first quarter of 2009, 7,999 (3,149 lawyers, 4,850 staff), 3,677 in March alone (1,334 attorneys, 2,343 staff). (http://lawshucks.com/layoff-tracker)