Mark Herrmann

3 days ago | abovethelaw.com | Mark Herrmann

Once upon a time — I’m thinking about during the Clinton administration — Republicans devoutly believed that the character of a president mattered. We had to impeach Clinton; no person of bad character belonged in the White House. Now, of course, neither liability for sexual assault nor criminal conviction for falsifying business records (nor inciting an attack on the Capitol Building) disqualifies a president from office. Character’s irrelevant. That’s one.

1 week ago | dealbreaker.com | Mark Herrmann

The 100th day of Donald Trump’s presidency is today, And I ask you this: What president had the worst first 100 days of his presidency? And I answer, without hesitation . . . . May I have a drum roll, please? Abraham Lincoln, of course. Don’t be silly about this. Between Lincoln’s election (in November 1860) and inauguration (in March 1861), seven states seceded from the Union. Four more states seceded in the first 100 days after Lincoln’s inauguration.

1 week ago | abovethelaw.com | Mark Herrmann

Donald Trump acts as though he’ll always be president. Trump has, for example, threatened to eliminate Harvard University’s tax-exempt status, assuming, presumably, that the Democrats will never again be in charge and able to retaliate. Which got me to thinking: What would you include in a truly vindictive Democratic Project 2029? Thoughtful people have said that the Democrats should create their own Project 2029, which would include such noble ideas as strengthening the administrative state.

2 weeks ago | abovethelaw.com | Mark Herrmann

I’m jumping the gun. The 100th day of Donald Trump’s presidency is actually tomorrow, April 29. But I have a Monday column here at Above the Law, so I’m celebrating early. I ask you this: What president had the worst first 100 days of his presidency? And I answer, without hesitation . . . . May I have a drum roll, please? Abraham Lincoln, of course. Don’t be silly about this.  Between Lincoln’s election (in November 1860) and inauguration (in March 1861), seven states seceded from the Union.

3 weeks ago | abovethelaw.com | Mark Herrmann

Stop foaming at the mouth. I know that many of the country’s largest and most prestigious law firms have capitulated in the face of President Donald Trump’s executive orders (or threats of executive orders) punishing the firms for having taken action against the administration’s interests. But I’m here to tell you that capitulation is not crazy. Exhale.  Think about this. You’re the managing partner of a fancy-pants law firm.