Kim Kardashian Plans To Become Lawyer, Will Take Bar Exam In 2022 - Above the Law

Kim Kardashian West (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic via Getty Images)

This fall, Kanye West broke the news to Extra that his wife, Kim Kardashian West, hot off her stint of working with President Donald Trump to commute Alice Johnson’s sentence, was studying the law, saying, “My wife is in law school now, and it’s extremely serious to us.”

Kardashian West’s representatives then confirmed that the queen of reality TV was not, in fact, going to law school — but they neglected to tell the world what was really happening. Kardashian West is studying become a lawyer without going to law school.

As it turns out, Kim Kardashian West is in her first year of a four-year apprenticeship with a law firm in San Francisco, and she’ll be taking the California baby bar sometime this summer. If she passes, she’ll be permitted to continue with her apprenticeship. (How is this possible? California is one of a handful of states that allows people to take the bar without a college or law school degree.)

Kardashian West revealed the news in an interview with Vogue, saying that she felt a bit out of her depth in her quest to get Johnson released from prison. “The White House called me to advise to help change the system of clemency,” she says. “And I’m sitting in the Roosevelt Room with, like, a judge who had sentenced criminals and a lot of really powerful people and I just sat there, like, Oh, s—. I need to know more.”

Vogue has additional details on how Kardashian West’s studies are going:

“First year of law school,” Kim says, “you have to cover three subjects: criminal law, torts, and contracts. To me, torts is the most confusing, contracts the most boring, and crim law I can do in my sleep. Took my first test, I got a 100. Super easy for me. The reading is what really gets me. It’s so time-consuming. The concepts I grasp in two seconds.”

Kim Kardashian West is not a fan of Keeping Up with the Kontracts, but it’s nice to see that she’s following in her late father’s footsteps — Robert Kardashian of O.J. Simpson acquittal fame — with her interest in criminal law and criminal justice reform.

“I just felt like I wanted to be able to fight for people who have paid their dues to society,” she says. “I just felt like the system could be so different, and I wanted to fight to fix it, and if I knew more, I could do more.”

Congratulations to Kim Kardashian West on her decision to become a lawyer. Here’s hoping she’s able to conquer the beast that is the California bar exam.

The Awakening of Kim Kardashian West [Vogue]

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Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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2019-04-10 17:54:18Z
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Robert Bianchi: Don't expect a "Smollet" resolution in the college cheating scandal - Fox News

The college cheating scandal comes on the heels of the disgraceful dismissal of actor Jussie Smollett’s case.

But with this case, don’t expect actresses Felicity Huffman or Lori Loughlin to be treated so “kindly” as Smollett. Of course, this is a tale of two entirely different cases, but it is also a tale of two different kinds of prosecutors and two different kinds of defendants.

The cheating scam illustrates the height of arrogance, privilege, and entitlement by the “haves” at the expense of the “have nots.” These actresses allegedly made illegal payoffs to cheat the college admission system so that their well-connected children could obtain even bigger head starts in life.

LORI LOUGHLIN INDICTED ON NEW MONEY LAUNDERING CHARGES IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SCANDAL

Some people think, “Hold on. This is not a violent crime. What’s the big deal?” But what is missing from that perspective is that this is NOT a victimless crime. Think about the hard-working students and their parents who should have earned those spots -- the ones who played by the rules and didn’t bribe college officials for admission.

Educational institutions and we as a society have been harmed by this scandal. The callous and insensitive actions of these parents are corrosive to our laws and societal values and have lessened our sense of fairness and respect for the college admissions process. When fairness is wrongly taken away from us, justice steps in -- at least most of the time, the Smollett-kind-of-cases notwithstanding.

Now, Smollett got the break of a lifetime and demonstrated that justice can be wrongly manipulated by those who administer it. He skates as unaccountable and arrogant, as he was when he scammed the world with his tale of being attacked.

But Huffman and Loughlin will not escape as Smollett did, and the U.S. attorney is clearly telegraphing that.

The fact is prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges have to make careful considerations about defendants every day.

Felicity Huffman has accepted responsibility by pleading guilty quickly. She has given a gut-wrenching statement of remorse to the court and the public, and she is willing to accept her punishment. This is what we in the law call atonement.

As a former prosecutor, this would have factored into how I decide to resolve her case. Yes, deterrence and punishment need to be considered. But her seemingly genuine remorse and willingness to plead guilty also achieve other important criminal justice goals, such as unburdening the court with otherwise lengthy legal proceedings and assisting prosecutors in building cases against other defendants. So it is fair for a lower sentence to be offered in exchange.

Huffman is now facing months in prison, not years, and it is possible that the lawyers may be able to convince a judge to give her no jail time at all. Either way, her “landing”, while not as cushy as Smollett’s, is still far better than the years in prison she faced had she toughed it out and later been convicted.

By comparison, Loughlin is not getting the message. The U.S. attorney was seemingly unimpressed by her failure to plea and accept responsibility, and as a result, she secured a second, more draconian indictment that will likely add more jail time to her sentence. There will be no adoring fans seeing her as innocent Aunt Becky from Full House, and no handlers, agents or red carpets to placate her in that austere courtroom. In this case, the prosecutors have the great equalizer of wrongdoers who are powerful and famous: the grand jury.

My great grandfather once stated that “a small pebble can overturn a large carriage.” Metaphorically, I believe that Ms. Loughlin is about to run head-on into a prosecutorial boulder.

The physics of federal prosecution is that plea offers are escalating. This means they get harsher as the case goes on. Importantly, prosecutors are mandated under the attorney general guidelines to require defendants to plead guilty to the highest, most readily provable offense. So as charges are increased, more jail time is tacked on.

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I am not saying that these parents should never see the light of day again, but typically when the reality hits defendants that they have harmed themselves further by having more serious charges filed against them, it is a decision often regretted -- from within a place where there is plenty of time to do little other than ponder their decisions.

Who knows … perhaps Ms. Loughlin has a valid defense to the charges. Or, perhaps she naively believes she will get a Smollett deal.

My feeling is that she is ensuring she will be going to federal prison at some juncture and that this moment of pride will be followed by her fall.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE BY ROBERT A. BIANCHI 

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2019-04-10 16:03:00Z
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Warner Bros. makes a copyright claim against a pro-Trump video using the 'Dark Knight' theme - CNN

"The use of Warner Bros.' score from The Dark Knight Rises in the campaign video was unauthorized," the entertainment company said in a statement Tuesday. "We are working through the appropriate legal channels to have it removed."

CNN and Warner Bros. share a parent company, WarnerMedia, which is owned by AT&T.

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump tweeted the two-minute video with the caption "Make America Great Again." The video has since been taken down "in response to a report by the copyright owner."

A campaign aide told CNN's Jim Acosta that the Trump campaign did not make the video.

"The video was made by a supporter," the aide said. "We like to share content from diehard supporters, and this is just another example of how hard Trump supporters fight for the President."

Brad Parscale, Trump's 2020 campaign manager, tweeted Wednesday morning: "Sad to see an @ATT owned company pull such a great video made by an everyday American in good fun."

He also accused the company of "positioning themselves as a weapon of the left."

The video included highlights of Trump's presidency interwoven with clips of his critics, including politicians like former President Barack Obama and his 2016 opponent Hillary Clinton as well as Hollywood celebrities, such as Rosie O'Donnell and Amy Schumer.

The video plays to what appears to be the theme song from "The Dark Knight Rises" over the shots.

CNN's Joe Sutton contributed to this report.

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2019-04-10 13:32:00Z
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Felicity Huffman offered prison advice from Abby Lee Miller amid college admissions scandal guilty plea - Fox News

“Dance Moms” star Abby Lee Miller offered some advice to Felicity Huffman after the “Desperate Housewives” actress pleaded guilty to charges for her involvement in a nationwide college admissions scam.

"My advice would be, take a deep breath and if you need a consultant, I’m your girl,” Miller told “Inside Edition” on Tuesday.

Huffman announced Monday she was pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud for her involvement in the bribery scheme. The actress said she accepts “full responsibility” for her actions.

Huffman now faces four to 10 months in prison, Us Weekly reported.

FELICITY HUFFMAN TO PLEAD GUILTY IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SCANDAL: 'I AM ASHAMED OF THE PAIN I HAVE CAUSED'

If she does end up serving prison time, Miller, who finished an eight-month stint in federal prison for bankruptcy fraud in March 2018, told “Inside Edition” that Huffman should “keep a low profile” and be kind to others.

“Be respectful of everyone, keep a low profile, be kind to people. Tell your story, but listen,” Miller advised.

Abby Lee Miller offered some prison advice to Felicity Huffman. (Getty Images)

The reality star said Huffman should be worried about how the prison guards may treat her because she is a “big star.”

“She's a big star and I think when she gets there, they're going to be out for her. And I don't necessarily mean the other inmates, I think they will welcome her with open arms,” Miller told "Inside Edition." “It was definitely the guards [who messed me up].”

“[The guards are] supposed to call you by your name or by your number. They would say, 'Where's that Dance Moms lady? Where's that dance lady? We're going to get her,’” the reality star added.

LORI LOUGHLIN COULD NOW FACE UP TO 40 YEARS IN JAIL AFTER NEW CHARGES, REPORT SAYS

Huffman, “Full House” actress Lori Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli were among the 50 people arrested in March for allegedly paying bribes to William “Rick” Singer to help their children get into elite universities by altering college entrance exams and faking athletic profiles.

The “Desperate Housewives” star paid $15,000 to have someone secretly alter her daughter’s answers on the SAT, officials said.

"My daughter knew absolutely nothing about my actions, and in my misguided and profoundly wrong way, I have betrayed her. This transgression toward her and the public I will carry for the rest of my life. My desire to help my daughter is no excuse to break the law or engage in dishonesty," Huffman said in a statement Monday.

Loughlin and Giannulli, along with 14 other parents, were charged Tuesday with a "second superseding indictment with conspiring to commit fraud and money laundering.” They reportedly could face up to 40 years in prison — a maximum of 20 years for each of the charges.

Fox News' Mariah Haas and Sasha Savitsky contributed to this report. 

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2019-04-10 13:41:38Z
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VIDEO: Meet Scar, Timon, and Pumbaa in the Latest Official Trailer... - wdwnt.com

This post may contain affiliate links; please read the disclosure for more information.

Watch Simba frolic in nature, as well as meet his evil uncle Scar in this latest official trailer for Disney’s “The Lion King”.

You’ll be amazed at the quality of the CGI as this comes off more like a nature documentary than an animated film re-do. There’s only 100 days until the premiere, so mark your calendars!

Director Jon Favreau’s all-new “The Lion King” journeys to the African savanna where a future king is born. Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Scar, Mufasa’s brother—and former heir to the throne—has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. With help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba will have to figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his.

The all-star cast includes Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa and Billy Eichner as Timon. Utilizing pioneering filmmaking techniques to bring treasured characters to life in a whole new way.

Disney’s “The Lion King” roars into theaters on July 19, 2019.

Source: Walt Disney Studios

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2019-04-10 12:57:53Z
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Warner Bros takes legal action against President Trump over 2020 campaign video - CNBC

President Donald Trump's latest 2020 campaign video has been removed from his Twitter page after Warner Bros. announced it would take legal action over the unauthorized use of music in the clip.

"The use of Warner Bros.' score from 'The Dark Knight Rises' in the campaign video was unauthorized. We are working through the appropriate legal channels to have it removed," a spokesperson from Warner Bros. told CNBC via email Wednesday.

The video, shared by Trump's official Twitter account, has now been replaced with a message that reads: "This media has been disabled in response to a report by the copyright owner."

Hans Zimmer's "Why Do we Fall?" from the 2012 movie was featured in the video, which also mimicked the font used for the movie's title cards, according to media reports.

"First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they call you a racist. Donald J. Trump. Your vote. Proved them all wrong. Trump: The Great Victory. 2020," messages written in the font said.

The video had been viewed more than 2.3 million times by the time it was removed, according to NBC News.

CNBC reached out to The White House on Wednesday but a comment wasn't immediately available.

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2019-04-10 10:45:39Z
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Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin are dealing with college cheating scandal in different ways - CNN

Huffman and Loughlin are among 33 parents accused of using their wealth to cheat on standardized tests for their children, and bribe college administrators and coaches who had major clout when it came to admissions.

The investigation took a crucial turn Monday when Huffman and a dozen other parents and one coach agreed to plead guilty to mail fraud and other forms of bribery, highlighting the separate actions both women have taken since the scandal broke.

Here are the different ways the actresses have dealt with the fallout:

Felicity Huffman

What is she accused of?

Huffman has agreed to plead guilty to paying $15,000 to a fake charity associated with Rick Singer to facilitate cheating for her daughter on the SATs. Singer ran a college prep business, and helped wealthy parents cheat on standardized tests for their children. He also bribed college coaches to designate children falsely as recruited athletes, smoothing their path to admission, a criminal complaint says.

Huffman and Singer exchanged emails about how to get extra time on her daughter's SAT, the complaint says. They arranged for Huffman's daughter to take the SAT at a location controlled by an administrator bribed by Singer, the complaint says. The daughter got a score of 1420 out of a maximum 1600 on the SAT, about 400 points over her Preliminary SAT exam a year earlier.

Does she plan to plead guilty?

As a result, federal prosecutors will recommend incarceration at the "low end" of the sentencing range, a $20,000 fine and 12 months of supervised release, according to a plea agreement. Prosecutors recommended a range of sentences for those pleading guilty, from 12 to 18 months. A federal judge will have the final say on the outcome for Huffman and the other defendants.

In addition to lower sentencing, prosecutors will not bring further charges, the plea agreement says.

What has she said about the alleged scandal?

She issued an apology and took responsibility for her actions, saying her daughter was not aware of the payment. She said she had betrayed her daughter and wouldn't make any excuses for breaking the law.

"I am in full acceptance of my guilt, and with deep regret and shame over what I have done ... and will accept the consequences that stem from those actions," she said in a statement.

"I am ashamed of the pain I have caused my daughter, my family, my friends, my colleagues and the educational community. I want to apologize to them and, especially, I want to apologize to the students who work hard every day to get into college, and to their parents who make tremendous sacrifices to support their children and do so honestly."

How much prison time is she facing?

It's unclear whether a guilty plea will mean no time in prison. Prosecutors have said they will be asking for jail time for all defendants, according to a law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation. The defendants are facing anywhere between six to 21 months in prison if convicted or if they plead guilty, but the exact sentence will depend on several factors, the official added.

Has the fallout affected her acting career?

A Netflix comedy film starring Huffman won't be hitting the streaming platform on April 26, its previously scheduled release date.

"Otherhood" is about three mothers who move from the suburbs to New York so they can reconnect with their children. While it is not uncommon for film release dates to shift, news of the film's pushback came a day after the "Desperate Housewives" and "American Crime" actress entered her plea in the college admissions scam.

Lori Loughlin

What is she accused of?

Loughlin and her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, are accused of paying $500,000 to a fake charity to get their two daughters into the University of Southern California as crew recruits. Their daughters did not participate in the sport.

Does she plan to plead guilty?

The couple appeared last week in federal court in Boston, but they have not publicly indicated how they plan to plead.

Loughlin and 15 other parents now face an additional charge of money laundering in addition to last month's charges of conspiracy to commit fraud. They were charged Tuesday in a superseding indictment with conspiring to launder bribes and other payments through Singer's charity, prosecutors said.

The added charges came a day after Huffman and others agreed to plead guilty in the case.

What has she said about the alleged scandal?

Not much. Late last month, the actress was caught on video by paparazzi in Los Angeles and said she was sorry, but she couldn't talk about her legal issues.

"You can follow me around all day if you want, but I just can't comment right now," Loughlin said. "But thank you for your time."

How much prison time is she facing?

The charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud are punishable by a maximum 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering is punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, according to federal officials.

Has the fallout affected her acting career?

The "Full House" actress was dropped by the Hallmark Channel and other brands in the wake of last month's charges. Sephora also ended a makeup partnership with her daughter, the social media influencer Olivia Jade, who was a student at USC.

CNN's Eric Levenson, Mark Morales and Sarah Jorgensen contributed to this report.

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2019-04-10 11:49:00Z
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