David Boies

Dustin Lance Black's Play 8, Starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt

Clooney, Pitt, Kevin Bacon and Martin Sheen power a fundraiser reading

Proposition 8: Federal Appeals Court Drops Imperial County Officials From Gay Marriage Lawsuit

Patrick Range McDonaldLos Angeles Mormon Temple in Westwood in 2008.​The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has refused to allow Imperial County officials to defend Proposition 8 in court. Imperial County Board of Supervisors and a deputy clerk sought to overturn an August ruling by U.S. D ... More >>

Frank McCourt Dodger Divorce Trial: Hapless Lawyer Larry Silverstein Perfect Target For Malpractice Suit

Larry Silverstein: The man who brought down Bingham?​As word spread that Frank and Jamie McCourt will go into a closed-door mediation session on Friday, it started to feel like this whole trial is an elaborate trap for the hapless Larry Silverstein, the lawyer who drafted the McCourts' ... More >>

Frank McCourt Divorce: Larry Silverstein's Boner Is Key, But On The Stand He's Not Sure What Year This Is

Ted Soqui Fred Merkle committed the most famous mistake in baseball history in 1908, when, in a game against the Chicago Cubs, he failed to touch second base as the winning run scored. Merkle's Boner cost the New York Giants the game and the pennant.   That was nothing compared to Larry ... More >>

A Matter of Impressions

The Frank and Jamie McCourt Divorce — and the Dodgers' Future — May Well Come Down to Indentations From Signatures

McCourt Divorce Trial, Lunch Update: The Return Of Vladimir Shpunt

Frank McCourt Would the Dodger divorce trial be complete without an appearance from Vladimir Shpunt? Dexter O'Connell sure didn't think so. On the fifth day of trial, O'Connell, 19, came to court wearing a Dodger jersey with "Vladimir" written across the front. On the back, he had writ ... More >>

Dodger Divorce Day Four Begins: Frank McCourt, Jamie McCourt Battle For Team

Ted Soqui​With the Dodgers now 7.5 games back of the wild card with an afternoon loss Wednesday, we're now in day four of the divorce trial to determine who owns the Dodgers. Here's Gene Maddaus, the Weekly's man on the scene: How's this for karma? At the same moment that Roy Oswalt was mowi ... More >>

Prosecution Attorney David Boies Batters Frank McCourt on the Stand, Puts Dodgers Owner on the Run

David Boies​Frank McCourt is back on the stand for his third day of testimony, which I'm sure he hopes will also be his last. He held up pretty well on Wednesday, but this morning David Boies came out blazing and put him on the run. You have to see Boies in action to appreciate his unique ... More >>

Frank McCourt On The Stand Today In Dodger Divorce

Frank McCourt will be on the stand today.​The fight for the Dodgers between Frank and Jamie McCourt continues today, as Frank McCourt again takes the stand. His opponent: Super lawyer David Boies, who, as the Weekly's Gene Maddaus noted last night, "has a reputation for turning witnesses aga ... More >>

Nervous? Frank McCourt Blinks 75 Times/Min.

Frank McCourt Frank McCourt spent more than two hours answering questions from David Boies this morning. His answers have been concise and direct, and there haven't been any Perry Mason moments yet. But McCourt sure does blink a lot. On one question, he blin ... More >>

McCourt Divorce Trial, Day Three: Screwing The Fans

Frank McCourt​Day Three. The Dodgers began the day 6.5 games out the wild card, but fell 7.5 games back with an afternoon loss to the Phillies. How's this for karma? At the same moment that Roy Oswalt was mowing down Dodger hitters this afternoon, David Boies was grilling Frank McCourt ab ... More >>

McCourt Divorce Trial: Steve Susman Goes On The Attack

Steve Susman If Frank McCourt had been born in Texas instead of Boston, and had become a lawyer instead of a real estate developer, he probably would have ended up a lot like his lead counsel, Steve Susman. Both are aggressive guys with appetites for big risks. Like McCourt, Susman w ... More >>

McCourt Divorce Trial, Day Two: McCourt vs. Boies

Frank McCourt​Day Two. The Dodgers are 5.5 games out of the wild card. Frank McCourt took the witness stand late Tuesday, launching his campaign for sole custody of the Dodgers. He is short, with a jutting chin and a reedy voice that betrays his Boston roots. Sitting s ... More >>

McCourt Divorce Trial, Day One: The Screaming Meanie

​Day One. The Dodgers are 6.5 games out of the wild card. About the most interesting thing that happened on the opening day of the Dodger divorce trial was that we learned the working title of Jamie's unpublished memoir. According to Frank's lead attorney, Steve Susman, it was "Screaming Me ... More >>

Ken Mehlman Comes Out; Great News For Prop 8 Opponents

​Ken Melhman's decision to come out and identify as gay, thus confirming one of the oldest rumors in Washington, is a big victory for opponents of Prop. 8, the California ban on gay marriage. Prop. 8 is currently up on appeal after being struck down by a federal judge earlier this month. Mehl ... More >>

Ninth Circuit Says No Gay Marriages On Wednesday

Patrick Range McDonaldProposition 8 protesters in West Hollywood in October, 2008.​In a very brief order this afternoon, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has put a hold on gay marriages until at least December. U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker's decision, as a result, will not go ... More >>

Young, Gay Dreams of Matrimony

For 20-somethings, Prop. 8's demise is a barometer of equality, not a path to the altar

Dodger Dog

Frank McCourt's Wife Is Only the Latest to Get the Raw End of a Deal

Prop. 8 Ruling: Thousands Rally In West Hollywood, Long Beach

Steve La​ Hours after a federal judge struck down the Prop. 8 ban on gay marriage, using strong language to affirm the civil rights of gays and lesbians, demonstrators began celebrating Wednesday evening. The joy and satisfaction were tempered with the knowledge, however, that an appeal is com ... More >>

Prop. 8 Overturned: Major Victory For Gay Marriage Advocates

Patrick Range McDonaldProposition 8 protesters in West Hollywood in October, 2008.​Updated throughout. Originally posted at 1:48 p.m. U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker has overturned Proposition 8 in San Francisco today, handing gay rights advocates a major victory in the continuing bat ... More >>

Proposition 8 Overturned in Major Victory for Gay Marriage Advocates

Patrick Range McDonaldProposition 8 protesters in West Hollywood in October, 2008.​U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker has overturned Proposition 8 in San Francisco today, handing gay rights advocates a major victory in the continuing battle over same-sex marriage. In November, 2008, Ca ... More >>

Conservative Ted Olson Stands Up for Gays at Proposition 8 Trial

Attorney Ted Olson​When closing arguments get underway for the Proposition 8 federal trial on Wednesday in San Francisco, a world-famous liberal won't be standing before U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker and making the case to overturn California's same-sex marriage ban. Instead, that attor ... More >>

Chad Griffin: One Man Behind Marriage for All

Prop. 8 Trial: Gay Marriage Testimony Ends, Closing Arguments Will Wait

After 12 days of testimony at the high-profile Proposition 8 trial in San Francisco, lawyers for both sides of the gay marriage lawsuit have rested their cases. The last piece of business for the attorneys will be closing arguments, which will be given several weeks from now.Patrick Range McDonaldPr ... More >>

Prop. 8 Trial: Cross-Examination of Anti-Gay Marriage Witness Gets Heated

The cross-examination of anti-gay marriage witness David Blankenhorn by attorney David Boies turned into quite the sparring match at the Proposition 8 trial in San Francisco on Tuesday.Prop. 8 witness David Blankenhorn​According to San Jose Mercury News reporter Howard Mintz, the cross-examination ... More >>

Prop. 8 Trial: Anti-Gay Marriage Witness Says Gays Have Political Clout

As testimony for the Proposition 8 trial in San Francisco nears its conclusion, Claremont McKenna College government professor Kenneth Miller, a witness for anti-gay marriage lawyers, took the stand and said gays and lesbians have political clout in California.Claremont McKenna CollegeProfessor Kenn ... More >>

Prop. 8 Trial: Olson and Boies Expected to Rest Gay Marriage Case Today

Proposition 8 plaintiffs' attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies are expected to rest their case today in San Francisco.Patrick Range McDonaldProposition 8 protestor marches in Westwood in November, 2008.​Olson and Boies have spent nearly two weeks trying to persuade U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker ... More >>

Prop. 8 Trial: Prop. 8 Leader William Tam Gets Grilled By David Boies

Thursday, January 21, was a day many people in the gay community had been waiting for -- William Tam, a leading voice of the Proposition 8 campaign, received a grilling at the Proposition 8 trial from attorney David Boies, who's made a solid gold reputation as an intelligent and relentless interroga ... More >>

Prop. 8 Trial: Cambridge Professor Says Gays Raise 'Well-Adjusted' Kids

Anti-gay marriage supporters aren't the only people who can succeed as parents.Patrick Range McDonaldPro-gay marriage marchers in Westwood in November, 2008.​At the Proposition 8 trial in San Francisco on Friday, Cambridge University psychology professor Michael Lamb told the court that gay and le ... More >>

L.A. Filmmaker John Ireland to Produce Prop. 8 Trial Re-Enact for YouTube

The U.S. Supreme Court probably never saw this coming.John Ireland ProductionsLos Angeles filmmaker John Ireland​Freelance journalist and filmmaker John Ireland, who's based in Los Angeles and regularly examines gay rights issues, will produce a daily re-enactment of the Proposition 8 federal tria ... More >>

Prop. 8 Trial: The Gay Dollar Competes with Children

The gay dollar was brought up at the Proposition 8 federal trial in San Francisco yesterday, and how California's same-sex marriage ban hurts the bottom line of business and government.Patrick Range McDonaldPro-gay marriage marchers in Westwood in November, 2008.​This is no small thing for a state ... More >>

Prop. 8 Trial: Both Sides of Gay Marriage Lawsuit Endure Rough Day at Court

On the third day of the Proposition 8 federal trial in San Francisco, it was tough going for both sides of the big stakes lawsuit over California's gay marriage ban.For the plaintiffs, who want to overturn Proposition 8, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to indefinitely block a video feed of the tri ... More >>

Queer Town: Olson/Boies Appeal to the Heart, Then the Brain

The first day of the federal trial to overturn Proposition 8 started in San Francisco yesterday, with attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies, who want to end the gay marriage ban in California, first pulling on the heartstrings and then following it up with expert testimony to appeal to the brain.Ameri ... More >>

Queer Town: Big Media Wants Full Access to Prop. 8 Trial

We're almost finished with 2009 and 2010 is already shaping up to be a very interesting year -- at least for gay and lesbian folks.Patrick Range McDonaldProposition 8 protestors in West Hollywood in October, 2008.​Queer Town sounded the alarm a few weeks ago about the need to allow TV cameras insi ... More >>

One Last Pre-Trial Hearing Before Prop. 8 Showdown

On Wednesday, in San Francisco, U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker will hold one more pre-trial hearing before lawyers meet on January 11 to start a non-jury trial on the constitutional merits of Proposition 8. Patrick Range McDonaldPro-gay marriage marchers in Westwood in November, 2008.​The long- ... More >>

Queer Town: Proposition 8 Lawsuit Moves Forward, Motion to Dismiss Denied

In San Francisco this morning, Proposition 8 supporters asked U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker to dismiss the federal lawsuit that seeks to overturn the successful anti-gay marriage ballot measure that became law after California voters passed it almost a year ago.Patrick Range McDonaldProp. 8 prot ... More >>

Queer Town: Proposition 8 Trial Set for January, Gay Groups Told to Butt Out

While gay rights groups in California continue to clash over which year to push forward with a pro-gay marriage ballot measure (check out this Queerty post), Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker announced during a San Francisco hearing yesterday that a federal Proposition 8 lawsuit will go to tri ... More >>

Down for the Recount

Fear and loathing in Florida as HBO re-creates the Bush-Gore fight over butterfly ballots and hanging chads

Project Jump Ship: Moguls Fight Fiercely Over Runway

... agents Endeavor to change

W. Stands for Wrongful

And suffrage hits the skids

Rampant Illegitimacy!

Down among teens. Up among presidential candidates.