Appealing a case isn’t cheap. However, we’ve got some good news for individuals wanting to appeal! The State Supreme Court of Washington ruled on October 30 that attorney fees awarded to a person who successfully appeals a ruling by an administrative agency will triple.

The case came about when Kathie Costanich, a foster parent whose license was revoked by the state Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), appealed the revocation in Superior Court. Awarded $25,000 in attorney fees, the max allowed by law but only a fraction of the $160,000 billed by attorneys, Costanich was eventually awarded $46,239 for fees by the state Court of Appeals.

DSHS didn’t like that at all. Claiming that the state Equal Access to Justice Act capped attorney fee awards at $25,000 for all stages of judicial review, the Supreme Court ruled that the cap is $25,000 each for the trial, the appellate level and the Supreme Court.

Popularity: 2% [?]

On trial in Los Angeles for distributing videos of sexual fetishes, including acts of bestiality and defecation is porn filmmaker Ira Isaacs. However, that’s not where the story lies. Are you ready for this one? Alex Kozinski, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals chief judge overseeing the case is the real one under the courtroom’s microscope.

And why is that?

Well, it turns out that Judge Kozinski isn’t unfamiliar with the porn industry. In fact, he’s got it all over his personal site. Ooh, la, la! Kozinski is in the X-rated house! Due to this recent discovery, Kozinski has granted a 48-hour stay in the obscenity trial after prosecutors requested time to explore “a potential conflict of interest concerning the court having a…sexually explicit [web site] with similar material.”

While Kozinski admitted to posting some of the graphic content on his site, he threw his son Yale under the bus, stating that he must have downloaded the majority of it. Sure, we believe you! Wink, wink.

“Yale called and said he’s pretty sure he uploaded a bunch of it,” Kozinski wrote in an e-mail to Abovethelaw.com, a legal news website. “I had no idea, but that sounds right because I sure don’t remember putting some of that stuff there.”

The moral of today’s Pop Legal story is based on that old, cliché saying: Never throw stones if you live in a glass house full of porn.

Popularity: 7% [?]

What happens when you mix a stressful legal situation, video cameras and a machine gun smattering of razor sharp (or not so sharp) questions? We’ve put together our favorite all-time cranky court room outbursts, depositions gone awry and sobering Law School realities to create a hilarious collection of the funniest legal videos ever.

#1 When Judges Attack

This Judge flies off the handle in a menopausal tirade directed at a deserving defendant.

TV Judge Marilyn is probably best known for the explosive tongue lashings she gives to the people in her TV courtroom but this one was over the top for even the courtroom queen of mean. When an arrogant defendant demands “a certain level of respect” he is thrown out court but not before a hilarious exchange of words.

#2 How Not To Handle a Tough Deposition

A cranky old guy deflects questions with a pile of B.S. and an entertaining outburst!

When questioned about an unauthorized use of funds the irritable old dude man in question launches into an Oscar winning performance before completely melting down.

#3 Law School the Musical

A musical tribute to Law School Hell

An insider’s melodic interpretation of the harsh realities of law school.

#4 An Incoherent Deposition

6,912 known languages on Earth and this woman doesn’t speak any of them

Note to Lawyers: When prepping your client for a deposition, you should probably make sure they know their left hand from their right.

#5 The Bird

A lawyer tackles the complexities of vehicular sign language

A man on the stand in earmuffs (?) differentiates the subtleties of highway communication.

Popularity: 4% [?]