So here's a surprising development:  as long time readers know, I've been a longstanding critic of the U.S. News ranking charade, even having posted (and re-posted) an open letter to Bob Morse about the now notorious defects with their methodology.   Earlier this week, I received the following surprising e-mail from Mr. Morse, which read in pertinent part:

After considerable soul-searching, I've come to the conclusion that we have no good response to the concerns you have raised and that the current rankings really are a fraud on the consumers of legal education.  I do apologize to you, and to the countless students who have been misled by this misinformation over the years. 

That was, needless to say, a remarkable admission.  After further back-and-forth, we have agreed, in principle, that U.S. News will start employing non-manipulable and meaningful measures of faculty and student quality, as well as employment success, similar to those I have used for many years.   I hope to be able to announce the details of the new methodology by August at the latest.

Happy April Fool's Day!