The reports I’m reading don’t indicate that he was one of the ones let go (and the suicide took place at his office, so it certainly couldn’t have been an immediate termination). Most firms are letting people go who deal with M&A and real estate, high-level appeals are pretty well insulated from economic conditions. And even if it turns out he was let go, I find it impossible to believe that he would have had any difficulty finding a new job. My guess is that this has nothing to do with the economy.
He was one of the people let go. He committed suicide on his last day at work. He had left a suicide note at home and one of his family called police, but he was already dead.
He was a very accomplished lawyer - probably not a big book of business, but he was the head of the appellate section. Highly unlikely that he would be let go just because of the economy.
There's more here than meets the eye. I suppose the story will come out sooner or later.